Mechanical engineering applies the principles of engineering, physics, and materials science for the design, analysis, manufacturing and maintenance of mechanical systems. Involving the design, production, and operation of machinery, the field requires an understanding of core concepts including mechanics, kinematics, thermodynamics, materials science, structural analysis and electricity. Mechanical engineers use these core principles with tools like computer-aided design (CAD) software to design and analyze manufacturing plants, industrial equipment and machinery, cars, aircraft, robotics, weapons, medical devices, and much more.
UCF’s program prepares students to apply principles of engineering, basic science and mathematics (including multivariate calculus and differential equations) to model, analyze, design and realize physical systems, components or processes; and to work professionally in either thermal or mechanical systems while requiring topics in each area.
CECS Progress Policy
- Students in the Mechanical Engineering major are expected to make consistent good progress toward their degrees to remain enrolled in, or eligible for, any major, minor, or certificate in the College of Engineering & Computer Science (CECS) or the College of Optics and Photonics (COP). To support this, CECS and COP enforce a Progress Policy with two components: the low grade component and the repeat attempt component.
- Low Grade Component: Any student majoring in Mechanical Engineering who has accumulated 7 or more unsuccessful attempts (i.e., grades below "C" (2.0), U grades, and withdrawals, including in 0-credit courses) over all courses taken at UCF will be placed on Lack of Progress Probation and remain on Lack of Progress Probation as long as the student is enrolled in a CECS or COP major. If a student on Lack of Progress Probation has a tenth unsuccessful attempt over all courses taken at UCF, the student will be Excluded from all CECS and COP majors, minors, and certificates.
- Repeat Attempt Component: Any student majoring in Mechanical Engineering who repeats any UCF course and does not earn a grade of "C" (2.0) or better on the second attempt will be placed on Lack of Progress Probation and remain on Lack of Progress Probation as long as the student is enrolled in a CECS or COP major. If a student on Lack of Progress Probation does not receive a grade of "C" (2.0) or better by the third attempt in the same UCF course, the student will be Excluded from all CECS and COP majors, minors, and certificates.
- A student who has been excluded from CECS and COP majors cannot declare any CECS or COP minors or certificates unless as required by the student’s degree program. A student who has been excluded from CECS and COP majors may seek readmission to a major in CECS or COP after earning a bachelor’s degree or relevant associate of science degree, either from another college at UCF or from another institution. To be eligible for readmission to CECS or COP, the student must not have accumulated any additional low grades in subsequent coursework used to complete the earned degree. An excluded student who meets these criteria is not guaranteed readmission to a CECS or COP major. Any student who is readmitted to the Mechanical Engineering major will be subject to all probation conditions that applied at the time of exclusion.
This program prepares students for state-regulated professional licensure or certification. For more information on how this program may prepare you in that regard, please view the licensure disclosure for the Mechanical Engineering (B.S.M.E.) program.
Degree Requirements
Basic Core Requirements
2 Total Credits
- A "C" (2.0) or better is required for all courses in this section. A minimum 2.250 GPA is required for courses used in Basic Core Requirements, Advanced Core Requirements, Restricted Electives, and Capstone Requirements. Between SPC 1603C and SPC 1608, SPC 1603C is preferred. SPC 1603C and SPC 1608 are specifically identified in the GEP.
2 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Earn a minimum grade of C in each of the following:
- EGS1006C - Introduction to the Engineering Profession (1)
- EGN1007C - Engineering Concepts and Methods (1)
- Earn a minimum grade of C in at least 1 of the following: SPC 1603C - Fundamentals of Technical Presentations (3) or SPC 1608 - Fundamentals of Oral Communication (3)
Advanced Core Requirements
51 Total Credits
- A "C" (2.0) or better is required for all courses in this section. A minimum 2.250 GPA is required for courses used in Basic Core Requirements, Advanced Core Requirements, Restricted Electives, and Capstone Requirements.
42 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Earn a minimum grade of C in each of the following:
- EGN3310 - Engineering Analysis-Statics (3)
- EGN3321 - Engineering Analysis-Dynamics (3)
- EGN3343 - Thermodynamics (3)
- EGM3601 - Solid Mechanics (3)
- EGN3365 - Structure and Properties of Materials (3)
- EGN3373 - Principles of Electrical Engineering (3)
- STA3032 - Probability and Statistics for Engineers (3)
- COP3223C - Introduction to Programming with C (3)
- EML3034C - Modeling Methods in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (3)
- EML3303C - Mechanical Engineering Measurements (3)
- EML3701 - Fluid Mechanics I (3)
- EML3500 - Design and Analysis of Machine Components (3)
- EML4142 - Heat Transfer (3)
- EML4312 - System Dynamics and Control (3)
- Earn a minimum grade of S in each of the following:
- EML3933 - Mechanical Career and Academic Faculty Advising I
- EML4931 - Mechanical Career and Academic Faculty Advising II
Advanced Courses
6 Total Credits
- Complete at least 2 of the following:
- EML3101 - Thermodynamics of Mechanical Systems (3)
- EML3262 - Kinematics of Mechanisms (3)
- EML4143 - Heat Transfer II (3)
- EML4220 - Vibrations (3)
- EML4504 - Design & Analysis of Machine Components II (3)
- EML4703 - Fluid Mechanics II (3)
Systems Lab Course
3 Total Credits
- Complete at least 1 of the following:
- EML4301C - Mechanical Systems Laboratory (3)
- EML4306C - Energy Systems Laboratory (3)
Restricted Electives
15 Total Credits
- A "C" (2.0) or better is required for all courses in this section. A minimum 2.250 GPA is required for courses used in Basic Core Requirements, Advanced Core Requirements, Restricted Electives, and Capstone Requirements.
15 Total Credits
- Earn at least 15 credits from the following types of courses: Technical electives are available in the BSME program to address specific student interests in a variety of technical areas. Students can obtain the updated list of the approved technical electives from the Department website (https://mae.ucf.edu/advising/).
Capstone Requirements
6 Total Credits
- A "C" (2.0) or better is required for all courses in this section. A minimum 2.250 GPA is required for courses used in Basic Core Requirements, Advanced Core Requirements, Restricted Electives, and Capstone Requirements.
6 Total Credits
- Earn a minimum grade of C in each of the following:
- EML4501C - Engineering Design I (3)
- EML4502C - Engineering Design II (3)
Grand Total Credits: 74
Total Undergraduate Credit Hours Required: 122
Plan of Study
- A tentative course schedule for entering freshman is available on the CECS Academic Affairs Office website at https://academicaffairs.cecs.ucf.edu/. Students should consult with an Academic Success Coach to develop a personalized plan to graduation.
CECS Senior Design Sequencing Policy
- CECS students who are required to complete a two-course Senior Design sequence are expected to complete the course sequence in consecutive terms (Fall-Spring, Spring-Summer, or Summer-Fall). The Senior Design sequence is expected to be taken during the last two semesters of the academic program.
- Students are expected to enroll into and complete Senior Design 1 in the semester where permission is granted. Permission to delay Senior Design 1 to subsequent terms will not be considered unless the requisites to enroll into Senior Design 1 have not been satisfied or the initial attempt of Senior Design 1 was not completed with a passing grade.
Foreign Language Requirements
- Two years of one foreign language in high school, or one year of one foreign language in college (or equivalent proficiency exam) prior to graduation.
Departmental Exit Requirements
College Exit Requirements
- Students must complete at least eight upper-division courses towards their degree within CECS at UCF.
- Students must complete all their discipline-specific senior design and/or capstone course(s) within CECS at UCF.
University Minimum Exit Requirements
- Students must have a minimum 2.0 UCF GPA.
- Students must have completed 42 semester hours of upper division credit.
- 30 of the last 39 hours of course work must be completed in residency at UCF.
- A maximum of 45 hours of extension, correspondence, CLEP, Credit by Exam, and Armed Forces credits permitted.
- Complete the General Education Program, the State Writing and Math Requirement, nine hours of Summer credit, and Civic Literacy Requirement.
University Honors in Major
- Information on Honors in the Major https://honors.ucf.edu/
Related Programs
- Aerospace Engineering (B.S.A.E.)
- Engineering Leadership Certificate
- Bioengineering Minor
- Computer Science Minor
- Engineering Leadership Minor
- Intelligent Robotic Systems (IRS), Interdisciplinary Minor
- International Engineering & Computer Science Minor
- Materials Science and Engineering Minor
Advising Notes
- Students should meet regularly with their Academic Success Coach. Contact the CECS Academic Affairs Office (https://academicaffairs.cecs.ucf.edu/) for more information on meeting with an Academic Success Coach.
- Each student should seek academic advisement before registering for classes each semester to minimize excess hours and to ensure that satisfactory academic progress is being maintained.
- The Mechanical Engineering program offers the Accelerated BS-MS Program to students of high academic standing. This program allows up to twelve hours to be shared between the BS and MS degrees. Visit https://grad.cecs.ucf.edu/bstoms/ for more information.
- Information on Double Major/Dual Degree requirements may be found in the undergraduate catalog under "Undergraduate Degree Requirements Policies"
Transfer Notes
- Helpful transfer student resources, including established course equivalencies, are available online at https://registrar.ucf.edu/transfer-student-resources/.
- Courses transferred must be formally evaluated for equivalency credit. The student must provide all supporting information with his/her petition for this evaluation.
- EGS 1006C and EGN 1007C are required courses for incoming freshmen only. Students who do not complete these (or equivalent) courses at their prior institution may, with prior approval of the college, substitute up to two credit hours from courses in the Restricted Electives category.
Program Academic Learning Compacts
- Program Academic Learning Compacts (student learning outcomes) for undergraduate programs are located at: http://www.oeas.ucf.edu/alc/academic_learning_compacts.htm
Equipment Fees
- Part-Time Student: $45 per term
- Full-Time Student: $90 per term
