Description
Mechanical engineering focuses on designing and developing all types of devices and systems that move. You could be at the forefront of the world's most exciting industries, including aerospace, automotive, robotics, biotechnology, and energy systems.
As a mechanical engineering student at Oregon State, you'll receive a comprehensive education with a solid foundation in mathematics, science, and computer science, along with an emphasis on creative problem-solving and design. You'll gain practical experience through classroom projects that will challenge you to invent solutions to real-world problems.
At Oregon State, you can explore the many career paths in mechanical engineering through paid internships. Whether you're interested in developing cutting-edge technology, designing new products, or working on complex systems, a mechanical engineering degree will give you the skills and knowledge you need to make your mark on the world.
Undergraduate Information
- Electrical Fundamentals
- Engineering Graphics and 3-D Modeling
- Mechanical Properties of Materials
- Introduction to Thermal-Fluid Processes
- Mechanical Component Design
By choosing an option below, students can focus their studies on specific subsets within Mechanical Engineering. Options are visible on transcripts, allowing students to show these specialized skills to potential employers.
- Aerospace
- Computational engineering
- Energy and fluid systems
- Energy systems engineering
- Materials design and manufacturing
- Mechanical engineering science
- Product development and manufacturing
- Robotics control
With our program, you'll gain the knowledge and expertise necessary to solve complex engineering problems effectively. Through interactive online courses and engaging virtual labs, you'll develop a deep understanding of mechanical engineering concepts and their practical applications. Whether it's designing efficient engines, enhancing manufacturing processes, or exploring renewable energy solutions, our program will empower you to make a real impact in the world through your passion for mechanical engineering.
- American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, OSU
- Engineers Without Borders - Oregon State University
- Marine Renewable Energy Club
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers
- Robotics Club, OSU
- Society of Automotive Engineers
Have a question about a club? Ask the Engineering Student Council.
“I figured out what I really wanted to be doing was building the airplanes and rockets.” – Kristen Travers, B.S. mechanical engineering, aerospace minor ’21. Read about Kristen’s experience at Oregon State.
Brittany Blanksma-Stark (B.S. mechanical engineering ’22) came to Oregon State University to change careers from music to engineering and pursue a passion for space exploration. She served as the president of the university’s Aeronautics and Astronautics student chapter and as team lead for Oregon State’s NASA University Student Launch Initiative 2021-2022 competition team.
Visitors group looks to Beaver Boat Locker to drive economic impact along Willamette River
Jonathan Cordisco, an OSU Honors College student who works in the College of Engineering’s Prototype Development Lab, has developed a locker system for kayakers, canoeists and stand-up paddleboarders to secure their craft and gear if they want to go into town for a walk, a meal or to stay the night.
Releasing history
Amrit Nam Khalsa, mechanical engineering ’18, didn’t even consider a career in aerospace until he was a senior. His first job after graduation? Testing and troubleshooting a critical component of the $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope.
This new curriculum for the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree will introduce new transcript-visible options, informing potential employers of the students specialized knowledge and skills while also providing students with guidance on course selection.
Students will be required to choose one of the six new specialized options, or choose the default option of Mechanical Engineering Science, which allows them to be flexible without focusing on one area within Mechanical Engineering.
Other curriculum improvements include a new dynamics course, a new programming course in the second year, and a streamlined thermal-fluid sciences sequence.
Current students who would like to transfer into the new Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering curriculum, please fill out the form below:
The revised curriculum will go into effect Fall 2023. All new students admitted starting this term will follow the revised curriculum. Any existing students, admitted before this term, will continue to follow the old curriculum, but can transfer to the new curriculum if they wish.
New ME options Information for students who started prior to Fall 2023
Graduate Information
Requirements Program information and milestones
The Master of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering (MEng ME) offers students the opportunity to pursue advanced study in the field of mechanical engineering without also having to complete a research thesis or project. This coursework-only degree is concerned with the practical application of specialized, graduate-level engineering knowledge.
Options: The following graduate options are available to students in the mechanical engineering major. Each option is one of several distinct variants of course aggregations within a major that focuses on an area of study designed to provide a student with specialized knowledge, competence, and skills. Options are listed on the student's transcript but are not required.
Requirements Program information and milestones
Master of Science Mechanical Engineering student at Oregon State pursue one of the following degree paths:
- Thesis. Students whose MS degree includes a thesis are involved in original mechanical engineering research or the novel application of existing mechanical engineering knowledge to a practical problem. A student’s research topic must be approved and supervised by their major professor and their work will be evaluated by their graduate committee. After successfully defending their thesis at a final oral examination, students will be required to register their research title with the Graduate School and upload to ScholarsArchive their thesis for approval and archiving.
- Non-thesis. Students whose MS degree includes work not leading to a thesis, will fulfill the Graduate School’s research-in-lieu-of-thesis requirement by completing a project applying mechanical engineering knowledge and methods to a practical problem. A student’s project topic must be approved and supervised by their major professor and their work will be evaluated by their graduate committee. A project report will be presented at a final oral exam, but project reports are not reviewed or approved by the Graduate School.
Options: The following graduate options are available to students in the mechanical engineering major. Each option is one of several distinct variants of course aggregations within a major that focuses on an area of study designed to provide a student with specialized knowledge, competence, and skills. Options are listed on the student's transcript but are not required.
Requirements Program information and milestones
Doctoral students in mechanical engineering generate new knowledge through original research. Dissemination of the new knowledge happens in the form of a doctoral thesis (dissertation). A student’s research topic must be approved and supervised by their major professor and their work will be evaluated by their graduate committee. After successfully defending their dissertation at a final oral examination, students will be required to register their research title with the Graduate School and upload their thesis to ScholarsArchive for approval and archiving.
Options: The following graduate options are available to students in the mechanical engineering major. Each option is one of several distinct variants of course aggregations within a major that focuses on an area of study designed to provide a student with specialized knowledge, competence, and skills. Options are listed on the student's transcript but are not required.
Priority Deadline for Application
Please Note: If you are seeking a graduate assistantship, and wish to be included in the priority consideration pool, you must complete and submit the University application by December 31. Every year, our deadline for priority consideration is December 31.
Logan Yliniemi (Ph.D. mechanical engineering and robotics '15) was one of the first students to receive a doctorate from Oregon State's robotics program. Today, he is a research scientists working to increase productivity throughout Amazon's network.
Burning to understand
On the heels of Oregon’s costliest wildfire season, researchers at Oregon State University are ramping up efforts to better predict how the blazes behave, including how they generate fire-spreading embers.
Wave Power
Working to maximize the potential of wave energy, Bryony DuPont, associate professor of mechanical engineering, and her team develop computer simulations to help wave energy converter manufacturers design devices that wring the most electricity out of every wave.
Visitors group looks to Beaver Boat Locker to drive economic impact along Willamette River
Paddlers who want to leave their boat on the riverbank in Independence and explore the historic town won’t have to worry about their watercraft not being there when they return, thanks to the Oregon State University College of Engineering’s Prototype Development Lab.
In good hands
When Daimler Trucks North America wanted to get a handle on a dangerous and expensive problem in the trucking business — drivers slipping and falling while exiting or entering their cab — the company reached out to Oregon State University engineering students, who gave the entire industry something to hold onto.
Job Market Outlook
Make an informed decision to help meet your career goals by using this real-time job market information.
Accreditation
The Bachelor of Science and Honors Bachelor of Science in all four MIME undergraduate degree programs — Mechanical Engineering (ME), Industrial Engineering (IE), Manufacturing Engineering (MfgE) and Energy Systems Engineering (ESE) — are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.
ABET is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that accredits college and university programs in the disciplines of applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. ABET accreditation, which is voluntary and achieved through a peer review process, provides assurance that a college or university program meets the quality standards established by the profession for which the program prepares its students.
Oregon State MIME Undergraduate Program Educational Objectives (PEOs)
ABET requires that each accredited undergraduate program establish program educational objectives (PEOs). PEOs are defined as "broad statements that describe the career and professional accomplishments that the program is preparing graduates to achieve."
Three PEOs have been identified for the Mechanical Engineering program and are listed below.
- Within three to five years of graduation, our graduates in mechanical engineering will have:
- PEO 1.) Created value to organizations through the analysis, evaluation, and improvement of engineered systems and processes using appropriate mechanical engineering methods and tools.
- PEO 2.) Communicated effectively across disciplines and cultures to manage and/or lead activities in support of organizational goals and objectives.
- PEO 3.) Innovated systems and processes, in response to organizational challenges, though the application of structured and unstructured mechanical engineering methodologies, including engineering design and problem-solving
The table below lists the skills, knowledge, and behaviors characteristic of every student who graduates from Oregon State School of Mechanical, Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. These Mechanical Engineering Student Outcomes are paired by the MIME Program Educational Objective with which they are most closely associated.
The Bachelor of Science and Honors Bachelor of Science degree programs in Mechanical Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.
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Within three to five years of graduation, graduates in mechanical engineering will have: |
Associated Mechanical Engineering Student Outcomes |
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PEO 1.) Created value to organizations through the analysis, evaluation, and improvement of engineered systems and processes using appropriate mechanical engineering methods and tools. |
(1) An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
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PEO 2.) Communicated effectively across disciplines and cultures to manage and/or lead activities in support of organizational goals and objectives. |
(3) An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences. (5) An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives. (cc) Ability to work professionally in either thermal or mechanical systems areas. |
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PEO 3.) Innovated systems and processes, in response to organizational challenges, though the application of structured and unstructured mechanical engineering methodologies, including engineering design and problem-solving. |
(1) An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics. (2) An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors. (4) An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts. (7) An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies. (bb) Ability to model, analyze, design and realize physical systems, components or processes. |
