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Academic Catalog 2021-2022

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Mechanical Engineering and Design, BSME

2021-2022 Edition

  • Undergraduate
    • Admission
    • Information for Entering Students
    • College Expenses
    • Academic Policies and Procedures
    • University Academics
    • College of Arts, Media and Design
    • D'Amore-​McKim School of Business
    • Khoury College of Computer Sciences
    • College of Engineering
      • First Year Engineering
      • Interdisciplinary Minors
      • Bioengineering
      • Chemical Engineering
      • Civil and Environmental Engineering
      • Electrical and Computer Engineering
      • Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
        • Industrial Engineering, BSIE
        • Mechanical Engineering, BSME
        • Mechanical Engineering and Design, BSME
        • Mechanical Engineering and History, BSME
        • Mechanical Engineering and Physics, BSME
        • Aerospace, Minor
        • Biomechanical Engineering, Minor
        • Healthcare System Operations, Minor
        • Industrial Engineering, Minor
        • Mechanical Engineering, Minor
        • Robotics, Minor
      • Accelerated Bachelor/​Graduate Degree Programs
    • Bouvé College of Health Sciences
    • College of Science
    • College of Social Sciences and Humanities
    • Faculty
    • Appendix
  • College of Professional Studies Undergraduate
  • Graduate
  • Course Descriptions
  • Catalog Archives
  • Overview
  • Program Requirements
  • Plan of Study

The combined major in mechanical engineering and design is designed to educate students in topics of both disciplines and the interface between them. Mechanical engineering involves the design, development, and manufacture of machinery and devices to transmit power or to convert energy from thermal to mechanical form in order to power the modern world and its machines. Its current practice has been heavily influenced by recent advances in computer hardware and software. Today, engineers also play a primary role in the development of new technologies in a variety of fields—energy conversion, solar energy utilization, environmental control, prosthetics, transportation, manufacturing, and new-materials development. Design is the discipline that shapes human experiences in specific situations to improve quality. Designers pose important questions about—and provide significant answers to how we live. Designers are needed when we don’t know what is needed as well as when we think we do. Students in this program will combine the disciplines in order to address complex problems with human-centered solutions.

Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

University-Wide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the University-Wide Requirements.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

NUpath requirements Interpreting Culture (IC), Societies and Institutions (SI), and Differences and Diversity (DD) are not satisfied by required courses.  Students are responsible for satisfying these requirements with electives.

Engineering Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Required Engineering
ME 2340
and ME 2341
Introduction to Material Science
and Lab for ME 2340
5
ME 2350Statics4
ME 2355
and ME 2356
Mechanics of Materials
and Lab for ME 2355
5
ME 2380
and ME 2381
Thermodynamics
and Recitation for ME 2380
4
ME 3455
and ME 3456
Dynamics
and Lab for ME 3455
5
ME 3475Fluid Mechanics4
or ME 3480 International Applications of Fluid Mechanics
ME 4505
and ME 4506
Measurement and Analysis with Thermal Science Application
and Lab for ME 4505
5
Senior Capstone Design Project
MEIE 4701Capstone Design 11
MEIE 4702Capstone Design 25
Technical Electives
Complete two of the following (at least one must be ME 4550 or ME 4570)8
ME 4508
Mechanical Engineering Computation and Design
ME 4550
Mechanical Engineering Design
ME 4555
System Analysis and Control
ME 4570
Thermal Systems Analysis and Design
Supplemental Credit
2 semester hours from the following course count toward the engineering requirement:2
GE 1501
Cornerstone of Engineering 1 1
3 semester hours from the following course count toward the engineering requirement:3
GE 1502
Cornerstone of Engineering 2 1

Design Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
ARTF 1122
Color and Composition (with optional ARTF 1123)
Complete one of the following: 4
ARTF 1121
Conceptual Drawing
ARTF 1124
and ARTF 1125
Form and Structure
and Form and Structure Tools
ARTF 2220
Movement and Time (with optional ARTF 2221)
ARTF 2223
Experience and Interaction (with optional ARTF 2224)
Design Requirements
ARTG 1250Design Process Context and Systems4
ARTG 2250Typography 1 (with optional ARTG 2251)4
Design Options
Complete one of the following design options:8
Interactive Design Option
ARTG 2400
Interaction Design 1: Responsive (with optional ARTG 2401)
ARTG 3700
Interaction Design 2: Mobile
Graphic and Information Design Option
ARTG 2252
Graphic Design 1
ARTG 3450
Graphic Design 2
Experience Design Option
ARTG 3462
Experience Design 1
ARTG 3463
Experience Design 2
Art + Design History Elective4
Complete any ARTH course. Recommend selecting an ARTH course that fulfills both NUpath IC and SI.
Design Elective8
Complete two ARTG courses (at least one at 3000-level or higher) as long as prerequisites have been met.
Art + Design Elective4
Complete any one ARTG, ARTE, ARTD, ARTH, ARTS course as long as prerequisites have been met.

Supporting Courses: Mathematics/Science

Complete all mathematics/science courses with a minimum of 30 semester hours.

Course List
Code Title Hours
Required Mathematics/Science
CHEM 1151
and CHEM 1153
General Chemistry for Engineers
and Recitation for CHEM 1151
4
MATH 1341Calculus 1 for Science and Engineering4
MATH 1342Calculus 2 for Science and Engineering4
MATH 2321Calculus 3 for Science and Engineering4
MATH 2341Differential Equations and Linear Algebra for Engineering4
PHYS 1151
and PHYS 1152
and PHYS 1153
Physics for Engineering 1
and Lab for PHYS 1151
and Interactive Learning Seminar for PHYS 1151
5
PHYS 1155
and PHYS 1156
and PHYS 1157
Physics for Engineering 2
and Lab for PHYS 1155
and Interactive Learning Seminar for PHYS 1155
5
Supplemental Credit
1 semester hour from the following course counts toward the mathematics/science requirement:1
GE 1501
Cornerstone of Engineering 1 1

Professional Development

Course List
Code Title Hours
Professional Development
GE 1000Introduction to the Study of Engineering1
or ARTF 1000 Art and Design at Northeastern
ENCP 2000Introduction to Engineering Co-op Education1
ENCP 3000Professional Issues in Engineering1
Additional Required Courses
1 semester hour from the following course counts toward the professional development requirement:1
GE 1501
Cornerstone of Engineering 1 1
1 semester hour from the following course counts toward the professional development requirement:1
GE 1502
Cornerstone of Engineering 2 1

Writing Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
A grade of C or higher is required in each course:
ENGW 1111First-Year Writing4
ENGW 3302Advanced Writing in the Technical Professions4
or ENGW 3315 Interdisciplinary Advanced Writing in the Disciplines

Required General Electives

Course List
Code Title Hours
Complete 4 semester hours of academic, nonremedial, nonrepetitive courses. Recommend selecting a course to fulfill NUpath DD.4

Integrative Courses

Course List
Code Title Hours
This course is already required above and also fulfills the integrative requirement.
MEIE 4702
Capstone Design 2

Major GPA Requirement

2.000 minimum GPA required in IE, ME, and MEIE courses

Program Requirement

139 total semester hours required

1 Students can substitute GE 1110 and GE 1111 for GE 1501 and 1502 in approved situations.

4 Years, One Co-op in Summer 2/Fall

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ARTF 1000 or GE 10001ARTF 1122 (EI)4Vacation0Vacation0
CHEM 1151 (ND)4GE 1502 (ER)4  
CHEM 11530MATH 1342 (FQ)4  
ENGW 1111 (WF)4PHYS 1151 (ND)3  
GE 15014PHYS 1152 (AD)1  
MATH 1341 (FQ)4PHYS 11531  
 17 17 0 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ARTG 1250 (EI)4ENCP 20001ARTG 2250 (EI)4Vacation0
MATH 2321 (FQ)4MATH 23414ME 3475 or 34804 
ME 23504ME 23554  
PHYS 1155 (ND)3ME 23561  
PHYS 1156 (AD)1ME 23804  
PHYS 11571ME 23810  
 Art + Design Fundamental4  
 17 18 8 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ENGW 3302 or 3315 (WD)4ME 34554MEIE 4701 (EI, WI, CE)1Co-op0
ME 2340 (WI)4ME 34561Art + Design Elective4 
ME 23411ME 4505 (AD)4Engineering Tech Elective4 
Art + Design History Elective4ME 45061  
Design Option4Design Option4  
 Engineering Tech Elective4  
 17 18 9 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Co-op0ENCP 30001  
 MEIE 4702 (EI, WI, CE)5  
 General Elective (NUPath DD)4  
 Design Elective4  
 Design Elective4  
 0 18  
Total Hours: 139

4 Years, One Co-op in Spring/Summer 1

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ARTF 1000 or GE 10001ARTF 1122 (EI)4Vacation0Vacation0
CHEM 1151 (ND)4GE 1502 (ER)4  
CHEM 11530MATH 1342 (FQ)4  
ENGW 1111 (WF)4PHYS 1151 (ND)3  
GE 15014PHYS 1152 (AD)1  
MATH 1341 (FQ)4PHYS 11531  
 17 17 0 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ARTG 1250 (EI)4MATH 23414Vacation0ENGW 3302 or 3315 (WD)4
ENCP 20001ME 2340 (WI)4 ME 3475 or 34804
MATH 2321 (FQ)4ME 23411  
ME 23504ME 23554  
PHYS 1155 (ND)3ME 23561  
PHYS 1156 (AD)1ME 23804  
PHYS 11571ME 23810  
 18 18 0 8
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ME 34554Co-op0Co-op0MEIE 4701 (EI, WI, CE)1
ME 34561  Art + Design Elective4
ME 4505 (AD)4  Engineering Tech Elective4
ME 45061   
ARTG 2250 (EI)4   
Design Option4   
 18 0 0 9
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
ENCP 30001Art + Design Elective4  
MEIE 4702 (EI, WI, CE)5Design Elective4  
Art + Design History Elective4Design Elective4  
Design Option4Engineering Tech Elective4  
General Elective (NUPath DD)4   
 18 16  
Total Hours: 139

5 Years, Three Co-ops in Summer 2/Fall

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ARTF 1000 or GE 10001ARTF 1122 (EI)4Vacation0Vacation0
CHEM 1151 (ND)4GE 1502 (ER)4  
CHEM 11530MATH 1342 (FQ)4  
ENGW 1111 (WF)4PHYS 1151 (ND)3  
GE 15014PHYS 1152 (AD)1  
MATH 1341 (FQ)4PHYS 11531  
 17 17 0 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
MATH 2321 (FQ)4ENCP 20001Vacation0Co-op0
ME 23504MATH 23414  
PHYS 1155 (ND)3ME 2340 (WI)4  
PHYS 1156 (AD)1ME 23411  
PHYS 11571ME 23804  
ARTG 12504ME 23810  
 Art + Design Fundamental4  
 17 18 0 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0ARTG 2250 (EI)4ME 3475 or 34804Co-op0
 ENGW 3302 or 3315 (WD)4Design Elective4 
 ME 23554  
 ME 23561  
 Design Option4  
 0 17 8 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0ENCP 30001MEIE 4701 (EI, WI, CE)1Co-op0
 ME 34554Art + Design Elective4 
 ME 34561Engineering Tech Elective4 
 ME 4505 (AD)4  
 ME 45061  
 Art + Design History Elective4  
 Design Option4  
 0 19 9 0
Year 5
FallHoursSpringHours  
Co-op0MEIE 4702 (EI, WI, CE)5  
 Design Elective4  
 Engineering Tech Elective4  
 General Elective (NUPath DD)4  
 0 17  
Total Hours: 139

5 Years, Three Co-ops in Spring/Summer 1

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ARTF 1000 or GE 10001ARTF 1122 (EI)4Vacation0Vacation0
CHEM 1151 (ND)4GE 1502 (ER)4  
CHEM 11530MATH 1342 (FQ)4  
ENGW 1111 (WF)4PHYS 1151 (ND)3  
GE 15014PHYS 1152 (AD)1  
MATH 1341 (FQ)4PHYS 11531  
 17 17 0 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ARTG 1250 (EI)4Co-op0Co-op0ARTG 2250 (EI)4
ENCP 20001  ME 3475 or 34804
MATH 2321 (FQ)4   
ME 23504   
PHYS 1155 (ND)3   
PHYS 1156 (AD)1   
PHYS 11571   
 18 0 0 8
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
MATH 23414Co-op0Co-op0Vacation0
ME 23554   
ME 23561   
ME 23804   
ME 23810   
Design Option4   
 17 0 0 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ENCP 30001Co-op0Co-op0MEIE 4701 (EI, WI, CE)1
ME 2340 (WI)4  Art + Design Fundamental4
ME 23411  General Elective (NUPath DD)4
ME 34554   
ME 34561   
ME 4505 (AD)4   
ME 45061   
Design Option4   
 20 0 0 9
Year 5
FallHoursSpringHours  
MEIE 4702 (EI, WI, CE)5ENGW 3302 or 3315 (WD)4  
Art + Design History Elective4Art + Design Elective4  
Design Elective4Design Option4  
Engineering Tech Elective4Engineering Tech Elective4  
 17 16  
Total Hours: 139
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