Mechanical Engineering Major

If you are interested in anything that moves, you will find a natural home in mechanical engineering.

Mechanical engineers are problem-solvers, designers, and creators. They understand materials, solid and fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, design, control, instrumentation, and production. Engineers in this area can recognize emerging issues, come up with novel solutions, and create and test prototypes of their designs.

As a mechanical engineer, you’ll create products and technologies that meet human needs. These can span a range from large to small: enormous power turbines and manufacturing robots on one end, nanoscale devices and systems on the other. No matter what their size, the devices you create and refine could have an impact on energy, transportation, space exploration, the environment, health care, aerospace, and more.

Mechanical engineering majors complete coursework in four categories:

• Nonengineering and general education courses: Nonengineering and general education courses will make you a well-informed graduate in disciplines outside of mechanical engineering. You will take 53 credit hours in this category, including chemistry, physics, math, and a range of “chart-your-own-path” classes in areas such as Exploring World Cultures and Understanding the Individual and Society. For details on general education requirements, consult the course catalog.
• Required engineering courses: Students earn 66 credit hours from engineering courses that all ME majors must take. These courses—including Engineering Dynamics, Fluid Mechanics I, and Experimental Methods in Mechanical Engineering—offer a thorough introduction to the field. Details on these requirements are in the course catalog.
• Technical electives:ME majors complete 6 credit hours of courses that will prepare them for the specific careers or research they have in mind. Options include Probability and Statistics for Engineers, Electromechanical Energy Conversion, an undergraduate research course, and more (see the course catalog for details).
• Free elective: The final 3 credit hours of the ME major come from one or more electives outside the mechanical engineering rubric, based on your choice.

Keioko Haynes ’26
BS in Mechanical Engineering

Why did you choose UIC College of Engineering? I chose the UIC College of Engineering not only because it’s close to home, but also because its location in the heart of Chicago provides incredible access to research opportunities, industry connections, and real-world engineering challenges I value.

Name one thing you think UIC does better than anywhere else. UIC creates opportunities for students from all backgrounds to thrive. Whether it’s through research programs, student organizations, or support services, UIC emphasizes and empowers its diverse student body to grow academically and professionally.

What’s your favorite thing about MIE? My favorite thing about being in the MIE department is the wide range of career paths I could pursue. From aerospace to mechatronics to energy systems, I feel confident knowing I can explore different fields while building a strong engineering foundation.

Would you recommend the College of Engineering to high school students? If so, why? I would absolutely recommend the College of Engineering to high school students. It offers a supportive environment, numerous learning opportunities, and access to cutting-edge research. The faculty and students I’ve met here have made my academic journey so much more meaningful and rewarding.

Harry Obikili ’23
BS Mechanical Engineering

Field Engineer
Fastenal

How do you hope your work will create positive change in the world? I want to change the world by bringing a good personality to everyone that I meet and leaving a great impression.

How did the College of Engineering prepare you for your career? The College of Engineering provided me with the technical knowledge and the ability to problem solve in almost all situations.

Favorite thing about your former department? Everyone is willing to help and learn from each other.

Qais M. Abdeh ’23
BS Mechanical Engineering

Senior Engineering Technician
Chicago Bridge & Iron (CB&I)

What’s great about your job? I’m enjoying my job, which has given me opportunities to travel and work in different office locations across the US, with the potential for international experience. Being part of an international company has enhanced my communication skills and expanded my professional network by connecting me with coworkers across different departments, suppliers, and customers worldwide.

How did the College of Engineering prepare you for your career? I benefited from many resources and opportunities that helped me secure a job in my dream field, and gained valuable experience as a teaching assistant for a design class. Additionally, attending multiple career fairs led to several job and internship offers including my job with CB&I. In my final semester, I participated in a mandatory weekly professional seminar led by industry experts, which prepared me well for real-world challenges.

Would you recommend the College of Engineering to new applicants? If so, why? Absolutely! The College of Engineering provides extensive resources and support to help students achieve their academic and career goals. Introductory courses across all engineering majors help students in selecting the major that best fits their interests. Moreover, the college has student organizations that allow students to further explore and nurture their passion for engineering beyond the classroom environment. To top it all off, the professors are highly supportive and offer valuable academic and professional guidance.

Keenan Brunner ’23
BS Mechanical Engineering

Research and Development Engineer
International

How do you hope your work will create positive change in the world? I hope that my work provides value to the world in the form of safer and more efficient vehicles and aim to get 1% closer to this goal everyday.

How did the College of Engineering prepare you for your career? The rigorous curriculum developed my technical skills in engineering design to immediately be able to contribute in meaningful ways in design review meetings and high level solution presentations.

Why did you choose UIC? I chose UIC because of its Highly regarded Engineering program, my previous experience in the engineering enrichment program, and lastly the accessibility/location of campus.

Would you recommend the College of Engineering to new applicants? If so, why? I would indeed recommend the COE to new applicants. The curriculum can be very intense but the faculty is very supportive make the best efforts to ensure the success of their students. The curriculum also prepares students to be very competitive and sought after in the job market.

The mechanical engineering program at UIC is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

As part of our accreditation process, ABET asks our department to capture the overall goals of the undergraduate programs in mechanical and industrial engineering. These are called our program educational objectives. For the mechanical engineering major, they are:

• To apply engineering knowledge, critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills with integrity in professional engineering practice or in non-engineering fields, such as law, medicine, education, or business. (Professional Practice)
• To continue intellectual development and ethically responsible professional growth through graduate education, professional development courses, self-directed investigation, work in multidisciplinary teams, and/or on-the-job training and experience. (Professional Development)
• To contribute to the betterment of society through impactful work and creating a collaborative, diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture in the workplace and community. (Service & Leadership)

Another part of the ABET accreditation process requires the department to identify the specific knowledge and skills that students are intended to have when they complete their undergraduate education. These are called student outcomes.

Students graduating from the mechanical engineering program at UIC will have:

1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
2. an ability to 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.
3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
4. an ability to 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.
5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

In the 2021-2022 academic year, 727 students are enrolled at UIC Engineering as mechanical engineering majors across all class years. The department graduated 158 mechanical engineering majors in the academic year ending August 2020. View historical enrollment and graduation data here.