Brigham Young University Homepage

Undergraduate Catalog

2009 - 2010

BS in Mechanical Engineering (94.5–95.5 hours*)



This is a limited-enrollment program requiring departmental admissions approval. Please see the college advisement center or the department office for information regarding requirements for admission to this major.

Program Requirements    |    View MAP

  1. Complete the following basic science core:

  2. Complete one of the following mathematics core sequences:

  3. Complete the following preprofessional engineering courses:

  4. Complete the following professional mechanical engineering core:
      ME EN 312 : Fluid Mechanics. (3:3:1) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      OFFERED: F, W, Sp or Su
      PREREQUISITE: MeEn 373 or concurrent enrollment; 321, 363.
      DESCRIPTION: Physics and modeling of fluid flow; fluid statics, dimensional analysis, momentum, internal and external viscous flow, compressible flow, and fluid machinery.

      ME EN 321 : Thermodynamics. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      OFFERED: F, W, Sp or Su
      PREREQUISITE: Phscs 123; Math 303 or 334.
      DESCRIPTION: Fundamentals of thermal energy and work; principle of state, conservation of mass, conservation of energy, increase of entropy principle; application to thermal and mechanical processes.

      ME EN 335 : Dynamic System Modeling and Analysis. (3:3:1) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      ME EN 335 : Dynamic System Modeling and Analysis. (3:3:1) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      OFFERED: F, W, Sp or Su
      PREREQUISITE: Math 303 or 334, MeEn 363, 373, CEEn 204.
      DESCRIPTION: Formulating mathematical models for mechanical, electrical, fluid, and combined systems; numerical solution of motion equations; first- and second-order systems, frequency response, and transfer functions.

      ME EN 340 : Heat Transfer. (3:3:1) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      OFFERED: F, W, Sp or Su
      PREREQUISITE: MeEn 312.
      DESCRIPTION: Fundamentals of heat transfer; basics of conduction, convection, and radiation; mass transfer by analogy; heat exchangers; computer applications to practical design and analysis problems.

      ME EN 363 : Elementary Instrumentation. (3:3:1.5) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      ME EN 363 : Elementary Instrumentation. (3:3:1.5) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      OFFERED: F, W, Sp or Su
      PREREQUISITE: Math 303 or 334; ECEn 301; Engl 316 or concurrent enrollment.
      DESCRIPTION: Fundamentals of mechanical measuring systems; sensors, signal conditioning, statistical error analysis, dynamic response, standards.

      ME EN 372 : Mechanical System Design Fundamentals. (3:2:3) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      ME EN 372 : Mechanical System Design Fundamentals. (3:2:3) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      OFFERED: F, W, Sp or Su
      PREREQUISITE: CEEn 203, MeEn 172, 250, 282; 373 or concurrent enrollment.
      DESCRIPTION: Static and dynamic stress and failure analysis for mechanical systems.

      ME EN 373 : Introduction to Scientific Computing and Computer-Aided Engineering. (3:2:3) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      ME EN 373 : Introduction to Scientific Computing and Computer-Aided Engineering. (3:2:3) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      OFFERED: F, W, Sp or Su
      PREREQUISITE: Math 113; concurrent enrollment in Math 214 or 302.
      DESCRIPTION: Computer programming for engineers taught in context of solving physical systems using numerical methods. Student will program solutions using the C++ language, spreadsheets, symbolic solvers, etc.

      ME EN 475 : Integrated Product and Process Design 1. (3:2:3) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      ME EN 475 : Integrated Product and Process Design 1. (3:2:3) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      OFFERED: F, W
      PREREQUISITE: MeEn 321, 363, 372, 373; senior standing (fewer than 30 hours remaining in the program) in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering technology, industrial design, or related disciplines with instructor's consent.
      DESCRIPTION: Comprehensive two-semester design experience from conception to manufacturing planning and prototype. Product development process. Economic and manufacturing considerations. Intellectual property assignment agreement required.
      NOTE: MeEn 475 and 476 must be taken in consecutive fall and winter semesters.

      ME EN 476 : Integrated Product and Process Design 2. (3:2:3) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      ME EN 476 : Integrated Product and Process Design 2. (3:2:3) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      OFFERED: F, W
      PREREQUISITE: MeEn 321, 363, 372, 373; senior standing (fewer than 30 hours remaining in the program) in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering technology, industrial design, or related disciplines with instructor's consent.
      DESCRIPTION: Comprehensive two-semester design experience from conception to manufacturing planning and prototype. Product development process. Economic and manufacturing considerations. Intellectual property assignment agreement required.
      NOTE: MeEn 475 and 476 must be taken in consecutive fall and winter semesters.

  5. Complete the following supporting courses:
      ENGL 316 : Technical Communication. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      ENGL 316 : Technical Communication. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      OFFERED: F, W, Sp, Su; Honors also.
      PREREQUISITE: Engl 150 or equivalent; junior or senior status.
      DESCRIPTION: Effective processes of written, oral, and visual technical communication, including collaborative processes. Writing for academic and professional audiences.
      NOTE: Carries GE Advanced Written and Oral Communication credit.

      STAT 332 : Quality Improvement for Industry. (3:3:1) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      STAT 332 : Quality Improvement for Industry. (3:3:1) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      OFFERED: F, W, Sp, Su
      PREREQUISITE: Math 112 or 119.
      DESCRIPTION: Quality management philosophies (Deming, etc.). Strategies for continuous improvement. Graphical and numerical methods of data analysis. Process control charts. Design and analysis of experiments for process characterization and improvement.

  6. Complete 15 hours (five courses) of technical electives.

    The purpose of these courses is to strengthen the engineering education of the student by a) deepening the student's understanding of engineering and/or science fundamentals, b) helping the student learn to apply engineering fundamentals in specific areas of interest, and/or c) helping the student to develop critical skills related to engineering practice.

    The technical electives are normally 400-level or higher mechanical engineering courses, but other courses may be used as long as the following requirements are met:

    • At least three courses must be in mechanical engineering.
    • No courses may be below the 300 level.
    • A maximum of 3 credit hours in Me En 495R, 595R, or other independent project courses may be applied to meet technical elective requirements.
    • All courses must be of an acceptable level from mechanical engineering, civil engineering, chemical engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mathematics, statistics, physics, chemistry, or computer science; or be on the approved elective list in the department office. If a student wishes to count a course outside these areas as an elective, approval must be granted before the course is taken. Approval is requested by submitting a one-page petition to the department undergraduate committee that lists all of the proposed electives and demonstrates how the proposed exception meets the purposes described above.
    • No course used to satisfy other major requirements for graduation may be used as an elective.

    • General Elective Option

      Complete a total of 15 elective hours from the following:

      1. Complete a minimum of 9 hours from 400- or 500-level mechanical engineering courses.
      2. Complete a maximum of 6 hours of acceptable electives outside of mechanical engineering.

    • Manufacturing Option

      The Society of Manufacturing Engineers has identified four areas of competency for manufacturing engineering as follows: (1) materials and manufacturing processes; (2) process, assembly and product engineering; (3) manufacturing competitiveness; and (4) manufacturing systems design.

      An option in manufacturing engineering is available. It may be completed by taking the following 15 hours of technical electives:

      1. Complete 3 hours from the following:
          ME EN 585 : Manufacturing Competitiveness: Quality and Productivity. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          ME EN 585 : Manufacturing Competitiveness: Quality and Productivity. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          OFFERED: F
          PREREQUISITE: Stat 332, Me En 282; or equivalents.
          DESCRIPTION: Production strategies to improve quality, decrease cost, and increase throughput to create market advantage; effective production management systems; applying quality improvement tools to process data; theory of constraints and lean production.

          MFG 532 : Manufacturing Systems. (3:2:2) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          MFG 532 : Manufacturing Systems. (3:2:2) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          OFFERED: F
          PREREQUISITE: Mfg 480 or instructor's consent.
          DESCRIPTION: Analyzing lean manufacturing systems. Numerous examples and case studies from industry demonstrating principles of lean production, inventory management, and lean distribution. Project with a local company to gain confidence with these principles in an industrial setting.

      2. Complete 3 hours from the following:

      3. Complete 3 hours from the following:

      4. Complete 3 additional hours from the manufacturing electives list.

      5. Complete 3 additional hours from the mechanical engineering general elective list.

      When combined with required courses for all mechanical engineering majors related to manufacturing, namely Me En 250, 282, 475/476, and Stat 332, this option provides a strong foundation in manufacturing engineering.

*Hours include courses that may fulfill university core requirements.



Show all Mechanical Engineering (Me En) Courses