COLLEGE of ENGINEERING
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING and AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
Professor Thomas D. Burton, department head
Associate Professor Ronald J. Pederson†, associate department head
Professors Genin†, Hardee*†, Ma, Smith* (emeritus); Associate Professors Butcher, Choo, Conley†, Garcia, Leslie, Park, Sevostianov; Assistant Professors Cai, Dobroskok, Lee, Shashikanth, Wei; College Professors Donaldson*, Hill
(575) 646-3501
*Registered Professional Engineer (NM)
†Registered Professional Engineer (State other than NM)
DEGREE: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
The mechanical engineering program prepares students for a wide range of professional engineering careers in such areas as research and development, design, facilities operation and maintenance, management, and production. Graduates of the program will be prepared to apply engineering sciences, mathematics, computational methods, modern experimental methods, and effective communication skills to problems of interest in industry and government or scholarly topics. Employment opportunities for graduates are extensive. These include energy and utility, manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, defense and space, research and development, and many others. The emphasis in the curriculum is on engineering sciences (solid mechanics, thermal sciences, fluid mechanics, and materials science), mathematics, engineering analysis, engineering design, general sciences, and communication balanced with general education topics and electives. Graduates of the program will also be prepared for graduate studies (subject to grade-point and standardized test qualifications). Students will be prepared to take the fundamentals of engineering examination (and are encouraged to do so) as a step towards professional registration.
Mechanical Engineering Educational Goals and Objectives
The goals of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, as set forth in the departmental strategic plan, are:
- to educate those who will advance knowledge and become the future leaders of industry and academia;
- to conduct both basic and applied research in mechanical engineering and related interdisciplinary areas; and
- to provide service to the profession, to the State of New Mexico, to the country, and to the future development of engineering world wide.
A critical focus within the department is to afford undergraduates of varying backgrounds and abilities every opportunity for achieving success in the mechanical engineering profession. To address this focus, the faculty of the mechanical engineering department, with input from other constituents, have established the following educational objectives for the undergraduate program:
- Technical Knowledge: Graduates will possess a mastery of the fundamentals of mechanical engineering necessary to be productive and innovative engineers in industry or government, prosperous entrepreneurs, and/or succeed in graduate or other professional schools, and to advance in their employment.
- Problem-Solving Skills: Graduates will be able to formulate, analyze, and creatively participate in the solution of multidisciplinary technical problems through the use of modern engineering tools, be they experimental, analytical or computational.
- Communication Skills: Graduates will be able to formulate, analyze, and creatively participate in the solution of multidisciplinary technical problems through the use of modern engineering tools, be they experimental, analytical or computational.
- Professionalism: Graduates will possess the skills needed to fulfill their professional duties and responsibilities in teamwork, collegiality, ethics, technical leadership, business acumen, and lifelong learning.
Graduation Requirements
In addition to the NMSU requirements for graduation, a student must obtain a minimum grade of C in mechanical or aerospace engineering courses.
Requirements (Total credits 134)
Freshman Year (31 credits)
| CHEM 111G, General Chemistry I, and CHEM 112G, Chemistry II | 8 |
| ENGL 111G, Rhetoric and Composition | 4 |
| MATH 191G/191GL, Calculus and Analytic Geometry I and Lab | 4 |
| MATH 192G/192GL, Calculus and Analytic Geometry II and Lab | 4 |
| M E 102, Mechanical Engineering Orientation | 1 |
| M E 159, Graphical Communication and Design | 2 |
| M E 166, Introduction to Mechanical Engineering | 2 |
| M E 222, Product Development/ Laboratory | 3 |
| Approved General Education Area I Writing elective | 3 |
Sophomore Year (36 credits)
| C E 301, Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| E E 201, Networks I | 3 |
| MATH 291G, Calculus and Analytic Geometry III | 3 |
| MATH 392, Differential Equations | 3 |
| M E 236, Engineering Mechanics I | 3 |
| M E 237, Engineering Mechanics II | 3 |
| M E 240, Thermodynamics | 3 |
| M E 260, Mechanical Engineering Problem Solving | 3 |
| PHYS 215G, Engineering Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 216G, Engineering Physics II | 3 |
| Approved General Education Area I Communications elective | 3 |
| Approved General Education Area IV Social/Behavioral elective | 3 |
Junior Year (33 credits)
| CH E 361, Engineering Materials | 3 |
| M E 328, Engineering Analysis I | 3 |
| M E 338, Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| M E 340, Applied Thermodynamics | 3 |
| M E 345, Experimental Methods I | 3 |
| M E 326, Mechanical Design | 3 |
| M E 341, Heat Transfer | 3 |
| Approved Mechanics elective* | 3 |
| Approved General Education Area IV Social/Behavioral Sci elective | 3 |
| Approved General Education Area V Humanities/Fine Arts elective | 3 |
| Approved General Education Area V Humanities/Fine Arts elective | 3 |
Senior Year (34 credits)
| ME 329, Engineering Analysis II | 3 |
| M E 425, Design of Machine Elements | 3 |
| M E 426, Design Project Laboratory I | 3 |
| M E 427, Design Project Laboratory II | 3 |
| M E 445, Experimental Methods II | 3 |
| M E 449, Mechanical Engineering Senior Seminar | 1 |
| Approved General Education Area IV or V elective | 3 |
| Approved General Education Viewing a Wider World elective | 6 |
| Mathematics elective** | 3 |
| Mechanical engineering electives*** | 6 |
*Mechanics elective must be taken from M E 331, 332, or 333.
**Mathematics electives must be taken from MATH 391, 471, 472, 473, 480, STAT 371, or I E 310.
***Students in their senior year choose 6 credits of M E electives.
DEGREE: Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering
The aerospace engineering program prepares students for a range of professional engineering careers in aerospace and related professions. The aerospace engineering curriculum covers the important classical areas of low and high speed aerodynamics, propulsion, orbital mechanics, flight mechanics and control, aerospace structures, and laboratory practice. In addition, the principles of systems engineering and design that are necessary to conceive, design, analyze and troubleshoot complex engineering systems are covered extensively and are considered to be especially important in the overall educational experience. Students will also be encouraged to participate in significant non-classroom experiences, including co-ops and internships, industrial and laboratory field trips, guest speakers from outside NMSU, the New Mexico Space Grant Program, and special seminar programs on current topics in aerospace. Aerospace engineers find employment in areas of launch vehicles, space vehicles and missions, aircraft systems design, land and sea vehicle design, robotics and automated manufacturing, safety, and other areas. The aerospace engineering background also allows graduates to pursue careers in non-aerospace fields of engineering. Graduates of the aerospace engineering program will be prepared to apply engineering sciences, mathematics, computational methods, modern experimental methods, effective communication skills, and systems engineering principles to problems of interest in industry, and in research and development. The aerospace engineering program is also intended to prepare students to pursue graduate study, which can be of significant benefit in the aerospace profession. The general goals of the aerospace engineering program, as well as the program educational objectives, will be the same as those stated above for the mechanical engineering program.
Requirements (Total credits 134)
Freshman Year (31 credits) (Same as M E above)
| CHEM 111G, General Chemistry I, and CHEM 112G, Chemistry II | 8 |
| ENGL 111G, Rhetoric and Composition | 4 |
| MATH 191G, 191GL, 192G, 192GL, Calculus and Analytic Geometry I, II | 8 |
| M E 102, Mechanical Engineering Orientation | 1 |
| M E 159, Graphical Communication and Design | 2 |
| M E 166, Introduction to Mechanical Engineering | 2 |
| M E 222, Product Development/Laboratory | 3 |
| Approved General Education Area I Writing Elective | 3 |
Sophomore Year (36 credits) (Same as M E above)
| C E 301, Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| E E 201, Networks I | 3 |
| MATH 291G, Calculus and Analytic Geometry III | 3 |
| MATH 392, Differential Equations | 3 |
| M E 236, Engineering Mechanics I | 3 |
| ME 237, Engineering Mechanics II | 3 |
| M E 240, Thermodynamics | 3 |
| M E 260, Mechanical Engineering Problem Solving | 3 |
| PHYS 215G, Engineering Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 216G, Engineering Physics II | 3 |
| Approved General Education Area I Communications elective | 3 |
| Approved General Education Area IV Social/Behavioral Sci elective | 3 |
Junior Year (33 credits)
| CH E 361, Engineering Materials | 3 |
| M E 328, Engineering Analysis I | 3 |
| M E 345, Experimental Methods I | 3 |
| M E 341, Heat Transfer | 3 |
| A E 339, Aerodynamics I | 3 |
| A E 362, Orbital Mechanics and the Space Environment | 3 |
| A E 363, Aerospace Structures | 3 |
| A E 364, Flight Dynamics and Controls | 3 |
| A E 439, Aerodynamics II | 3 |
| Approved General Education Area IV Social/Behavioral Sci elective | 3 |
| Approved General Education Area V Humanities/Fine Arts elective | 3 |
Senior Year (34 credits)
| M E 329, Engineering Analysis II | 3 |
| M E 449, Mechanical Engineering Senior Seminar | 1 |
| A E 419, Propulsion | 3 |
| A E 424, Aerospace Systems Engineering | 3 |
| A E 428, Aerospace Capstone Design Laboratory | 3 |
| A E 447, Aerofluids Laboratory | 3 |
| Approved General Education V Humanities/Fine Arts elective | 3 |
| Approved General Education Area IV or V elective | 3 |
| Approved General Education Viewing a Wider World electives | 6 |
| Mathematics elective** | 3 |
| Aerospace engineering electives*** | 3 |
**Mathematics electives must be taken from MATH 391, 471, 472, 473, 480, STAT 371, or I E 310.
***Students in their senior year choose 3 credits of A E electives.
MINOR: Aerospace Engineering (total credits 44)
Prerequisites1 (26 credits)
| MATH 191G/191GL, Calculus I and lab2 | 4 |
| MATH 192G/192GL, Calculus II and lab2 | 4 |
| MATH 291G, Calculus III2 | 3 |
| MATH 392, Differential Equations2 | 3 |
| PHYS 215G, Engineering Physics I2 | 3 |
| M E 236, Engineering Mechanics I2 | 3 |
| M E 237, Engineering Mechanics II2 | 3 |
| M E 240, Thermodynamics2 | 3 |
AE Core Requirements (12 credits)
| A E 339, Aerodynamics I2 | 3 |
| A E 439, Aerodynamics II2 | 3 |
| A E 419, Propulsion | 3 |
| A E 364, Flight Dynamics and Control | 3 |
A E Electives (6 credits)
Choose one course from the following:
| A E 362, Orbital Mechanics & Space Environment | 3 |
| A E 363, Aerospace Structures | 3 |
| Choose one course from the following: | |
| A E 362, Orbital Mechanics & Space Environment | 3 |
| A E 363, Aerospace Structures | 3 |
| A E 424, Aerospace Systems Engineering | 3 |
| A E 447, Aerofluids Laboratory | 3 |
1Certain Electives may require additional prerequisites.
2A grade of C or better is required.