What You’ll Learn
With a B.S. in mechanical engineering from UNO, you’ll:
- 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.
- Apply advanced mathematics, including multi-variate calculus and differential equations
- Apply thermal/fluids concepts to mechanical engineering practice
- Apply solid mechanics concepts to mechanical engineering practice
By the time you complete your Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering, you’ll know how to approach an engineering problem thoughtfully and critically. What’s more, you’ll have the skills and experience to design products and systems that solve the biggest problems we face—improving lives both today and far into the future.
Sample Courses
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
- Engineering Analysis
- Engineering Thermodynamics
- Finite Element Analysis
- Fluid Mechanics
- Material Science
- Machine Design
- Structure and Properties of Materials
What Industries Can You Work in with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering?
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Biomedical Technology
- Consulting
- Defense
- Electric Utilities
- Energy Systems
- Local, State, and Federal Agencies
- Manufacturing
- Nuclear Technology
- Petrochemical
- Robotics
- And More!
Why Get Your B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at UNO?
The greater New Orleans area is hungry for talented mechanical engineers who are ready to think critically about longstanding problems and deploy new engineering solutions to overcome them. And because the Gulf Coast region is a hub for the onshore and offshore oil, petrochemical/process, aerospace, and manufacturing industries, there are plenty of opportunities for B.S. in mechanical engineering students to gain hands-on experience in their field and make the valuable connections that could lead to future employment. What’s more, the long-term employment outlook for mechanical engineers is excellent. To launch a successful and meaningful career as a mechanical engineer, there’s truly nowhere better than UNO.
Honors Program in Mechanical Engineering
Exceptional students looking for a way to deepen their engineering education can earn an honors degree in mechanical engineering through the Dr. Robert A. Savoie College of Engineering Honors Program. To qualify for a bachelor’s degree with honors, you’ll need a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better in engineering courses, as well as an overall GPA of at least 3.2. The capstone of the honors degree is the senior honors thesis, which encompasses senior-level research or design work on a topic of your choice. After you give a successful oral defense of your thesis, you’ll have earned the honors designation for your B.S. in mechanical engineering.
Research Opportunities
Research Laboratories
Because mechanical engineering is such a diverse field, the Dr. Robert A. Savoie College of Engineering has a wide range of laboratory and research facilities to support students and faculty. Our research laboratories include focus areas like combustion engineering, composite materials, cryogenics, wind tunnels, and X-ray characterization.
As a B.S. in mechanical engineering student, you may visit some of these laboratories during your classes, or you may assist professors with their work there through an undergraduate research project. Each lab is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, so you can learn at the cutting edge of what’s currently possible in engineering.
National Center for Advanced Manufacturing (NCAM)
As a student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, you have the opportunity to study at NCAM, a research and production center run in partnership by UNO, the UNO Research and Technology Foundation, Louisiana State University, the state of Louisiana, and NASA. Here, you will participate in hands-on research projects that apply advanced manufacturing technologies to lightweight materials for use in aerospace. You’ll even have the chance to use the same state-of-the-art friction stir welding equipment that’s used in NASA’s space program.
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Energy Conversion and Conservation Center (ECCC
The ECCC conducts research on local, national, and international projects to solve technical problems associated with power generation, energy conservation, and efficiency. Located on the lakefront of Lake Pontchartrain, the ECCC has three labs conducting energy-related research: the aerothermal laboratory, the energy conversion laboratory, and the energy conservation laboratory.
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Student Organizations
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
ASME membership is open to any student in pre-engineering or the Dr. Robert A. Savoie College of Engineering, including those pursuing their Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering. Consisting of both students and engineering professionals, ASME offers continuing education, training and professional development, and many outreach efforts to strengthen the global community of mechanical engineers.
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American Association of Drilling Engineers (AADE)
As a member of AADE, students will gain access to a network of drilling engineers and professionals across the country. Monthly AADE meetings generally include presentations by knowledgeable industry leaders. AADE members can also attend forums and technical conferences, connecting them to the latest news and technology in the industry.
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National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE)
With 37,000 members in 140+ countries, NACE is the premier organization for professionals involved with corrosion control solutions. The organization offers technical training and certification programs as well as conferences, reports and publications, government relations activities, and countless networking opportunities.
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Pi Tau Sigma
This national honor society was established to recognize mechanical engineering students of exceptional scholarship and character. Members in Pi Tau Sigma collaborate with members of other UNO engineering honor societies in a number of community service events, including Habitat for Humanity, Beach Sweep, tutoring, blood drives, and lectures on engineering topics.
Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
For more than six decades, SWE has offered support, outreach, and education for women engineers, helping empower women to reach their full potential as engineers and as leaders. With more than 40,000 members across the globe, SWE is the world’s largest advocate for women in engineering and technology.
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Academic Requirements
The Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering follows the UNO Dr. Robert A. Savoie College of Engineering guidelines for enrollment. Before you can register for an engineering course above the 3000 level, you’ll need to qualify for or have credit in a college-level calculus course along with a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher in courses related to physics, chemistry, engineering, and mathematics.
Requirements for transfer students are comparable, but they vary depending on the number of transferable hours a student has when entering. You can find a full breakdown of admission requirements based on transferable hours here.
Student Learning Outcomes
Student Learning Outcomes specify what students will know, be able to do, or be able to demonstrate when they have completed a program of study.
Degree Requirements
The degree requirements for mechanical engineering gives an overall view of courses required to complete the degree program.
Degree Requirements
Admissions Requirements
New or potential mechanical engineering undergraduate students should review the Dr. Robert A. Savoie College of Engineering's information for engineering freshmen, which includes an important link to the University catalog. The admission process to our bachelor's program is managed by the UNO Office of Admissions.
Enrollment and Graduation Data
The following table summarizes enrollment and graduation data for the BSc Mechanical Engineering program for the past 4 years. More detailed numbers can be obtained from UNO's Institutional Research and Data Management (IRDM) website.
Academic Year | Fall Enrollment | # of B.Sc. Degrees Awarded |
2013-2014 | 329 | 52 |
2014-2015 | 363 | 45 |
2015-2016 | 344 | 44 |
2016-2017 | 315 | 47 |
2017-2018 | 346 | 61 (expected) |