Undergraduates

Why Study Mechanical Engineering?
Vanderbilt Engineering Advantages
Special Opportunities at Vanderbilt Engineering
Career Opportunities

Mechanical Engineers are trained to address some of the world's most important technical challenges such as energy supply, conversion and utilization, transportation, aerospace exploration, and health sciences.

Through rigorous theory-based coursework and hands-on real-world labwork, the Mechanical Engineering department at Vanderbilt prepares students to make an impact on society with careful research, thoughtful designs and efficient implementation of engineering solutions.

Particular strengths: Assistive devices and rehabilitation engineering, biotechnology, combustion and propulsion, computational fluid dynamics, fluid physics, human-robot interaction, intelligent mechatronics, image-guided surgery, laser diagnostics of combustion, mircofluidics, nanofluidics and nano heat transfer, prosthetics, robotics, and surgical devices.

Degree Programs

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers the B.E., M.Eng., M.S. and PhD. degrees in mechanical engineering.

Our program leading to the Bachelor of Engineering degree is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.

To earn a Bachelor of Engineering degree, the student must complete our broad-based engineering curriculum that requires a theoretical understanding of physical systems as well as practical experience in designing, implementing and testing engineering solutions. In addition, our curriculum provides opportunities for students to perform research, study specific engineering challenges and build specialization in focused areas of interest. This multi-faceted approach to education prepares our students to enter the workforce to make a significant and immediate impact.

More information on our program and specific courses can be found in the Vanderbilt Undergraduate Catalog.

Undergraduate Honors Program

In general, rising juniors are admitted, although seniors may be accepted in special cases. Honors candidates choose their technical elective courses with the advice and consent of the department chair. Each candidate is expected to take ME 209c and at least 6 hours of graduate courses, including one 300-level course. A formal written report on the candidate's research is required. Honors candidates shall meet all Engineering School requirements in the nontechnical areas. The diploma designation is Honors in Mechanical Engineering.

Why Study Mechanical Engineering?
If you're passionate about finding new sources of energy, solving environmental problems, or even enhancing health care through creating better medical devices, mechanical engineering might be your ideal career path. Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines, providing the skills and knowledge that will allow you to use your creativity to solve the major challenges facing the human race.

Solving these challenges often requires interdisciplinary teams. On these teams, mechanical engineers often become system integrators, working not only on one component of the system, but also making sure all parts of it work together to achieve the desired result. All industries require mechanical engineers, be it automotive, aerospace, energy or pharmaceutical.

Vanderbilt Engineering Advantages
When you study mechanical engineering at Vanderbilt, you will start with a strong foundation in basic math and physics and will move on to upper-division courses in all major areas of mechanical engineering. You won't be stuck in a textbook, either; you'll be developing hands-on skills in the labs and as part of teams in laboratory studies and design projects, and you'll be using the most modern computational tools. In fact, our unique curriculum will have you working on design projects from your freshman year until you graduate.

Plus you'll be able to work side by side with some of the top minds in the businessÑyour professors are not only experts in the mechanical engineering field, but they are terrific mentors and will help you find the best application of your talents and interests.

Like all other Vanderbilt engineering students, you'll be getting a very good liberal arts education that will enrich your technical and scientific training and help you to become a better problem solver, team member, and manager. You'll also be prepared to advance into graduate studies in engineering, management, law, medicine, and finance.

Special Opportunities at Vanderbilt Engineering
Take your pick. Do you want to do field and laboratory research during the summer? Take a terrific summer internship with NASA, GE, or Raytheon? Do you want to learn first-hand about how to work as part of a multidisciplinary engineering team?

These are a few of the opportunities through the Department of Mechanical Engineering. When you add the opportunities you can access as a Vanderbilt student, the possibilities seem endless. You'll have the best of both worlds as an engineering student and a Vanderbilt student, with close ties to your professors and fellow engineering students, while being fully engaged in the broader Vanderbilt University community with students from all over the globe.

Career Opportunities
Your undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering will prepare you for a wide range of jobs with government, private consulting companies, and major industries. You might work at a company specializing in robotics, automotive, aerospace, electrical, chemical, solar, petroleum, plastics, or metal-producing industries. If you decide to become a biomechanical engineer, you will work with physicians to investigate the mechanics of the body and to design instruments and devices for safety and medical purposes.

Or, if you decide to pursue an advanced engineering degree, you'll get the support and encouragement you need. The department offers master of engineering, master of science, and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering. You might be particularly interested in the department's major strength areas in prosthetics, biomechanics, combustion and propulsion, computational mechanics, microfluidics, robotics, medical device design, microscale heat transfer, nanotechnology and smart structures. The curriculum can be arranged to achieve both the bachelor's and the master of engineering within five years.

If you decide to obtain a law degree or a master's in business, your undergraduate mechanical engineering degree will provide excellent preparation and a competitive advantage.