Mechanical Engineering Specializations

A Mechanical Engineering student who chooses to take specific electives will be awarded with a specialization that will appear on their transcript and diploma. 

Note: 

  • Specializations are optional and students are only eligible for one specialization.  (Students on a pre-FA19 academic plan will be automatically updated to the FA19 academic plan when they request to switch to a new ME major with specialization.)
  • In order to declare or drop a specialization, please submit a request through the Triton Student System. (Search under Mechanical Engineering, followed by the name of the specialization) Requests MUST be made at least 1 academic quarter before graduation.

Due to the fact that some specialization courses may only be offered once a year, students are HIGHLY encouraged to begin planning their specialization at least 2 years before graduation. It is recommended to complete at least 2 specialization courses before your final year. If you choose to wait until your final year, it may be impossible to complete all the requirements.

IMPORTANT: If students cannot complete the requirements within four years or three years for transfer students, they must return to the major without a specialization.

 

Students Admitted Directly into a ME Major w/Specialization

Students will follow either the freshman 4-year ME plan or the transfer 3-year ME plan and will take 4 out of their required 5 technical electives (TEs) from the list of approved specialization courses below.

As for the 5th and final TE, students have the choice to take another course from the list of approved specialization courses or choose a TE from the general list of approved TEs here.

 

Note: The schedule of TEs varies from year to year. Students are recommended to check the course offerings webpage at the beginning of each academic year to see which TEs will be offered and then plan accordingly.

Controls & Robotics (MAE-BS-010)

The specialization in controls and robotics is designed for students who want to understand the fundamentals of controls and optimization and their applications in robotics such as autonomous vehicles, biomedical technologies, and swarms of drones.

Students must complete all the mechanical engineering requirements described above, and four of the five technical electives must be selected from the list below, including at least two of the courses marked with an asterisk (*):

  • MAE-108. Probability and Statistical Methods for Engineering
  • MAE-142. Dynamics and Control of Aerospace Vehicles*
  • MAE-144. Embedded Control and Robotics*
  • MAE-145. Introduction to Robotic Planning and Estimation*
  • MAE-146. Introduction to ML Algorithms
  • MAE-148. Introduction to Autonomous Vehicles
  • MAE-180  Orbital Mechanics*
  • MAE-200. Controls*
  • MAE-204. Robotics*
  • SE-143A. Aerospace Structural Design I
  • SE-143B. Aerospace Structural Design II

 

Note: SE-143A/B are the SE senior design capstone courses so students will be expected to complete both A&B consecutively.

Fluid Mechanics & Thermal Systems (MAE-BS-009)

The specialization in fluid mechanics and thermal systems is designed for students who are interested in the fundamentals of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and engineering applications.

Students must complete all the mechanical engineering requirements described above and four of the five technical electives must be selected from the list below:

  • MAE-101D. Intermediate Heat Transfer
  • MAE-104. Aerodynamics
  • MAE-110. Thermodynamic Systems
  • MAE-113. Fundamentals of Propulsion
  • MAE-119. Introduction to Renewable Energy: Solar and Wind
  • MAE-122. Flow and Transport in the Environment
  • MAE-185. Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • MAE-201. Mechanics of Fluids
  • MAE-202. Thermal Processes
  • BENG-103B. Bioengineering Mass Transfer or CENG-101C. Mass Transfer
  • SIO-111. Introduction to Ocean Waves
  • SIO-172. Physics of the Atmosphere
  • SIO-173. Dynamics of the Atmosphere and Climate
  • SIO-178. Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
Materials Science & Engineering (MAE-BS-008)

The specialization in materials science and engineering is designed for students who are interested in materials fundamentals and applications in engineering such as criteria for materials selection, fabrication and failure analysis of engineering components, nanomaterials and materials for biomedical, energy, and electrical/magnetic/optical applications.

Students must complete all the mechanical engineering requirements described above and four of the five technical electives must be selected from the list below. Only one of the courses marked with an asterisk (*) will be accepted for the specialization, not all:

  • MAE-130. Mechanics III: Vibrations
  • One of the following two courses:
    • MAE-131B. Fundamentals of Solid Mechanics II (if MAE-160 is used to satisfy ME major requirement)
    • MAE-160. Mechanical Behavior of Materials (if MAE-131B is used to satisfy ME major requirement)
  • MAE-133. Finite Element Methods in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering*
  • MAE-165. Fatigue and Failure Analysis of Engineering Components
  • MAE-166. Nanomaterials
  • MAE-190. Biomaterials and Medical Devices (NOTE: It must be this subtitle.)
  • NANO-134. Polymeric Materials (or MATS-257. Polymer Science and Engineering)
  • NANO-148. Thermodynamics of Materials
  • NANO-158. Phase Transformations and Kinetics
  • NANO-158L. Materials Processing Laboratory
  • NANO-161. Material Selection in Engineering
  • NANO-174L. Mechanical Behavior Laboratory
  • SE-131A. Finite Element Analysis*
  • SE-131B. Finite Element Analysis: Beam and Shell Models*
  • SE-142. Design of Composite Structures
  • SE-163. Nondestructive Evaluation
Mechanics of Materials (MAE-BS-007)

The specialization in mechanics of materials is designed for students who are interested in gaining expertise in the areas of mechanics of solid and soft materials, and the dynamics of material systems (e.g., bioinspired systems and metamaterials), including applications to engineering structures and devices, manufacturing, energy, and biomedical engineering. Students can choose from a diverse set of courses in mechanics, numerical modeling, and material science.

Students must complete all the mechanical engineering requirements described above and four of the five technical electives must be selected from the list below, including both of the courses marked with an asterisk (*):

  • MAE-130. Mechanics III: Vibrations*
  • One of the following two courses*:
    • MAE-131B. Fundamentals of Solid Mechanics II (if MAE-160 is used to satisfy ME major requirement)
    • MAE-160. Mechanical Behavior of Materials (if MAE-131B is used to satisfy ME major requirement) 
  • MAE-133. Finite Element Methods in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • MAE-165. Fatigue and Failure Analysis of Engineering Components
  • MAE-166. Nanomaterials
  • MAE -90. Biomaterials and Medical Devices  (NOTE: It must be this subtitle.)
  • NANO-134. Polymeric Materials (or MATS-257. Polymer Science and Engineering)
  • NANO-148. Thermodynamics of Materials
  • NANO-158. Phase Transformations and Kinetics
  • NANO-158L. Materials Processing Laboratory
  • NANO-161. Material Selection in Engineering
  • NANO-174L. Mechanical Behavior Laboratory
  • SE-142. Design of Composite Structures
  • SE-163. Nondestructive Evaluation
Renewable Energy & Environmental Flows (REEF) (MAE-BS-006)

The specialization in renewable energy and environmental flows is designed for students who are interested in technologies that enable sustainable growth, in flow and transport in atmosphere, ocean, and groundwater, and renewable energy solutions for the electric power system. Students can choose from a diverse set of courses in oceanography, chemistry, and various engineering disciplines.

Students must complete all the mechanical engineering requirements described above and four of the five technical electives must be selected from the list below, including both courses marked with an asterisk (*):

  • Core
    • MAE-119, Introduction to Renewable Energy: Solar and Wind*
    • MAE-122. Flow and Transport in the Environment*
  • Environmental Flows
    • MAE-123. Introduction to Transport in Porous Media
    • MAE-185. Computational Fluid Dynamics
    • SIO-111. Introduction to Ocean Waves
    • SIO-171. Introduction to Physical Oceanography
    • SIO-172. Physics of the Atmosphere
    • SIO-173. Dynamics of the Atmosphere and Climate
    • SIO-175. Analysis of Oceanic and Atmospheric Data
    • SIO-176. Observational Physical Oceanography
    • SIO-178. Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
    • SIO-179. Ocean Instruments and Sensors
  • Energy
    • MAE-101D. Intermediate Heat Transfer
    • MAE-108. Probability and Statistical Methods for Engineering
    • MAE-110. Thermodynamics Systems
    • MAE-120. Introduction to Nuclear Energy
    • MAE-125. Building Energy Efficiency
    • MAE-206. Energy Systems
    • ECE-121A. Power Systems Analysis and Fundamentals
    • ECE-121B. Energy Conversion
    • ECE-125A. Introduction to Power Electronics I
    • ECE-125B. Introduction to Power Electronics II
    • ESYS-103. Environmental Challenges: Science and Solutions
    • SIO-117. The Physical Basis of Global Warming
  • Environmental Chemistry
    • CENG-100. Material and Energy Balances
    • CHEM-171. Environmental Chemistry I
    • CHEM-172. Environmental Chemistry II
    • CHEM-173. Atmospheric Chemistry
    • ESYS-101. Environmental Biology
    • SIO-141/CHEM-174. Chemical Principles of Marine Systems
    • SIO-143. Ocean Acidification
    • SIO-174. Chemistry of the Atmosphere and Oceans
    • Most CENG and CHEM courses (with petition)