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GETTING AROUND THE MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Keep this guide to the ME Undergraduate Program throughout your education. It has content useful to sophomores, juniors, and seniors alike.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology MechE Undergraduate Office | Room 1-110 77 Massachusetts Avenue | Cambridge MA 02139-4307 P: 617.253.2305 | E: me-undergradoffice@mit.edu | meche.mit.edu
Contents
MECHE UNDERGRADUATE OFFICE WHAT IS MECHE ABOUT? UNDERGRADUATE STUDY IN MECHE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING/COURSE 2
Requirements Typical Course 2 Flow Chart Scheduling Comments Sample Schedules for Course 2
4 5 5 7
8 10 11 12
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24 26 27 28
MINOR IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING MINORS FOR MECH E STUDENTS ADDITIONAL PROGRAM INFORMATION
Faculty Advising Communication Requirement SB Thesis Requirement
30 31 32
32 33 35
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program (UPOP) Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) International Study
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37 37 38
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40 41 41
AFTER GRADUATION
Graduate School and Graduate Fellowships Professional Registration Career Opportunities Starting Salaries Ethics and Professional Responsibility
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43 44 45 45 46
Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Office Room 1-110 77 Massachusetts Avenue Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA 02139-4307 phone: (617) 253-2305 email: me-undergradoffice@mit.edu
as it applies to the engineering aspects of ocean science, exploration, and utilization, and of marine transportation. All of the educational programs in the department prepare students for professional practice in an era of rapidly advancing technology. They combine a strong base in the engineering sciences (mechanics, materials, fluid and thermal sciences, systems and control) with project-based laboratory and design experiences. All strive to develop independence, creative talent, and leadership, as well as the capability for continuing professional growth. In addition to the three MechE major programs, the Department also offers a minor program for those students who wish to acquire a basic knowledge of our field.
Requirements
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering/Course 2 General Institute Requirements (GIRs) Subjects Science Requirement 6 Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Requirement 8 Restricted Electives in Science and Technology (REST) Requirement [can be satisfied by 2.001 and 18.03 in the Departmental Program] 2 Laboratory Requirement [can be satisfied by 2.671 in the Departmental Program] 1 Total GIR Subjects Required for SB Degree Communication Requirement The program includes a Communication Requirement of 4 subjects: 2 subjects designated as Communication Intensive in Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CI-H); and 2 subjects designated as Communication Intensive in the Major (CI-M) [satisfied by 2.009 and 2.671 in the Departmental Program]. PLUS Departmental Program Subject names below are followed by credit units, and by prerequisites if any (corequisites in italics). Units 17
Required Departmental Core Subjects 159 2.001 Mechanics and Materials I, 12, REST; 8.01, 18.02, 18.03 2.002 Mechanics and Materials II, 12; 2.001; 3.091, 5.111, or 5.112 2.003J Dynamics and Control I, 12, REST; 8.01, 18.03 2.004 Dynamics and Control II, 12; 2.003J, 8.02 2.005 Thermal-Fluids Engineering I, 12, REST; 8.02, 18.02, 18.03 2.006 Thermal-Fluids Engineering II, 12; 2.005, 18.03 2.008 Design and Manufacturing II, 12, 1/2 LAB; 2.001; 2.005; 2.007 or 2.017J 2.009 The Product Engineering Process, 12, CI-M; 2.001, 2.003J, 2.005; 2.00B or 2.670; senior standing or permission of instructor 2.086 Numerical Computation for Mechanical Engineers, 12; 2.001, 2.003J; 2.005 2.670 Mechanical Engineering Tools, 3 2.671 Measurement and Instrumentation, 12, LAB, CI-M; 2.001, 2.003J, 8.02 2.672 Project Laboratory, 6, 1/2 LAB; 2.001, 2.003J, 2.006, 2.671 18.03 Differential Equations, 12, REST; 18.02* 2.ThU Undergraduate Thesis, 6(1) and either 2.007 Design and Manufacturing I, 12; 2.001, 2.670 or 2.017J Design of Electromechanical Robotic Systems, 12, 1/2 LAB; 2.003J; 2.005 or 2.016; 2.671
Restricted Elective Subjects 24 Students are required to take two of the following elective subjects (substitutions may be requested by petition to the ME Undergraduate Office): 2.016 Hydrodynamics, 12; 8.02, 18.03 2.017J Design of Electromechanical Robotic Systems, 12, 1/2 LAB; 2.003J; 2.005 or 2.016; 2.671 2.019 Design of Ocean Systems, 12, CI-M; 2.001; 2.003J; 2.005 or 2.016; senior standing or permission of instructor 2.092 Computer Methods in Dynamics, 12; 2.001, 2.003J 2.050J Nonlinear Dynamics I: Chaos, 12; 18.03 or 18.04; 8.02 2.12 Introduction to Robotics, 12; 2.004 2.14 Analysis and Design of Feedback Control Systems, 12; 2.004 2.184 Biomechanics and Neural Control of Movement, 12; 2.004 or permission of instructor 2.370 Fundamentals of Nanoengineering, 12; 2.001; 3.091, 5.111, or 5.112 2.51 Intermediate Heat and Mass Transfer, 12; 2.006* 2.60J Fundamentals of Advanced Energy Conversion, 12; 2.006* 2.71 Optics, 12; 2.004*; 8.02; 18.03 2.72 Elements of Mechanical Design, 12; 2.005, 2.007, 2.671 2.793J Fields, Forces, and Flows in Biological Systems, 12; 2.005, 6.021, 20.320, or permission of instructor 2.797J Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Biomechanics, 12; 18.03 or 3.016; 7.012, 7.013, 7.014, or 7.105; 2.370 or 2.772J 2.813 Environmentally Benign Design and Manufacturing, 12; 2.008 or permission of instructor 2.96 Management in Engineering, 12 Departmental Program Units That Also Satisfy the GIRs Unrestricted Electives(2) (36) 48
195
No subject can be counted both as part of the 17-subject GIRs and as part of the 195 units required beyond the GIRs. Every subject in the student's departmental program will count toward one or the other, but not both. Notes *Alternate prerequisites are listed in the subject description.
(1)
To encourage more substantial research, design, or independent study, the department permits up to 15 units of 2.ThU credit, subject to approval of the student's thesis advisor. (2) The department suggests that students elect a basic electronics subject (e.g., 6.002 or 6.071) as early as possible in their program.
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Scheduling Comments
2.00A or 2.00B 2.001 (Not a required subject) Optional freshman "handson" subjects that provide an overview of mechanical engineering. These may be taken in the second semester of the freshman year. Fundamental M.E. subject which should be taken as early as possible (often taken in the second semester of the freshman year). Should be taken the semester following 2.001. Fundamental M.E. subject which should be taken as early as possible. Must be taken during IAP sophomore year (may substitute 2.00b by petition). Should be taken the semester following 2.003J. Should be taken first semester junior year (unless taking junior year at Cambridge University). Should be taken the semester following 2.005. Important to take this second semester sophomore year, immediately following 2.670, which must be taken in IAP sophomore year. Students may alternatively take 2.017J during the fall of the junior year. Must be taken junior year. Can be taken earlier if schedule allows (fulfills half of the CI-M requirement). Should be taken in the junior year. Must be taken first semester of the senior year (fulfills half of CI-M requirement). Should be taken during the second semester of the sophomore year, or the first semester of the junior year. A project lab subject, which makes significant use of the core subjects, especially 2.006. A nanotechnology focused alternative to 2.672. Students should begin their thesis by the first semester of the senior year.
11
3 IAP
Spring 2.004 12 2.008 12 Elective 12 HASS 12 2.672 6 54 Spring 2.ThU 6 Restricted 12 Elective Elective 12 Elective 12 HASS 12 54
Total Units
12
Late Entry Schedule for Course 2 Freshman 3.091 8.01 18.01 HASS Total Units Fall 12 12 12 12 48 IAP Spring 8.02 18.02 Elective HASS 12 12 12 12 48
Sophomore
Total Units Junior 2.002 2.003J 2.005 HASS Total Units Senior 2.008 2.009 2.671 HASS Fall Fall
Spring 2.001 12 Elective 12 Elective 12 HASS 12 48 Spring 2.004 2.006 2.007 HASS 2.674 12 12 12 12 6 54
3 IAP
12 12 12 12
Total Units
48
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development; architecture and building technology; and any of the seven departmental focus areas mentioned above. The ME faculty have developed specific recommendations in some of these areas; details are available from the ME Undergraduate Office and on the departmental website. Concentrations are not limited to those listed above. Students are encouraged to design and propose technically oriented concentrations that reflect their own needs and those of society. The students overall program must contain a total of at least one and one-half years of engineering content (144 units) appropriate to the students field of study. The required core and second-level subjects include approximately 75 units of engineering topics. The self-designed concentration must include at least 69 more units of engineering topics. While engineering topics are usually covered through engineering subjects, subjects outside the School of Engineering may provide material essential to the engineering program of some concentrations. For example, management subjects usually form an essential part of an engineering management concentration. In all cases the relationship of concentration subjects to the particular theme of the concentration must be obvious. Students who wish to pursue this degree must advise the departments Undergraduate Office during their sophomore year to allow enough time to plan a complete program. Registration for this degree program requires approval in writing from the MechE Undergraduate Office. Enrollment forms are available online, and must be submitted within one term of entering Course 2-A: https://meche.mit.edu/resources/2A/.
2-A Concentrations
Many different concentrations are possible, and a student's particular program may be unique. To aid students in choosing their concentrations, the faculty have developed specific program recommendations in the following areas. 1. Biomedical Engineering and Pre-medicine 2. Control, Instrumentation, and Robotics 3. Energy 4. Engineering Management 5. 6. 7. 8. Mechanics Nano/Micro Engineering Product Development Sustainable and Global Development 9. Transportation
Full descriptions of these concentrations are available on the Undergraduate Program pages of the MechE web site. http://meche.mit.edu/academic/undergraduate/course2a/samplecon/
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Students choose their concentration subjects in consultation with the 2-A Coordinator, Professor Anette Peko Hosoi (peko@mit.edu). A proposed course of study is developed and submitted, using the online form, to the ME Undergraduate Office for review and approval. Certain restrictions do apply, as described on the 2-A enrollment form. In spring 2011, the 2-A concentrations chosen by students were distributed approximately as follows. 23% 15% 12% 10% 6% 6% 2% 2% Control, Instrumentation, and Robotics Product Development/Product Design Engineering Management Biomedical Engineering/Pre-Med Sustainable and Global Development Energy Nano/Micro Engineering Mechanics
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Requirements
Bachelor of Science in Engineering as recommended by the Department of Mechanical Engineering/Course 2-A
General Institute Requirements (GIRs) Science Requirement Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Requirement Restricted Electives in Science and Technology (REST) Requirement [can be satisfied by 2.001 and 18.03 in the Departmental Program] Laboratory Requirement [satisfied by 2.671 in the Departmental Program] Total GIR Subjects Required for SB Degree
Subjects 6 8 2 1 17
Communication Requirement 2 subjects designated as Communication Intensive in Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CI-H); and 2 subjects designated as Communication Intensive in the Major (CI-M) [satisfied by 2.009 and 2.671 in the Departmental Program].
PLUS Departmental Program Subject names below are followed by credit units, and by prerequisites if any (corequisites in italics).
Units
Required Departmental Core Subjects 75 2.001 Mechanics and Materials I, 12, REST; 8.01, 18.02, 18.03 2.003J Dynamics and Control I, 12, REST; 8.01, 18.03 2.005 Thermal-Fluids Engineering I, 12, REST; 8.02, 18.02, 18.03 2.009 The Product Engineering Process, 12, CI-M; 2.001, 2.003J, 2.005; 2.00B or 2.670; senior standing or permission of instructor 2.670 Mechanical Engineering Tools, 3 2.671 Measurement and Instrumentation, 12, LAB, CI-M; 2.001, 2.003J, 8.02 18.03 Differential Equations, 12, REST; 18.02 Two Additional Mechanical Engineering Subjects 24 2.002 Mechanics and Materials II, 12; 2.001, 3.091, 5.111, or 5.112 2.004 Dynamics and Control II, 12; 2.003J, 8.02 2.006 Thermal-Fluids Engineering II, 12; 2.005, 18.03 2.007 Design and Manufacturing I, 12; 2.001, 2.670 2.008 Design and Manufacturing II, 12, 1/2 LAB; 2.001; 2.005; 2.007 or 2.017J 2.086 Numerical Computation for Mechanical Engineers, 12; 2.001, 2.003J; 2.005 2.ThU Undergraduate Thesis, 12 18 Guide to Undergraduate Study in MechE
(1)
72
Departmental Program Units That Also Satisfy the GIRs Unrestricted Electives
(36) 48
183
No subject can be counted both as part of the 17-subject GIRs and as part of the 183 units required beyond the GIRs. Every subject in the student's departmental program will count toward one or the other, but not both. Notes * Alternate prerequisites are listed in the subject description.
(1)
These electives define a concentrated area of study and must be chosen with the written approval of the ME Undergraduate Office. A minimum of 69 units of engineering topics must be included beyond the first and second level required ME subjects. Engineering topics are usually obtained from engineering subjects, but in some cases, non-engineering subjects may be necessary for the particular engineering program defined by the concentration (e.g., management subjects for an engineering management concentration). In all cases, the relationship of concentration subjects to the theme of the concentration must be obvious. A thesis (2.ThU) of up to 12 units may be included among the concentration subjects if not already applied to the second-level requirement. Second-level subjects beyond the two required may be included in the concentration.
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Scheduling Comments
2.001 Fundamental M.E. subject which should be taken in either the fall of the sophomore year or the spring of the freshman year. Fundamental M.E. subject which should be taken as early as possible in the sophomore year. Must be taken during IAP sophomore year (may substitute 2.00b by petition). Should be taken in second semester of sophomore year or first semester junior year. Must be taken first semester senior year (fulfills half of CI-M requirement).
2.671* Must be taken junior year. Can be taken earlier if schedule allows (fulfills half of CI-M requirement). Second-level subjects (take 2 of these: 2.002, 2.004, 2.006, 2.007, 2.008, 2.086, 2.ThU). These should usually be taken the semester after their prerequisite subject has been completed. Concentration subjects. You must submit a 2-A enrollment form to the MechE Undergraduate Office within one semester of entering the program. Your proposed concentration subjects will be reviewed by the Undergraduate Office to ensure that programmatic requirements are met. After approval, you should take concentration subjects at the rate of about one per term from the second semester of your sophomore year to the end of the senior year. The online enrollment form is available at: https://meche.mit.edu/resources/2A/
* Laboratory subject in which enrollment may be limited by facilities available.
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3 Spring
12 12 12 12 48
Total Units Senior Fall 2.009 Concentration subject Elective HASS Total Units
21
Late Entry Schedule for Course 2-A Freshman 3.091 8.01 18.01 HASS Total Units Sophomore 18.03 7.012 Elective HASS Total Units Junior 2.003J 2.005 Concentration subject HASS Total Units Senior 2.009 Second-level subject Concentration subject HASS Total Units Fall 12 12 12 12 48 Fall 12 12 12 12 48 2.670 Fall 12 12 12 12 48 IAP 3 Fall 12 12 12 12 48 IAP 2.001 Elective Elective HASS IAP 8.02 18.02 Elective HASS Spring 12 12 12 12 48 Spring 12 12 12 12 48 Spring 2.671 Second-level subject Concentration subject HASS 12 12 12 12 48
12 12 12 12 48
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Requirements
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Ocean Engineering/Course 2-OE
General Institute Requirements (GIRs) Subjects Science Requirement 6 Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Requirement 8 Restricted Electives in Science and Technology (REST) Requirement [can be satisfied by 2.001 and 18.03 in the Departmental Program] 2 Laboratory Requirement [can be satisfied by 2.671 in the Departmental Program] 1 Total GIR Subjects Required for SB Degree 17
Communication Requirement The program includes a Communication Requirement of 4 subjects: 2 subjects designated as Communication Intensive in Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CI-H); and 2 subjects designated as Communication Intensive in the Major (CI-M) [satisfied by 2.019 and 2.671 in the Departmental Program].
PLUS Departmental Program Subject names below are followed by credit units, and by prerequisites if any (corequisites in italics).
Units
Required Departmental Subjects 147 2.001 Mechanics and Materials I, 12, REST; 8.01, 18.02, 18.03 2.002 Mechanics and Materials II, 12; 2.001; 3.091, 5.111, or 5.112 2.003J Dynamics and Control I, 12, REST; 8.01, 18.03 2.004 Dynamics and Control II, 12; 2.003J, 8.02 2.005 Thermal-Fluids Engineering I, 12, REST; 8.02, 18.02, 18.03 2.016 Hydrodynamics, 12; 8.02, 18.03 2.017J Design of Electromechanical Robotic Systems, 12, 1/2 LAB; 2.003J; 2.005 or 2.016; 2.671 2.019 Design of Ocean Systems, 12, CI-M; 2.001; 2.003J; 2.005 or 2.016; senior standing or permission of instructor 2.086 Numerical Computation for Mechanical Engineers, 12; 2.001, 2.003J; 2.005 2.612 Marine Power and Propulsion, 12; 2.005 2.670 Mechanical Engineering Tools, 3 2.671 Measurement and Instrumentation, 12, LAB, CI-M; 2.001, 2.003J, 8.02 18.03 Differential Equations, 12, REST; 18.02
24
Restricted Elective Subjects 24 Students are required to take two of the following elective subjects (substitutions by petition to the ME Undergraduate Office): 2.006 Thermal Fluids Engineering II, 12; 2.005, 18.03 2.007 Design and Manufacturing I, 12; 2.001, 2.670 2.008 Design and Manufacturing II, 12, 1/2 LAB; 2.001; 2.005; 2.007 or 2.017J 2.065 Acoustics and Sensing, 12; 2.003J, 6.003, 8.03, or 16.03 2.092 Computer Methods in Dynamics, 12; 2.001, 2.003J 2.12 Introduction to Robotics, 12; 2.004 2.14 Analysis and Design of Feedback Control Systems, 12; 2.004 2.51 Intermediate Heat and Mass Transfer, 12; 2.006* 2.60J Fundamentals of Advanced Energy Conversion, 12; 2.006* 2.700 Principles of Naval Architecture, 12; 2.002 or 2.012J 2.72 Elements of Mechanical Design, 12; 2.005, 2.007, 2.671 2.96 Management in Engineering, 12 2.ThU Undergraduate Thesis, 12
Departmental Program Units That Also Satisfy the GIRs Unrestricted Electives
(36) 48
183
No subject can be counted both as part of the 17-subject GIRs and as part of the 183 units required beyond the GIRs. Every subject in the student's Departmental Program will count toward one or the other, but not both. Notes *Alternate prerequisites are listed in the subject description.
26
Scheduling Comments
2.00A (Not a required subject) An optional freshman subject that provides an excellent overview of mechanical and ocean engineering. It should be taken in the second semester of the freshman year. Fundamental M.O.E. subject which should be taken as early as possible. Should be taken the semester following 2.001. Fundamental M.O.E. subject which should be taken as early as possible. Must be taken during IAP of the sophomore year (may substitute 2.00b by petition). Should be taken the semester following 2.003J. Should be taken first semester junior year unless taking junior year at Cambridge University. Should be taken the fall semester following 2.003J. Should be taken during second semester sophomore year or junior year. Must be taken in the fall semester of junior year and before 2.019. Should be taken during the junior year. Can be taken earlier if the schedule allows (fulfills half of CI-M requirement). Taken in the fall semester of the senior year. Must be taken spring semester of the senior year (fulfills half of CI-M requirement).
2.001 2.002 2.003J 2.670 2.004 2.005 2.016 2.086 2.017J 2.671*
2.612 2.019
Spring 12 12 12 12 48 Spring
12 12 12 12 48
28
Late Entry Schedule for Course 2-OE Freshman 3.091 8.01 18.01 HASS Total Units Sophomore Fall 18.03 7.012 Elective HASS Fall 12 12 12 12 48 IAP 12 12 12 12 48 IAP 12 12 12 12 48 Fall 2.002 2.017J 2.612 HASS Total Units 12 12 12 12 48 IAP 2.670 3 IAP Spring 8.02 18.02 Elective HASS 12 12 12 12 48
Total Units Junior 2.003J 2.005 2.016 HASS Total Units Senior Fall
Spring 2.001 12 Elective 12 Elective 12 HASS 12 48 Spring 2.004 2.671 Restricted Elective HASS 12 12 12 12 48
30
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Communication Requirement
Engineering work is critically dependent upon communication skills. Engineers must be able to report their ideas and designs clearly and succinctly to their coworkers, supervisors, and customers. The format of engineering communications can vary widely, from complete written reports, to short technical memos, to oral presentations, to visual displays. The MIT Communication Requirement, as implemented in the MechE program, is intended to prepare students to work effectively in all of these formats. Departmental subjects that involve extensive education in communication include: 2.671, taken in the sophomore or junior year; 2.009, taken in the fall of the senior year; and 2.019, taken in the spring of the senior year. Through this set of classes, students gain experience in technical reporting in written, oral, and visual formats, both as individuals making reports and as members of teams making reports. The MechE faculty regard the development of good communication skills as an essential learning outcome of our programs. The MechE Department has placed a variety of resources and guidelines for technical communications at: https://meche.mit.edu/academic/undergraduate/commguide/. These include: guidelines for the preparation of engineering problem sets; instructions for keeping lab or design notebooks; guidelines for plotting data; instructions for writing and formatting technical reports; and advice for public speaking and designing of presentation material. Details of the Communication Requirement follow. The Sophomore Year You must complete your second Communication Intensive subject by the end of your sophomore year. You may receive CI credit for only one CI-H subject per semester. Since CI-H subjects may be either part of the HASS Distribution Component (HASS-A/H/S for Class of 2014, or HASS-D for Class of 2013 and earlier) or HASS Electives, you should carefully consider the most appropriate subject for you. To enroll in a CI-H subject that is also a HASS-D, you will need to participate in the HASS-D lottery; to enroll in a CI-H subject that is a HASS Elective, you will register as you do for other MIT subjects. A list of CI-H subjects is online at http://web.mit.edu/commreq/cih.html. The Junior and Senior Year You must complete one Communication Intensive subject in the major (CI-M) by the end of the junior year and a second one by the end of the senior year. In Course 2 and 2A, the combination 2.671 and 2.009 together satisfy the CIM component of the Communications Requirement. Generally, 2.671 will be the junior year CI-M and 2.009 will be the senior year CI-M. In Course 2-OE, the combination 2.671 and 2.019 together satisfy the CI-M requirement, with 2.671 in the junior year and 2.019 in the senior year.
Additional Program Information 33
Students who do not fulfill the CI-M requirement cannot graduate from MIT. Further details on CI-M subjects are available at http://web.mit.edu/commreq/cim.html. Transfer Students If you are a transfer student, you are subject to the Communication Requirement. You will need to pass a total of four CI subjects: two CI-H subjects and two CI-M subjects. Some of these subjects may be completed through transfer credit. The HASS Overview Committee is responsible for determining CI-H transfer credit and the Subcommittee on the Communication Requirement will determine CI-M transfer credit. As a transfer student, you must, during your first year at MIT, either pass a CI-H subject or receive transfer credit for one. The first step towards fulfilling the Communication Requirement is to take the Freshman Essay Evaluation (FEE). Because you will not know until Orientation whether or not you will receive CI-H or CI-HW transfer credit, you are strongly encouraged to take the online FEE, described above. If you are unable to take the online FEE, you should plan to take the paper-and-pencil make-up test given during Orientation. The only transfer students who do not need to take the FEE are those who have received scores of 5 on either the Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition Test or the Advanced Placement English Language and Composition Test. An approved score of 5 on one of the AP English exams is the equivalent of earning a Pass on the FEE. If you earned a score of 5 on either of these AP tests, don't forget to request that the College Board submit your AP scores to MIT. Double Major and Dual Degree Candidates You must complete two CI-H subjects and the CI-M subjects that fulfill the communication component of each major. Typically, this means that you must take four CI-M subjects, two for each program. However, if a subject is approved as a CI subject in both majors, you may use that subject to fulfill the CI-M component of both programs simultaneously, with the approval of the Subcommittee on the Communication Requirement (SOCR). Contact the Office of the Communication Requirement (12-126; commreq@mit.edu) for more information.
34
SB Thesis Requirement
The SB in Mechanical Engineering requires a thesis with a minimum of 6 units credit. The objective of this requirement is to give students an opportunity to learn about a topic in depth through independent study under the guidance of an advisor who is knowledgeable in the field. The nature of the work may be the review of an engineering topic of interest to the student, an original research project, or a design project. In any case, the work must involve additional learning of a substantive nature. The work must be documented by a thesis document graded by the advisor. With the approval of the advisor, up to 15 units of credit are permitted. Finding a thesis supervisor Students have the responsibility to find their own thesis supervisor, and it is best that this be done by the beginning of the senior year. Many students develop theses from UROP projects that they have had during the junior year or summer between junior and senior years. In that case, the UROP supervisor becomes the thesis supervisor. In other cases, students will contact faculty members whose research is of interest to them, and a thesis project can be developed by discussion between the student and the faculty member. In still other cases, students may have their own clear idea of the subject of their thesis, and the task will be to find a faculty member who is interested in working with the student on that topic. Students who are looking for a thesis topic can go to the Mechanical Engineering Thesis and UROP (M.E.T.U) opportunities website (http://metu.mit.edu) to browse listings. The thesis advisor of record must be an MIT faculty member or select members of the research staff (graduate students and postdocs are ineligible to act as thesis advisors). Students who are looking for an appropriate thesis advisor should consult the Undergraduate Office (Room 1-110, x3-2305). Theses may be done off campus, but students are cautioned that off-campus supervisors usually are not familiar with the thesis requirements which may put the student at risk when seeking approval of the Department. Also, work done at an industrial firm may be considered proprietary by the firm which would prevent the student from submitting the thesis to the Department. In such cases, a representative of the firm must sign a release letter, a sample text of which is available at the MechE Undergraduate Office. Thesis registration and grading Students may elect to start and/or finish the work in the Fall Term, the Spring Term, or IAP, and they may choose to extend the work over several terms. In the latter case, a progress report is required for each term of registration. If the work in progress is judged satisfactory by the advisor, a grade of "J" will be awarded. Unsatisfactory progress will be awarded the grade "U". Students
Additional Program Information 35
must be registered for subject 2.ThU for the term in which the thesis is submitted. Before registering for thesis, students must complete the thesis proposal form (http://web.mit.edu/me-ugoffice/thesis.pdf) and attach a brief paragraph summarizing the work planned. The form must be signed by the thesis advisor and returned to the MechE Undergraduate Office (Room 1-110). In the event of a change of advisor or project, the proposal must be updated in the Undergraduate Office as soon as possible. Students who submit the completed forms on or before Registration Day may register for 2.ThU on the Registration Form for the number of units agreed upon with the thesis advisor. Students who complete the thesis proposal after Registration Day, but before the Add Date, must add 2.ThU by submitting to the Registrar a completed Add/Drop Form signed by both the thesis supervisor and the students faculty advisor. To add thesis after the Add Date the Undergraduate Administrator (Ms. Brandy Baker) must also sign the Add/Drop Form. Drop date is the absolute deadline for adding or dropping 2.ThU. Students may not register for the thesis after the drop date. At mid-term, the thesis advisor will be asked for an assessment of the student's progress on the thesis. Thus, it is important for the student to maintain contact with the advisor so that an accurate assessment can be made. If the thesis advisor judges progress to be unsatisfactory, a grade of "U" will be submitted and the number of units for 2.ThU registration will be reduced to 1. The grade of "U" will remain on the transcript and the Course 2 degree requirements cannot be completed until another thesis is started and completed with a passing grade. Students who are making satisfactory progress but fail to complete the thesis by the Thesis Due Date will receive the grade "J" indicating that at least one additional unit of registration for 2.ThU will be required to complete the Course 2 degree. Upon satisfactory completion of the thesis, the thesis advisor will assign a grade which will apply to all units of 2.ThU registration from previous terms, up to an absolute limit of 15. For thesis credit during IAP, students should register during the first week of IAP in the Undergraduate Office. During the semester in which the student expects to graduate, it is the responsibility of the student to maintain contact with the thesis advisor. In the event that thesis progress is reported as unsatisfactory, the student's name will be removed from the Degree List. Students are reminded that graduation also can be delayed by late submission of an acceptable thesis or by submission of a thesis that fails to conform to the current Thesis Specifications. Theses may not be submitted after 5:00 PM on the Thesis Due Date. Consult the MIT Academic Calendar for Add Date, Drop Date, and Thesis Due Dates for the semester in question: http://web.mit.edu/registrar/calendar/.
36 Guide to Undergraduate Study in MechE
Special Programs
Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program (UPOP)
The Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program (UPOP), an innovative internship program administered and sponsored by the School of Engineering. UPOP aims to provide all engineering sophomores the opportunity to appreciate engineering practice outside the academic context through activities emphasizing a combination of knowledge, practice, and reflection. UPOP consists of four parts: an intensive one-week engineering practice workshop offered during IAP; extensive pre-employment workshops taught by MIT alumni during the spring; 10 to 12 weeks of meaningful summer employment; and, in the following fall, assessment interviews with staff members and roundtable meetings with other UPOP students, alumni, and faculty to reflect on the summer experience. Further information on the program may be obtained from contacting Susann LuperFoy, Executive Director, MIT, Room 12-193, Cambridge, MA 02139, 617253-0055, email upop@mit.edu; or see the website at http://upop.mit.edu/.
Special Programs 37
The MIT UROP Office maintains a list of open UROP positions. While this resource is helpful in finding out about potential research projects, not all opportunities reach the UROP Office. Professors will sometime send email announcements or post fliers regarding available UROPs; in other cases, they may create UROPs specifically because a student expresses interest in their research. Thus, there is no substitute for student initiative in finding a UROP position. Students should contact potential supervisors to discuss their interests. Sending email or talking to a professor after class may be a good way to explore opportunities. If you are looking for a MechE focused UROP or thesis project; go to Mechanical Engineering Thesis and UROP (M.E.T.U) opportunities (http://metu.mit.edu) to browse listings. After the student has reached an agreement to work with a given faculty member, he or she must complete the UROP application process online. (Since UROP is an academic program, you must be a registered undergraduate in order to participate and use the on-line proposal system.) Once you have certificates installed, you can access your UROP student homepage via the following link: https://sisapp.mit.edu/uropweb/home.mit. We recommend that you bookmark this link for future reference. NOTE: You must BOTH complete the UROP online application AND register for 2.UR or 2.URG with the Registrars Office. UROP online application: http://web.mit.edu/urop/students/index.html Registering for 2.UR or 2.URG: You can pre-register, add it to your Registration Form on Registration Day, or add a UROP using an Add Form. If you wish to add UROP credit after Add Date, the add form must be signed by the Undergraduate Administrator (Ms. Brandy Baker) as well as by your advisor and your project supervisor. Your proposal will be due at the time the add form is signed. For further information, see the UROP web site: http://web.mit.edu/urop/.
International Study
Study abroad offers an opportunity for enrichment that goes beyond formal classroom education. Each semester, MIT students enroll in academic programs at foreign institutions for a one-term or full-year program. Students typically study in the period from the second semester of their sophomore year through the first semester of their senior year. With special permission, it is even possible to spend your last term as an undergraduate studying at another university. Plans for study outside MIT should be worked out by each student with his or her faculty advisor and the MIT Study Abroad Office (Room 12-189).
38 Guide to Undergraduate Study in MechE
MIT has a number of established programs for international study. These include the Cambridge-MIT Exchange Program, the MISTI program, and a number of additional opportunities. Please see web site of the Study Abroad Office for further information on the various programs available: http://web.mit.edu/studyabroad/. The University of Cambridge-MIT Undergraduate Exchange (CME) program has been particularly popular with Mechanical Engineering students. This program provides opportunities for a select group of undergraduate students to pursue their studies in mechanical engineering in the Cambridge University Engineering Department (CUED) in Cambridge, England. This work is usually completed during the time that would comprise the normal third year of undergraduate work at MIT. Since subjects taken at CUED will be fully integrated into the undergraduate curriculum leading to the S.B. degree in Mechanical Engineering at MIT, it is important that students plan for this program as early as possible, but no later than the fall term of the second undergraduate year at MIT. Details of the program are available in the Undergraduate Office, Room 1-110.
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Students from outside the department may apply for an account if they are taking a Mechanical Engineering subject that requires access to the software on the domain. Such accounts will last only for the duration of the term, and will be deleted at its conclusion. For account-related problems (forgotten passwords, etc.), see Lori Hyke in the Undergraduate Office (Room 1-110).
Student Organizations
A number of student groups are associated with the MechE Department. These include: Pi Tau Sigma, http://web.mit.edu/pts/www/ The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, http://web.mit.edu/asme/www/ The MIT Ocean Engineering Students Association (13Seas), http://web.mit.edu/13seas/www/ Tau Beta Pi, http://web.mit.edu/tbp/www/ The Society of Women Engineers, http://swe.mit.edu/ The National Society of Black Engineers, http://scripts.mit.edu/~nsbe/ The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, http://web.mit.edu/shpe/www/
Program Related Forms Course 2-A Enrollment Form: https://meche.mit.edu/resources/2A/ Course 2, 2-A, and 2-OE Registration Check Sheets Course 2: http://web.mit.edu/me-ugoffice/course2checksheet.pdf Course 2-A: http://web.mit.edu/me-ugoffice/2achecksheet.pdf Course 2-OE: http://web.mit.edu/me-ugoffice/2oechecksheet.pdf Change of Course Forms: http://web.mit.edu/registrar/reg/majors-minors/changemajor.html Add/Drop Forms: http://web.mit.edu/registrar/reg/add-drop.html MechE Petition forms Minor Program Information Minoring in Mechanical Engineering: http://web.mit.edu/me-ugoffice/minor.pdf Instructions on How to Declare a Minor in Science, Engineering, or Architecture: http://web.mit.edu/registrar/reg/majors-minors/minor_fields.html Minor Application Form (http://web.mit.edu/registrar/forms/reg/minor_apply.pdf) Minor Completion Form (http://web.mit.edu/registrar/forms/reg/minor_complete.pdf) Minoring in Biomedical Engineering (see p.31 for more info): http://web.mit.edu/catalog/inter.under.html#biom Minoring in Energy Studies (see p.31 for more info): http://web.mit.edu/catalog/inter.under.html#enem Minoring in Management Science (see p.31 for more info): http://mitsloan.mit.edu/undergrad/minor-managesci.php UROP Information UROP online application and information: http://web.mit.edu/urop/ Thesis Information Thesis Registration Instructions, Proposal Cover Sheet, and Company Letter of Agreement: http://web.mit.edu/me-ugoffice/thesis.pdf Thesis Preparation (quick guide) Thesis Specifications: http://libraries.mit.edu/archives/thesis-specs/index.html Magazines We also often have complimentary copies, as supplies last, of such publications as Graduating Engineer (monthly).
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After Graduation
Graduate School and Graduate Fellowships
If you plan to attend graduate school (whether for engineering, medicine, law, or business), you should begin preparations during spring term of your junior year. These include scheduling appropriate entrance examinations, identifying admissions deadlines for the graduate school(s) you hope to attend, finding several individuals who can write informed letters of recommendation, and preparing applications for graduate fellowships. Most graduate programs have application deadlines in early fall of the year before admission is desired. The best source of information on graduate admission deadlines and requirements is, of course, the graduate office of the particular program for which you intend to apply. Standardized Entrance Exams The majority of graduate programs will require you to submit results from a standardized admissions exam. For engineering and science programs, this will be the GRE (Graduate Record Exam). For medical, law, and business school, this will be the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test), and the GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test), respectively. You should schedule this exam well before you plan to submit your applications. The exams are given every few months, and it may take a couple of months to receive the results of the exam. Letters of Recommendation Most graduate programs, and graduate fellowship applications, will require you to submit 2 to 5 letters of recommendation. These letters should be written by individuals who are familiar with your abilities and who are able to comment on specific accomplishments. Those who can write for you might include UROP supervisors, your academic advisor, your SB thesis supervisor, supervisors from summer jobs, professors with whom you had close interactions in classes (for example, lab or design section instructors), or professors in whose lecture-based classes you made a strong (and, one hopes, positive!) impression. Your recommenders are usually going to be busy people, so request the letters well in advance of application deadlines. It is generally helpful to provide a recommender with your resume and a summary of your accomplishments and your goals for graduate study. Graduate Fellowships A wide range of graduate fellowships are available from both the Federal Government and various private foundations. Fellowships provide money to cover tuition and expenses in graduate school, which provides greater freedom to choose projects and programs. Students are often unaware that they are well qualified for these. The application procedures are relatively similar to
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those for graduate school, although a few fellowships will require your university to nominate you. A variety of fellowships are described on the following page: http://web.mit.edu/odge/finances/fellowships/external.html. A graduate fellowship deserving specific mention is the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. The NSF awards approximately 1,000 graduate fellowships in this competition each year, in the general areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The Graduate Research Fellowship provides three years of support for graduate study leading to research-based masters or doctoral degrees and is intended for students who are at the early stages of their graduate study. For further information, see: http://www.nsfgrfp.org/.
Professional Registration
Some employers require that engineers obtain professional registration with the state within which they work. In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, professional registration is administered by the Board of Registration of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors: http://www.mass.gov/dpl/boards/en/index.htm. The Board works to insure that persons practicing in these professions are competent to practice and are not endangering the life, health, safety and welfare of the public. Two kinds of mechanical engineers find a professional engineers license particularly useful: (1) those who work for architectural/engineering firms, such as Stone and Webster Engineering, Inc., and Bechtel Corporation; and (2) those who work for a unit of the government, such as the Department of Environmental Protection, that must approve plant designs. Most other engineers do not need to acquire professional registration. Registration requires a certain number of years of work experience and the successful completion of two full-day written examinations. The first of these exams, the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam, covers a variety of general engineering and science topics, and it is best taken around the time one completes the SB degree (while all this knowledge is still fresh!). Information on this exam is available from the National Council of Engineering Examiners: http://www.ncees.org/Exams/FE_exam.php. For further information, you may contact Professor Lienhard, who is a Registered Professional Mechanical Engineer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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Career Opportunities
The job market for mechanical engineers is very strong and is expected to continue to be strong for the foreseeable future. This includes opportunities for summer employment as well as career placement. There are many resources available to assist MIT students in the job search process. Interested students should contact the MIT Career Development Center, 12-170, x3-4733, http://careers.mit.edu/ to learn more. Each year this office publishes the MIT Career Handbook, which is a compact guide for all aspects of the job search process and which serves as a good starting point in a job search. Throughout the academic year, The Career Development Center holds workshops that address specific issues related to the job search process see: http://web.mit.edu/career/www/services/workshops.html. The Career Development Center also holds walk-in hours during the academic year, which may provide quick solutions to many typical problems that arise during a job search see: http://web.mit.edu/career/www/services/walkins.html. Additional assistance can be found at https://www.myinterfase.com/mit/student/, an extensive website that works closely with The Career Development Center to help MIT students in the job market. The MIT Alumni Association offers access to job listings, networking opportunities, and career services. The Association is a doorway to more than 100,000 talented, influential, and diverse alumni living and working from Boston to Bombay. The Association operates the Institute Career Assistance Network (ICAN), through which you may contact alumni from a database of over 2,900 advisers. Learn how to make the best of an interview, and more. They also host a job listings board posted entirely by alumni for alumni. Please refer to the Alumni Association Career Services web site for more information: http://alum.mit.edu/benefits/CareerGuidance.
Starting Salaries
The MIT Career Development Center collects statistics on job offers and starting salaries for graduating students. These data are revised each year, and summaries are posted here: http://web.mit.edu/career/www/infostats/graduation.html. For the Class of 2010, the average annual starting salary for Mechanical Engineering Bachelors degree graduates was $59,500. For Mechanical Engineering Masters degree graduates, it was $118,761. These averages are for all employers, including military and public service, and individual salaries may deviate from these means by large amounts. The Career Development Center statistical reports give salary breakdown by employment sector.
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MechE Undergraduate Office | Room 1-110 77 Massachusetts Avenue | Cambridge MA 02139-4307 P: 617.253.2305 | E: me-undergradoffice@mit.edu | meche.mit.edu
PSB 11 06 0304