Department of Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering

Dean & Professor
Michele J. Grimm, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania

Professors
Thenkurussi (Kesh) Kesavadas, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
Oliver Myers, Ph.D., University of Maryland (Chair)

Lecturer
Jeremy Vanderover, Ph.D., Aeronautical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

The Department of Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering equips you with the analytical and practical skills you need to solve complex engineering problems.

You'll be prepared to enter the workforce with expertise that goes beyond a traditional mechanical engineering degree. Explore careers in an array of modern engineering fields, such as manufacturing, product design, automation, robotics, medical devices, consumer products, aerospace, automotive, energy systems, control systems, embedded systems and sustainable systems.

UAlbany's Department of Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering offers two bachelor's degrees: BS in Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering and BS in Mechanical and Design Engineering. With a wide range of electives, you can customize your degree to match your interests and career goals, including the option to pursue a specialized concentration in biomechanics.

Both programs combine hands-on learning with a solid foundation in engineering principles. You'll begin with a common curriculum and then select your preferred focus (mechatronics or design) in your junior year. Hands-on experiences are core to our degree programs and include project-based learning, national design and engineering competitions, faculty-led research and internships.

The Department of Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering is housed within the University at Albany's College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering (CNSE). You'll learn and grow in a comprehensive R1 research university setting among a diverse community of scholars committed to engineering and research excellence.

Bachelors of Science in Mechanical and Design Engineering

In this multidisciplinary program, you'll learn to integrate engineering fundamentals with design thinking and discover how to create systems and products that are functional, sustainable and responsive to user needs across a variety of industries. You'll apply analytical tools and gain the hands-on experience you need to conceptualize, prototype and refine designs for the real world.

With a solid foundation in mechanics, materials and design, you'll graduate prepared to work in product development, materials engineering or structural analysis, or roles that require innovative design solutions for consumer products, medical devices, sustainable systems and more.

Program of Study

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.

As the MDE programs is newly authorized, it is not currently accredited by ABET. Per standard practice, once the first students have graduated, we will seek accreditation for this programs, which will be retroactive to the first program graduates.

Bachelors of Science in Mechanical and Design Engineering Requirements:

Minimum of 108 credits

Math & Science Required Courses (33 Credits):

  • Select One:
    • ACHM 120 General Chemistry I (3) and ACHM 124 General Chemistry I Lab (1)
    • ACHM 115 General Chemistry I and Lab (4)
  • AMAT 112 Calculus I (4)
  • AMAT 113 Calculus II (4)
  • AMAT 214 Calculus of Several Variables (4)
  • AMAT 215 Ordinary Differential Equations (3)
  • AMAT 220 Linear Algebra (3)
  • APHY 140 Physics I: Mechanics (3)
  • APHY 145 Physics Lab I (1)
  • APHY 150 Physics II: Electromagnetism (3)
  • APHY 155 Physics Lab II (1)
  • IERG 370 Applied Probability and Statistics for Engineers (3)

Foundational Engineering & Design Courses (26 Credits):

  • ICSI 201 Introduction to Computer Science (4)
  • IEGR 100 Design for Society (3)
  • IEGR 102 Computer Aided Design & Analysis (3)
  • IEGR 110 Introduction to Engineering (2)
  • IEGR 210 Introduction to materials Science (3)
  • IEGR 211 Materials Science Lab – Experiment and Analysis (1)
  • IEGR 221 Statics (3)
  • IEGR 223 Strength of Materials (3)
  • IEGR 241 Introduction to Circuits & Electronics (w/ Lab) (4)

Mechanical & Design Engineering Courses (37 Credits):

  • IMME 121 Intro to Engineering Lab for Mechanical Engineering (1)
  • IMME 231 Dynamics (3)
  • IMME 251 Thermodynamics (3)
  • Select one:
    • IMME 301 Product Design for Engineers (4)
    • IMME 302 Design for Medical Applications (4)
  • IMME 303 Manufacturing Processes (4)
  • IMME 321 Systems Modeling & Analysis (4)
  • IMME 331 Machine Design & Kinematics (3)
  • IMME 332 Applied Machine Design & Kinematics (1)
  • IMME 340 Introduction to Mechatronics (4)
  • IMME 351 Fluid Mechanics (3)
  • IMME 352 Fluid Mechanics Lab (1)
  • IMME 453 Heat & Mass Transfer (3)
  • Restricted Elective (3)

Upper-Division Electives (6 Credits):

  • Two 400 level IMME electives

Capstone (6 Credits):

  • IMME 490 Capstone I (3)
  • IMME 491 Capstone II (3)

Sample Restricted Elective Options:

  • IESE 321 Engineering Applications in Sustainable Design (3)
  • CINF 302 Human-Computer Interactive Design (3)
  • CINF 305 Digital Project Management (3)
  • AANT 332 Ethnoarchaeology (3)

For a concentration in Biomedical Design students complete IMME 461 Biomechanics I (3) and IMME 462 Biomechanics II (3) for their 400 level IMME electives and choose IMME 302 in place of IMME 301 in the options above.

Bachelors of Science in Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering:

In this program, you'll develop a comprehensive understanding of mechanical engineering fundamentals while specializing in mechatronics to design intelligent, adaptive and automated systems. Through coursework and hands-on project learning, you'll grow an invaluable blend of knowledge and adaptability that's essential to the evolving technological landscape in industries such as semiconductors, automotive, aerospace, robotics and energy.

You'll graduate equipped with sought-after analytical, computational and practical skills, ready to solve complex problems in your engineering career.

Program of Study

In the Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering BS program, you'll develop a solid foundation in both mechanical and mechatronic principles by studying a range of topics, including mechanical design, fluid mechanics, kinematics, robotics, automation, control systems and smart materials.

Through advanced courses you'll gain deep knowledge of traditional mechanical engineering areas while upper-division electives allow you to choose courses that align with your specific interests and career goals.

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.

As the MME programs is newly authorized, it is not currently accredited by ABET. Per standard practice, once the first students have graduated, we will seek accreditation for this programs, which will be retroactive to the first program graduates.

Bachelors of Science in Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering Requirements:

Minimum of 108 credits

Math & Science Required Courses (33 Credits):

  • Select One:
    • ACHM 120 General Chemistry I (3) and ACHM 124 General Chemistry I Lab (1)
    • ACHM 115 General Chemistry I and Lab (4)
  • AMAT 112 Calculus I (4)
  • AMAT 113 Calculus II (4)
  • AMAT 214 Calculus of Several Variables (4)
  • AMAT 215 Ordinary Differential Equations (3)
  • AMAT 220 Linear Algebra (3)
  • APHY 140 Physics I: Mechanics (3)
  • APHY 145 Physics Lab I (1)
  • APHY 150 Physics II: Electromagnetism (3)
  • APHY 155 Physics Lab II (1)
  • IERG 370 Applied Probability and Statistics for Engineers (3)

Foundational Engineering & Design Courses (26 Credits):

  • ICSI 201 Introduction to Computer Science (4)
  • IEGR 100 Design for Society (3)
  • IEGR 102 Computer Aided Design & Analysis (3)
  • IEGR 110 Introduction to Engineering (2)
  • IEGR 210 Introduction to materials Science (3)
  • IEGR 211 Materials Science Lab – Experiment and Analysis (1)
  • IEGR 221 Statics (3)
  • IEGR 223 Strength of Materials (3)
  • IEGR 241 Introduction to Circuits & Electronics (w/ Lab) (4)

Core Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering Courses (26 Credits):

  • IMME 121 Introduction to Engineering Lab for Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering (1)
  • IMME 231 Dynamics (3)
  • IMME 251 Thermodynamics (3)
  • IMME 321 System Modeling & Analysis (4)
  • IMME 331 Machine Design & Kinematics (3)
  • IMME 332 Applied Machine Design & Kinematics (1)
  • IMME 340 Introduction to Mechatronics w/ Lab (4)
  • IMME 351 Fluid Mechanics (3)
  • IMME 352 Fluid Mechanics Lab (1)
  • IMME 453 Heat & Mass Transfer (3)

Advanced mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering Courses (11 Credits):

  • IMME 341 Digital Logic & Control for Mechatronics (4)
  • IMME 342 Automatic Control Systems for Mechatronics (4)
  • IMME 343 Mechatronic System Design & Analysis (3)

Capstone Courses (6 Credits):

  • IMME 490 Capstone I (3)
  • IMME 491 Capstone II (3)

Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering Electives (6 Credits):

  • Choose from any 400-level MME Course of 400-level CNSE course with permission 

For a Concentration in Biomechanics, replace the Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering Electives with the following courses:

  • IMME 461 Biomechanics I (3)
  • IMME 462 Biomechanics II (3)