Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Degree

Build a car. Create new solar technologies. Design better orthopedic implants. And that’s just the start. A mechanical engineering degree from UNM gives you comprehensive knowledge and a broad set of engineering skills — from machines and tooling to computer-aided design — that will take you anywhere you want to go.

SOE mechanical engineering students work in state-of-the-art labs, take a unique five-semester design sequence involving advanced computer simulations, and participate in a senior design project to produce and present an original material, product or process.

The UNM Mechanical Engineering program is ABET-accredited, assuring that it meets nationally recognized standards and that our graduates are well-prepared. Students are encouraged to participate with faculty in innovative research in energy conversion, energy resources, environment and transportation, manufacturing, materials and structures, systems and design and other exciting areas.

Here is some basic information about the undergraduate degree program at UNM. Be sure to visit the ME Department website.

 

Student Projects

FSAEStudents in the 3-semester Formula SAE class design and build a race car, then compete against teams from universities all over the world.

More about the FSAE competition:

LOBOMotorSports Places 19th in International FSAE Competition

UNM Team Prepares for Formula SAE® Race Car Competition

FSAE LOBO Motorsports web site

Admission to the Undergraduate Program

Students must be admitted for study at the University of New Mexico and must have completed approximately one year of the freshman year subjects before applications are processed for admission to the Baccalaureate Program in Mechanical Engineering. Approval from the ME Department is required. Applicants must consult the appropriate departmental advisor for evaluation of academic work before admission can be completed.

See Undergraduate Admission Guidelines for entry to the School of Engineering as a Pre-Major http://soe.unm.edu/prospective/ugrad-admissions.html

For Admission to the ME Department

  • At least 18 semester hours of freshman year technical subjects (Computer Science, Engineering, Math, Physics, and Chemistry) are required by the School of Engineering for admission into degree programs.
  • A minimum grade-point average of 2.75 in those technical courses is required for admission to undergraduate study in Mechanical Engineering.
  • A total of 26 semester hours (technical plus non-technical courses) applicable to the BSME degree is required for admission with a grade-point average of at least 2.20.
  • All applicants must have completed English 101 or its equivalent before admission.
  • All courses required in the BSME program must have grades of C- or better for satisfying both admission and graduation requirements, except a C (or better) in Core Curriculum courses is required.
  • Students transferring from other units of the School of Engineering must have a GPA of at least 2.75 on all required technical course work applied towards the BSME degree before being admitted to Mechanical Engineering.

Information for Transfer Students

  • Transfer students from other universities or from other colleges at UNM must complete at least 18 semester hours of required technical (Computer Science, Engineering, Math, Chemistry, and Physics) courses applicable towards the BSME degree at UNM with a grade-point average of at least 2.75 before being admitted to Mechanical Engineering.
  • For all transfer students, a grade-point average of 2.20 is required for all (technical plus non-technical) courses taken at UNM that are applicable towards the BSME degree before being admitted to Mechanical Engineering.

Advisement

Pre-major engineering students who have indicated ME as their intended major are advised by the ME Undergraduate Advisor. Upon admission to the ME program (until graduation), each student will be assigned to one of the faculty members for advisement. Students in the ME program are required to seek advisement from their designated advisor each semester during the pre-registration period.

The purpose of this session is to help the student with any problems he/she may have regarding his/her program of studies. Students will have an advisement hold and not be allowed to register until they have consulted with their advisor.

Program Advisement Faculty Advisors

Janine Pacheco
505.277.2762
jpachec3@unm.edu

Robert Greenlee, PhD
505.277.5613
bgreen@unm.edu

John Wood, PhD – Manufacturing Engineering
505.272.7000
jw@unm.edu

See the ME Undergraduate Policy Manual: http://me.unm.edu/resources/UseThisPolicyManual.pdf

Research in the Mechanical Engineering Department

Mechanical Engineering at UNM offers a variety of research areas that include energy conversion, energy resources, environment and transportation, manufacturing, materials and structures, and systems and design. Here's an example:

Can a building power itself?
More than a place to study, the Mechanical Engineering building is a giant lab with a unique heating and cooling system and “smart grid” technology that students help manage as part of ongoing research. State-of-the-art solar vacuum tube collectors on the roof reduce the peak
electric power demand and efficiently use solar energy. Read more here.

Careers in Mechanical Engineering

With a wide spectrum influenced by machinery, mechanical engineers design and develop much of the technology used in everyday life. From robotics to bionics, automotive to apparel, mechanical engineers research, design and build products for consumer and industrial use. As one of the oldest engineering disciplines, mechanical engineering is characterized by its breadth of study, allowing individual and flexible career paths.

  • work in robotics, manufacturing, aerospace, biotech, and more
  • develop alternative energy resources
  • design vehicles, including rockets and aircraft
  • conduct atmospheric research

For more information on jobs in mechanical engineering, visit:

Organizations Hiring UNM Mechanical Engineering Graduates

  • Air Force Research Laboratory
  • Boeing
  • Chrysler Corporation
  • Ford Motor Corporation
  • Honda
  • Intel
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • NASA
  • Northrop Grumman
  • PNM
  • Sandia National Laboratories
  • Siemens
  • Stryker Corporation
  • Texas Instruments