BSE Degree Planning
Requirements
The Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) degree with the mechnical engineering major requires the completion of 34 courses:
- 19 general requirements, and
- 15 departmental requirements
The freshman year course sequence represents the Pratt Common First Year—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.
Below you will find the download links for the undergraduate handbook and degree check sheet, as well as a typical course sequence outlining degree requirements by semester.
ME Undergraduate Handbook
The ME Undergraduate Handbook [PDF] contains much of the information on these webpages, and additional information specific to the ME major not found on these pages.
Check Sheet and Flow charT
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 scheduled per week
- Each semester has 13 weeks of classes, a half-week of reading period, and one week of final exams.
Degree Enhancements
Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the degree enhancement opportunities we offer:
- ME/BME Dual Degree
- Certificates
- Study abroad
- Research & Independent Study
- Graduation with Distinction
Typical Course Sequence
This plan outlines a typical path to graduation by semester. Courses in the list are required, unless noted otherwise. This list also identifies pre-requisites and co-requisites. Shifting courses to different semester should be done with caution and preplanning. Work closely with your adviser.
Freshman (1st) Year Courses
Fall Semester
- Calculus I MATH 111L
- Chemistry CHEM 101DL
- Writing 101 or HSS elective 1
- EGR 101L Engineering Design
- EGR 90L (optional) 1/2 cr.
Spring Semester
- Calculus II MATH 112L
- Physics PHYS 151L
- Engineering 103L Computational Methods
- EGR 121L Engineering Innovation
Sophomore (2nd) Year Courses
Fall Semester
- EGR 201L(75L)
- PHYS 152L(62L)
- MATH 212(103)
- Elective 1
Spring Semester
- EGR 244L(123L)
- EGR 224L(119L)
- MATH 216(107)
- ME 221L(83L) Structure and Properties of Solids or Elective 1
Junior (3rd) Year Courses
Fall Semester
- ME 344L(125L) Control of Dynamic Systems
- ME 331L(101L) Thermodynamics
- MATH 353(108)
- ME 221L(83L) Structure and Properties of Solids or Elective 1
- Elective 1
Spring Semester
- ME 336L(126L) Fluid Mechanics
- Elective 1
- Natural Science elective 3
- ME 321L(131L) Structure and Properties of Solids
- Elective 1
Senior (4th) Year Courses
Fall Semester
- ME 421L(141L) Mechanical Design
- ME 431L(150L) Heat and Mass Transfer
- Mechanical Engineering Elective 2
- Elective 1
Spring Semester
- ME 424L(160L) Mechanical Systems Design
- Mechanical Engineering Elective 2
- Elective 1
- Elective 1
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 be selected to 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 be counted toward the 100-level requirement.
2 Restricted to 100-level or higher.
3 A list of approved natural science courses can be found in the ME Undergraduate Handbook [PDF].
Study Abroad Course Sequence
Students are strongly encouraged 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 foreign language as well as general education courses.
Sophomore (2nd) Year Courses
Fall Semester
- EGR 201L(75L)
- PHYS 151L(62L)
- MATH 212(103)
- Elective
Spring Semester
- EGR 244L(123L)
- EGR 331L(101L)
- MATH 216(107)
- ME 221L (83L)
Junior (3rd) Year Courses
Fall Semester
- Abroad
- Abroad
- Abroad
- Abroad
Spring Semester
- EGR 224L (119L)
- ME 336L(126L) Fluid Mechanics
- ME 321L(131L) Analysis for Design
- MATH 353(108)
Senior (4th) Year Courses
Fall Semester
- 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
Spring Semester
- 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 be selected to 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 be counted toward the 100-level requirement.