Mechanical Engineering
B.S. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering · UC Irvine · 2026-2027 Catalog
Program Educational Objectives: Graduates of the program will have the professional and scientific education that allows them to be successful as career engineers and in graduate programs. Specifically, they will be able to (1) function in professional environments in industry, government, and academia applying and building upon engineering science knowledge, problem-solving skills, and communication skills; (2) function as members of teams and in leadership roles applying ethical and inclusive standards including the ASME code of ethics within and beyond traditional Mechanical Engineering disciplines; and (3) remain current with technology and contemporary scientific, environmental and societal issues, and consequently improve skills and knowledge through a lifelong process of learning. (Program educational objectives are those aspects of engineering that help shape the curriculum; achievement of these objectives is a shared responsibility between the student and UCI.)
The undergraduate Mechanical Engineering curriculum includes a foundation of mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Engineering courses in fundamental areas constitute much of the remaining curriculum. A few technical electives allow undergraduate students to specialize in Aerospace Engineering, Energy Systems and Environmental Engineering, Flow Physics and Propulsion Systems, and Design of Mechanical Systems or to pursue broader understanding in these areas. A senior capstone design experience culminates the curriculum.
Admission
High School Students: See School Admissions information.
Transfer Students: Preference will be given to junior-level applicants with the highest grades overall, and who have satisfactorily completed the following required courses: two years of approved calculus, one year of calculus-based physics with laboratories (mechanics, electricity and magnetism), completion of lower-division writing, one course in general chemistry (with laboratory), and one course in introductory programming.
Students are encouraged to complete as many of the lower-division degree requirements as possible prior to transfer. Students who enroll at UCI in need of completing lower-division coursework may find that it will take longer than two years to complete their degrees. For further information, contact The Henry Samueli School of Engineering at 949-824-4334.
Requirements
All students must meet the University Requirements.
All students must meet the School Requirements.
Major Requirements
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics and Basic Science Courses: | ||
| CHEM 1A | General Chemistry | |
| orENGR 1A | General Chemistry for Engineers | |
| CHEM 1LC | General Chemistry Laboratory | |
| MATH 2A & MATH 2B | Single-Variable Calculus Iand Single-Variable Calculus II | |
| MATH 2D | Multivariable Calculus I | |
| MATH 2E | Multivariable Calculus II | |
| MATH 3A | Introduction to Linear Algebra | |
| MATH 3D | Elementary Differential Equations | |
| PHYSICS 7C | Classical Physics | |
| PHYSICS 7LC | Classical Physics Laboratory | |
| PHYSICS 7D & PHYSICS 7E | Classical Physicsand Classical Physics | |
| PHYSICS 7LD | Classical Physics Laboratory | |
| PHYSICS 52A | Fundamentals of Experimental Physics | |
| One additional General Education Category II course offered by the Schools of Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences, or Information and Computer Sciences. | ||
| Engineering Topics Courses: | ||
| Core Courses: | ||
| ENGR 54 | Principles of Materials Science and Engineering | |
| ENGRMAE 10 | Introduction to Engineering Computations | |
| ENGRMAE 30 | Statics | |
| ENGRMAE 52 | Computer-Aided Design | |
| ENGRMAE 60 | Electric Circuits | |
| orEECS 70A | Network Analysis I | |
| ENGRMAE 80 | Dynamics | |
| ENGRMAE 91 | Introduction to Thermodynamics | |
| ENGRMAE 106 | Mechanical Systems Laboratory | |
| ENGRMAE 107 | Fluid Thermal Science Laboratory | |
| ENGRMAE 112 | Propulsion | |
| orENGRMAE 115 | Applied Engineering Thermodynamics | |
| ENGRMAE 120 | Heat and Mass Transfer | |
| ENGRMAE 130A | Fluid Dynamics I | |
| ENGRMAE 130B | Fluid Dynamics II | |
| ENGRMAE 145 | Theory of Machines and Mechanisms | |
| ENGRMAE 147 | Vibrations | |
| ENGRMAE 150 | Mechanics of Structures | |
| ENGRMAE 150L | Mechanics of Structures Laboratory | |
| ENGRMAE 151A | Mechanical Engineering Design I | |
| ENGRMAE 151B | Mechanical Engineering Design II | |
| ENGRMAE 155 | Composite Materials and Structures | |
| orENGRMAE 156 | Mechanical Behavior and Design Principles | |
| orENGRMAE 157 | Lightweight Structures | |
| ENGRMAE 170 | Introduction to Control Systems | |
| Technical Elective Courses: | ||
| Students select a minimum of 12 units of technical electives. For students majoring in both Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, a core course in one major cannot be counted as a technical elective in the other major. Any upper-division course in the department not used for the degree may be used as a technical elective. At least 4 units of technical electives must come from ENGRMAE upper-division courses, excluding ENGRMAE 199. No more than 4 units of the remaining 8 units of technical electives should come from ENGRMAE 199. | ||
| ENGR 7A-ENGR 7B and STATS 67 are exceptions to the upper-division requirement for technical electives. Both ENGR 7A-ENGR 7B must be taken to be counted as one technical elective. | ||
| Upper-division courses from the schools of Engineering, Physical Sciences, and Information and Computer Sciences are pre-approved as technical electives. Courses that cannot be taken as technical electives include GE 1B Upper-Division writing courses, ENGRMAE 197 and other co-op/internship courses in engineering, any course that an ENGRMAE core course lists as an overlap, and ENGR 113, ENGR 191, MSE 187, ENGRCEE 170, EECS 160A, CBE 120A, CBE 120B, CBE 120C, BME 110A, and BME 147. For courses from other schools, approval from the Undergraduate Advisor is required. | ||
| Engineering Professional Topics Course: | ||
| ECON 20A | Basic Economics I | |
| orECON 23 | Basic Economics for Engineers | |
| ENGR 190W | Communications in the Professional World | |
At most an aggregate total of 4 units of 199 or H199 courses may be used to satisfy degree requirements.
(The nominal Mechanical Engineering program will require 186 units of courses to satisfy all university and major requirements. Because each student comes to UCI with a different level of preparation, the actual number of units will vary.)
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Specialization in Aerospace Engineering: | ||
| Completion of a Senior Design Project in this area, and | ||
| select two of the following: | ||
| ENGRMAE 112 | Propulsion | |
| ENGRMAE 135 | Compressible Flow | |
| ENGRMAE 136 | Aerodynamics | |
| ENGRMAE 158 | Aircraft Performance | |
| ENGRMAE 159 | Aircraft Design | |
| ENGRMAE 175 | Dynamics and Control of Aerospace Vehicles | |
| Specialization in Energy Systems and Environmental Engineering: | ||
| Completion of a Senior Design Project in this area, and | ||
| select two of the following: | ||
| ENGRMAE 110 | Combustion and Fuel Cell Systems | |
| ENGRMAE 112 | Propulsion | |
| ENGRMAE 114 | Fuel Cell Fundamentals and Technology | |
| ENGRMAE 115 | Applied Engineering Thermodynamics | |
| ENGRMAE 117 | Solar and Renewable Energy Systems | |
| ENGRMAE 118 | Sustainable Energy Systems | |
| ENGRMAE 164 | Air Pollution and Control | |
| Specialization in Flow Physics and Propulsion Systems: | ||
| Completion of a Senior Design Project in this area, and | ||
| select two of the following: | ||
| ENGRMAE 110 | Combustion and Fuel Cell Systems | |
| ENGRMAE 112 | Propulsion | |
| ENGRMAE 113 | Electric Propulsion | |
| ENGRMAE 135 | Compressible Flow | |
| Specialization in Design of Mechanical Systems: | ||
| Completion of a Senior Design Project in this area, and | ||
| select two of the following: | ||
| ENGR 165 | Advanced Manufacturing | |
| ENGRMAE 152 | Introduction to Computer-Aided Engineering | |
| ENGRMAE 171 | Digital Control Systems | |
| ENGRMAE 172 | Design of Computer-Controlled Robots | |
| ENGRMAE 183 | Computer-Aided Mechanism Design | |
| ENGRMAE 188 | Engineering Design in Industry | |
Selection of elective courses must be approved by the student’s faculty advisor and the departmental undergraduate advisor.
Sample Program
Freshman
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 2A | MATH 2B | MATH 2D |
| ENGRMAE 10 | PHYSICS 7C | PHYSICS 7D |
| CHEM 1A or ENGR 1A | PHYSICS 7LC | PHYSICS 7LD |
| ENGR 7A* | CHEM 1LC | Basic Science |
| General Education | ENGR 7B* | |
| General Education |
Sophomore
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 3A | MATH 3D | MATH 2E |
| PHYSICS 7E | ENGR 54 | ENGRMAE 91 |
| PHYSICS 52A | ENGRMAE 60 | ENGRMAE 130A |
| ENGRMAE 30 | ENGRMAE 80 | ECON 23 or 20A |
| General Education |
Junior
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| ENGRMAE 115 or 112 | ENGRMAE 52 | ENGRMAE 106 |
| ENGRMAE 130B | ENGRMAE 147 | ENGRMAE 120 |
| ENGRMAE 150 | General Education | ENGRMAE 145 |
| ENGRMAE 150L | ENGRMAE 155, 156, or 157 | General Education |
Senior
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| ENGRMAE 107 | ENGRMAE 151B | Technical Elective |
| ENGRMAE 170 | Technical Elective* | Technical Elective |
| ENGRMAE 151A | General Education | General Education |
| ENGR 190W | General Education |
*ENGR 7A-ENGR 7B is a technical elective, available only to lower-division students in Fall and Winter quarters. Both ENGR 7A and ENGR 7B must be taken to count as a technical elective. If ENGR 7A-ENGR 7B is taken, this will replace one technical elective course in the senior year.
The sample program of study chart shown is typical for the accredited major in Mechanical Engineering. Students should keep in mind that this program is based upon a rigid set of prerequisites, beginning with adequate preparation in high school mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Students should consult with their academic counselor to structure their program of study. Mechanical Engineering majors are encouraged to consult with academic counselors as needed, and students who are academically at risk are mandated to see a counselor as frequently as deemed necessary by the advising staff.
Students can dual major in Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering by satisfying the degree requirements for both majors.