Minor and Cluster Requirements

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers a minor in mechanical engineering (ME) and several clusters including:

• Force and Motion (N4ME001)
• Engineering Design (N4ME002)
• Biomechanics (N4ME004)
• Design with Materials (N4ME003)
• Engineering and Technology in Antiquity (N4ME005)

Minor

ME course selection and prerequisite courses must be discussed with an ME faculty member. For more information about the ME minor contact Professor Lambropoulos john.lambropoulos@rochester.edu or Sarah Weise sweise@u.rochester.edu

Minor Requirements
Four ME courses at the 200 level or higher with a combined GPA of at least 2.0 in these four courses.
One the following courses must be included:

• ME 204: Mechanical Design
• ME 205: Advanced Mechanical Design
• ME 241: Fluids Laboratory
• ME 242: Solids and Materials Laboratory
• ME 251: Advanced Heat and Power

Note: Prerequisites for upper level ME courses generally include MATH 161-164, and PHYS 121-122. Some courses may also have additional prerequisites.

Students wishing to specialize in a specific area of ME can use the following examples as a guideline:

Clusters

The department offers five mechanical engineering clusters, all in the natural sciences and engineering academic division.

Force and Motion

This cluster explores how mechanical forces are transmitted and what causes the motion of things small and large.

Requirements
ME 120: Engineering Mechanics I
ME 104: Engineering of Bridges
Choose one sequence:

• MATH 161: Calculus IA and MATH 162: Calculus IIA
• MATH 141: Calculus I and MATH 142: Calculus II and MATH 143: Calculus III

Engineering Design

In this cluster students will learn about the process of design as found in biological structures (human or animal bodies) or man-made structures, the software used in man-made design, and the basic principles of structural analysis applicable to large or small structures.

Requirements
ME 110: Intro to CAD and Drawing
ME 120: Engineering Mechanics I
EAS 104: The Engineering of Bridges
Choose one course:

• MATH 161: Calculus IA
• MATH 141: Calculus I

Biomechanics

This cluster examines the principles of biomechanics, emphasizing the principles of design in the efficient function of animals and plants, and the application of these principles.

Requirements
BME 101: Intro to Biomedical Engineering
EAS 104: The Engineering of Bridges
ME 120: Engineering Mechanics I
Choose one course:

• BIOL 110 : Principles of Biology I
• BIOL 112 : Biology Perspectives I
• CHEM 131: Chemical Concepts, Systems and Practices I

Design with Materials

Engineering design uses solids, fluids, or gases for the transmission of forces and power. Students in this cluster will find out how and why materials are chosen to fit specific design requirements.

Requirements
EAS 141: Basic Machine Fabrication (2cr.)
EAS 104: The Engineering of Bridges
ME 110: Intro to CAD and Drawing (2cr.)
*Additional course required. See Cluster Search Engine.

Engineering and Technology in Antiquity

In this cluster students will explore basic mechanics and optics through a study of engineering and technology in antiquity.

Requirements (choose two)
ME 104: Engineering of Bridges
ME 106: Engineering in Antiquity
ME 206: Building Engineering Technology

*Additional course required. See Cluster Search Engine.