Mechanical Engineering

Some of the nation’s brightest minds are majoring in mechanical engineering, a subfield of engineering in which students learn principles relating to the design, construction, operation and maintenance of machinery and mechanical systems. Mechanical engineering programs are designed to equip students with the skills necessary to innovate and improve today’s machinery. They also prepare students to solve mechanical problems in vastly different fields. Typical courses you might encounter as a mechanical engineering major include: advanced chemistry & physics, calculus, principles of electrical systems, technical writing, modeling of engineering systems, and engineering measurements. Other courses might include fluid dynamics and heat & mass transfer. Nearly all programs require students to describe or create their own design project in order to graduate.

Mechanical engineering is not for the faint of heart. Analytical individuals who relish a challenge and enjoy learning the mechanics of how machines work and how they are made will truly enjoy this major. The good news is that all of the hard work it takes to earn a degree in this field often pays off in the form of high-paying careers. Many mechanical engineering majors go on to pull in six figure salaries, depending on what career path they choose. Graduates of mechanical engineering programs may take up careers in a variety of fields, such as electrical engineering; systems analysis; development of power-generating machines; design & testing engineering; solar power engineering and many other highly-specialized fields.