Two students working on a laptop with equipment in a UAlbany engineering lab.

Bachelor of Science in
Mechanical and Design Engineering

Program of Study

programofstudy

In the Mechanical and Design Engineering BS program, you’ll study a broad spectrum of topics, including mechanical design, solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and manufacturing, all with a strong emphasis on design thinking, human-centered design and sustainable practices.

Through upper-division electives, you can tailor your studies to align with your interests and career goals by selecting courses that emphasize either the analytical rigor of mechanical engineering or the creative flexibility of design. 

Finally, the hands-on, two-semester-long capstone course will allow you to apply what you’ve learned and further develop your practical skills applying engineering principles as well as project management, teamwork, communication and more.

 

Core Courses

Foundational Engineering and Design

  • Introduction to Computer Science
  • Design for Society
  • Computer Aided Design & Analysis
  • Introduction to Engineering
  • Introduction to Materials Science and Lab
  • Statics
  • Strength of Materials
  • Introduction to Circuits & Electronics (with Lab)

 

Mechanical and Design Engineering

  • Intro to Engineering Lab for Mechanical Engineering
  • Dynamics
  • Thermodynamics
  • Systems Modeling & Analysis
  • Machine Design and Kinematics
  • Applied Machine Design & Kinematics
  • Introduction to Mechatronics
  • Product Design for Engineers OR Design for Medical Applications
  • Manufacturing Processes
  • Fluid Mechanics (with Lab)
  • Heat and Mass Transfer
  • Capstone I & II

Math and Science

  • General Chemistry I and Lab
  • Calculus I & II
  • Calculus of Several Variables
  • Ordinary Differential Equations
  • Linear Algebra
  • Physics I: Mechanics and Lab
  • Physics II: Electromagnetism and Lab
  • Applied Probability & Statistics for Engineers

 

Electives

  • Two 400-level Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering courses
  • One course from a list of Restricted Electives
    Sample courses include:
    • Engineering Applications in Sustainable Design
    • Human-Computer Interactive Design
    • Digital Project Management
    • Ethnoarchaeology

 

Experiential Capstone Course

In this program, all students complete a two-semester-long, project-based capstone design course. You’ll work as part of a team on a design project, identifying, analyzing and developing solutions to complex, real-world mechanical engineering challenges.

This hands-on course emphasizes project management, teamwork, technical communication and practical application of engineering principles, helping you gain skills you can use beyond graduation.

Biomechanical Design Concentration


In the biomechanical design concentration, you can specialize in designing products with medical applications.

Complete the coursework as outlined for the main degree program, with the following exceptions:

Core Courses

  • Take Design for Medical Applications in place of Product Design.

Electives

  • Take Biomechanics I & II as your 400-level Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering electives

 

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concentration

Career Outlook


According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics demand for mechanical engineers is expected to continue to grow faster than average through 2034. Many of the world’s social challenges, such as sustainability, public and personal health, quality of life, and vulnerability to pandemics, terrorism and natural disasters, demand engineering solutions. Well-educated mechanical engineers will be one of the keys to addressing these issues.

In New York, the semiconductor manufacturing industry is growing and creating many jobs for new engineers to advance facilities design, manufacturing processes, facilities maintenance and many other technical fields.

Potential job titles for a Mechanical and Design Engineering BS include:  

  • Mechanical Design Engineer
  • Product Development Engineer
  • R&D Engineer
  • Mechanical Designer

 

 

 

A student working on engineering equipment in a UAlbany lab.
career

International Students

This degree is designated as a STEM program. International students maintaining F-1 status are allowed to apply for up to 12 months of post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) following completion/graduation from their degree program. Currently, this degree program is also designated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as an eligible degree for the F-1 STEM OPT work authorization extension; students who secure qualifying employment may be eligible to apply for the STEM OPT extension for a cumulative total of up to 36 months of F-1 OPT work authorization.

Student Learning Objectives


Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science

Students who successfully complete the Mechanical Design Engineering BS degree are able to:
 

  • Identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics.
  • 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.
  • Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  • 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.
  • Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives.
  • Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  • Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
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What Makes the University at Albany Great

Student move-in day.

Living-Learning Communities

Live and take classes with other incoming freshmen who share your personal interests, passions or intended academic major.

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Study Abroad

Become a global citizen: international experience is crucial to success in business, education, research, and public policy.

A student conducting undergraduate research.

Undergraduate Research

Research, scholarship, and creative activities at the University at Albany is an option for all students, across all academic disciplines. You will be able to learn more about a specific academic field or career path all while building a long-lasting mentoring relationship with a faculty member or principal investigator.

Explore Minors

Build competency in a passion or strengthen your resume.

A minor consists of 18–24 graduation credits which must include a minimum of 9 graduation credits of advanced coursework at or above the 300 level.

Full List of Minors
Full List of Minors
  • Acting
  • Africana Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Art
  • Art History
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Bioethics
  • Biology
  • Broadcast Meteorology
  • Business
  • Chemistry
  • Chinese Studies
  • Climate Science
  • Cognitive Science
  • Communication (Fully Online Option)
  • Computer Science
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminal Justice Studies (Fully Online Option)
  • Cybersecurity (Fully Online Option)
  • Documentary Studies
  • East Asian Studies
  • Economics
  • Educational Studies
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Electronics
  • Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (Fully Online Option)
  • English
  • Ethics and Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence
  • Film Studies
  • Forensic Science
  • French
  • Game Design and Development
  • Geographic Information Science
  • Geography
  • Globalization Studies
  • Hebrew
  • History (Fully Online Option)
  • Informatics (Fully Online Option)
  • Instrumental Performance
  • International Studies
  • Italian
  • Japanese Studies
  • Journalism (Fully Online Option)
  • Judaic Studies
  • Korean Studies
  • Latin American and Caribbean Studies
  • Law and Philosophy
  • Leadership
  • Legal Studies
  • LGBTQ Studies
  • Library and Information Science
  • Linguistics
  • Machine Learning
  • Mathematics
  • Medical Anthropology
  • Music
  • Musical Performance
  • Musical Theatre
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Portuguese
  • Pre-Education
  • Psychology (Fully Online Option)
  • Public Health
  • Public Policy
  • Religious Studies
  • Russian
  • Russian and Eastern European Studies
  • Social Welfare Studies
  • Sociology (Fully Online Option)
  • Spanish
  • Statistics
  • Sustainability
  • Theatre
  • Theatrical Design/Technology
  • Urban Studies and Planning
  • U.S. Latino Studies
  • Vocal Performance
  • Weather and Climate Communication
  • Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies