Texas Tech University

Undergraduate Program Overview

General Academic Requirements

Students are expected to follow the course sequence presented in the Mechanical Engineering, B.S. Curriculum. Students whose high school courses do not include chemistry, physics, mathematics through analytical geometry, and at least two credits of a foreign language will be required to take additional coursework during an adjusted first year of study. All students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses used toward the mechanical engineering degree. The Department rigorously enforces prerequisite requirements for all courses.

First Year Admission

To gain admission into mechanical engineering, entering freshmen or transfer students with less than 12 hours of transferable college work must meet the University First Year Admission Requirements. Students who are interested in declaring mechanical engineering as their major, but do not meet the assured admission requirements, will enter with the major of pre−engineering. Note that while not eligible for admission to mechanical engineering, these students may be eligible for admission to other engineering programs at Texas Tech.

Transfer Admission

Transfer students to Texas Tech or students who wish to change their major to mechanical engineering from pre−engineering or another major at Texas Tech must have completed a minimum of 12 hours of transferable college work that includes Calculus I (MATH 1451) and Chemistry I (CHEM 1307/1107) with a GPA of 3.0. Students must also meet the University Transfer Admission Requirements.

Mechanical Engineering Curriculum

Mechanical engineering is the broadest of the engineering disciplines and its curriculum provides a strong foundation in mathematics and the physical sciences of chemistry and physics, followed by an in−depth education in five of the principal engineering sciences: thermal science, fluids engineering, mechanics and materials, dynamics and controls, and mechanical design. The program in mechanical engineering provides students the ability to apply their engineering, mathematics, and science knowledge to design mechanical systems and to solve engineering problems. Students learn to design and conduct experiments, to communicate effectively, to function in teams, and to utilize modern engineering tools. Students gain an understanding of their professional and ethical responsibilities as engineers. Perhaps most important, students are prepared for the lifelong learning necessary to function effectively as the practice of engineering evolves.

Enrollment in Mechanical Engineering Courses

Enrollment in ENGR 1315 - Introduction to Engineering is open to all students accepted for admission to Texas Tech University. Enrollment in any mechanical engineering course beyond ENGR 1315 requires official admission to the Department of Mechanical Engineering or another engineering program at Texas Tech University. Students in the engineering undecided program are not eligible for enrollment in mechanical engineering courses beyond ENGR 1315.

Selecting Elective Courses

The flexibility of the elective courses is designed to allow the student to explore areas outside of the mechanical engineering discipline. The Department will accept upper−division courses and their prerequisites for elective credit from other departments in the Whitacre College of Engineering, the Rawls College of Business, the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Geosciences, Physics, and Mathematics and Statistics, without prior approval. Students can request approval in other areas by contacting the advising office.

Selecting a Minor

Students who are interested in obtaining a minor will find that, through the application of the electives and dual credit for specific courses, most 18−hour minors can be completed with no more than an additional 3−6 hours beyond the minimum degree requirements. The Department encourages minors in the following areas: business, bioengineering, nuclear engineering, petroleum engineering, civil engineering, environmental engineering, computer science, geology, mathematics, and physics. For more detailed information on how to incorporate a minor into the mechanical engineering degree, see the Mechanical Engineering, B.S. example degree plan on the departmental website or contact the Department Advisor.

Combined BS/MS Degree Program

Students enrolled in the program will follow the standard undergraduate mechanical engineering curriculum for course work through the first seven semesters. In the final undergraduate semester, two graduate courses may be substituted for the mechanical engineering and design electives, which will be waived. At this time, the student receives the Mechanical Engineering BS degree. The two graduate courses taken in the final undergraduate semester are applied to the student's master's program. For more details see links provided.

Mechanical Engineering Graduates

Graduates with a degree in mechanical engineering will find employment opportunities covering a wide spectrum, including the aerospace, automotive, petroleum production, and refining industries, petrochemicals, electrical power, electronics, semiconductors, computers, manufacturing, and production, as well as research positions in industry and government laboratories. Problem−solving techniques learned in the mechanical engineering curriculum are also applied to continued educational pursuits or graduate study in engineering, as well as in areas such as law, medicine, business administration, and other professions.

Co−Op Program

Mechanical engineering students are encouraged to consider the Whitacre College of Engineering Co-Op program. This typically involves multiple work assignments with a company in the industry for a cumulative duration of eight months to one year. These work assignments are normally completed prior to the start of the senior year and may be used to satisfy a 3-credit hour elective requirement. Co-Op students gain valuable real-world engineering experience that enhances the academic experience on campus and provides excellent preparation for a career in industry.

For more information, contact the Engineering Opportunities Center

Department of Mechanical Engineering