Degree Planning (BSE)
The Duke ME Undergraduate Handbook contains additional information specific to the mechanical engineering major that is not found on this website.
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The Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) degree with a mechanical engineering major requires the completion of 34 courses:
- 19 general requirements, and
- 15 departmental requirements
The freshman year course sequence represents the Signature First Year Experience—enabling all students to fully explore their options before choosing a major. These courses lay the foundation for advanced engineering courses by establishing and reinforcing the principles of mathematics, physics, chemistry, writing and computation.
Core courses for the ME major start in the second year.
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Use the downloadable ME check sheet [PDF] and ME curriculum flow chart [PDF] to help with course planning and to chart your progress toward your degree.
Please Note
- One regular course has 2.5 lecture hours per week (3 x 50 min. or 2 x 75 min.)
- One laboratory course has one two-hour laboratory or recitation time per week
- Each semester has 13 weeks of classes, a half-week of reading period, and one week of final exams.
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Courses are required unless otherwise noted. These lists also identify prerequisites and corequisites.
Exercise caution. Pre-plan while working closely with your advisor when shifting courses to different semesters.
First Year Fall Spring - EGR 101L Engineering Design & Communication
- EGR105L Computing for Engineers
- CHEM101DL Core Concepts in Chemistry
- MATH111L Lab Calculus 1
- EGR121 Engineering Innovation
- W101/120 Academic Writing
- PHY151L Intro. Mechanics
- MATH112L Laboratory Calculus 2
Second Year Fall Spring - NS, SSH/LA, or Free Elective 1, 2
- EGR201L Mechanics of Solids
- NS, SSH/LA, or Free Elective
- MATH218D-2 Linear Algebra
- EGR244L Dynamics [Spring Only] – Must complete before junior year
- EGR224L Elec. Fund. Of Mechatronics [Spring Only]
- PHY152L Elect. Mag. Optics
- MATH219 Multivariable Calculus
Third Year Fall Spring - ME344L Control Systems (or take Senior Year Fall)
- ME221L Structures and Props. of Solids
- ME331L Thermodynamics
- MATH353 Ord. & Partl. Differential Eqns
- NS, SSH/LA, or Free Elective 1, 2
- ME321L Mech’l Analysis for Design
- ME336L Fluid Mechanics
- NS 2, Free, or Upper Level ME elective
Fourth Year Fall Spring - ME421L Mechanical Design [Fall Only]
- ME431L Heat and Mass Transfer [Fall Only]
- Upper Level ME elective or Free Elective
- Upper Level ME elective or Free Elective
- Upper Level ME elective or Free Elective
- ME424L Mech. Systems Design Capstone [Spring Only]
- Upper Level ME elective or Free Elective or Multi- Sem. Minor
- Upper Level ME elective or Free Elective or Multi- Sem. Minor
Notes
1 Part of a program of approved electives planned with the student’s faculty advisor to suit individual interests and abilities. Five of these nine electives must meet the humanities and social sciences or liberal arts (SSH/LA) requirements of the Pratt School of Engineering. Also, three of the nine electives must be 100 level or higher, with the exception that engineering courses below the 100 level taken during the freshman or sophomore years may substitute for two of these 100-level electives. ROTC courses cannot count toward the 100-level requirement.
2 A list of approved natural science (NS) courses can be found in the Duke ME Undergraduate Handbook.
Total Courses Required: 34 (32 shown above). Chart assumes no AP credits. See handbook for additional details.
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We strongly encourage students to take advantage of study abroad programs, whether during the academic year, as shown in the list below, or through summer immersion programs. Review programs at the Duke Global Education for Undergraduates website. There are several programs available where students can take engineering courses in a foreign language as well as general education courses.
Below is a modified third- and fourth-year course sequence for study abroad participants.
Third Year Fall Spring - Abroad
- Abroad
- Abroad
- Abroad
- EGR 224L (119L)
- ME 336L(126L) Fluid Mechanics
- ME 321L(131L) Analysis for Design
- MATH 353(108)
Fourth Year Fall Spring - ME 421L(141L) Mechanical Design
- ME 431L(150L) Heat and Mass Transfer
- ME 344L(125L) Control of Dynamic Systems
- Mechanical Engineering Elective 2
- Elective 1
- ME 424(160L) Mechanical Systems Design
- Mechanical Engineering Elective 2
- Elective 1
- Elective 1
- Natural Science Elective
Notes
1 Part of a program of approved electives planned with the student’s faculty advisor to suit individual interests and abilities. Five of these nine electives must meet the humanities and social sciences requirements of the Pratt School of Engineering. Also, three of the nine electives must be 100 level or higher, with the exception that engineering courses below the 100 level taken during the freshman or sophomore years may substitute for two of these 100-level electives. ROTC courses cannot count toward the 100-level requirement.
2 Restricted to 100 level or higher.
Undergraduate Contacts
Nico Hotz
MEMS Director of Undergraduate Studies, Associate Professor of the Practice
Sophia Santillan
Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies, Associate Professor of the Practice in the Thomas Lord Department of MEMS
