Degree Programs

• The mission of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland is to provide a quality education, to conduct strong research programs, to foster a close partnership with industry and government, and to provide related service to the campus community and the community at large. The mission shall be guided by a commitment to continuous improvement in the overall quality of teaching, research, and service in a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment.
• A major focus of the Department’s activities is to provide quality engineering education with sufficient scope to include the basic and specialized engineering training necessary for the current and emerging needs of a more diverse and inclusive society.
• The Department has related responsibility to contribute to the advancement of knowledge by conducting research at the cutting edge of science and technology. Since science and technology are rapidly advancing, the Department also has a professional responsibility to provide continuing education so the practicing engineer can remain effective.
• The Department faculty and administration also see as part of the mission, an obligation to serve the needs of the campus community and the community at large in the spirit of collegial cooperation.

The educational objectives of the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree program are that

1. Graduates will provide value in their chosen career path, whether for mastery of the disciplines central to mechanical engineering or the broader analytical skills, critical thinking, innovation and/or creative abilities provided by their engineering education.
2. Graduates will utilize skills in teamwork, leadership, and communication gained in their program of study, and act in a professional, equitable, inclusive, and ethical manner in the area in which they apply their degree.
3. Graduates will show a commitment to on-going professional development, whether through graduate study, research programs, training courses, or leadership opportunities thereby adapting to an evolving, competitive, diverse, global work environment.
4. Graduates will utilize the skills developed in their program of study to engender a diverse and inclusive work environment in the area in which they apply their degree, and to be sensitive to issues of social and environmental responsibility in the conduct of their work.

The Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree program is designed around the following ABET learning outcomes. 

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.

The current overall undergraduate enrollment in the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree program is 1158 distributed over all four years of study. This makes up approximately 30% of undergraduate enrollment in the A. James Clark School of Engineering.

In the 2022-2023 academic year, the Mechanical Engineering program awarded 360 Bachelor of Science degrees.