Welcome			Financial Aid
	About ME			Faculty
	Programs of Study			Facilities
	Degrees Offered			Contact
	Graduation Requirements

Welcome   back to the top

Welcome to the Website of the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of New Mexico. While we are a small department of 19 faculty, you will find a level of excellence that one normally finds in departments that are significantly larger. One of the goals of the Department is to attract and develop a world-class faculty. As you peruse the various aspects of ourWebsite, take note of the engagement of the faculty, students, and staff, the level of esprit de corps, and the broad spectrum of academic and research topics that are highlighted. Enjoy your web-visit, and call, email, or drop by to see our great building and the exciting things happening within.

About Mechanical Engineering   back to the top

Among the opportunities for Mechanical Engineers are careers in such diverse fields as robotics, aerospace, biomedical, chemical transport, oil-well servicing, environmental and pollution controls, heating and air conditioning, computer-aided manufacturing, computer technology, and exotic materials development. Mechanical Engineers also find careers with government laboratories in a variety of activities dealing with oceanographic studies, atmospheric research, power generation and alternate energy sources, and aircraft and rocket testing. So not only are the number and breadth of career opportunities very substantial but these opportunities are likely to increase in the future.

Programs of Study   back to the top

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Mechanical Engineering.

Degrees Offered   back to the top

The Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

Graduation Requirements   back to the top

To receive the degree of Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, a student must complete 130 semester hours, with a GPA of not less than 2.0. Requirements for the M.S. degree include a minimum of 31 semester hours with an academic average of 3.0. Students may complete a thesis (Plan I) or a research project (Plan II). The Ph.D. program requires a minimum of 48 hours of coursework beyond the bachelor's degree. The student must complete a written Qualifying Examination covering the core areas of mechanical engineering, and a Comprehensive Examination in his or her area of research. The Ph.D. candidate must also write a dissertation demonstrating ability to do research at a professional level. Advisors in the Department of Mechanical Engineering are always available to counsel new students preparing to enter or considering the program about course prerequisites and sequences as well as to help each student select courses that meet his or her individual needs.

Financial Aid   back to the top

A large percentage of our continuing graduate students receive teaching or research assistantships. Each year, the Department offers assistantships to our most outstanding applicants. Pre-master's students receive $10,000-$20,000, and postmaster's receive $12,000-$24,000 for half-time service, plus a tuition waiver for 24 semester hours per year. As of fall 2001, the Department supported about 50 graduate students through teaching and research assistantships and several postdoctoral positions. The Department maintains close relationships with Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the Air Force Research Laboratory (Phillips site). Highly qualified minority students may also apply for Sloan Doctoral Fellowships.

Faculty   back to the top

The teaching and research areas of the Mechanical Engineering faculty include robotics and control systems, applied mechanics (fluid, solid and continuum), materials science, manufacturing processes, instrumentation, thermodynamics and heat transfer. The diversity of the faculty provides our students with a stimulating exposure to a variety of ideas and philosophies, as well as opportunities for study in these areas. We encourage interaction between our students and faculty through maintaining small classes and academic advising by our faculty members.

Facilities  back to the top

UNM's Department of Mechanical Engineering is in the Mechanical Engineering building which is the only one of its kind in the country; it not only includes the laboratories essential in a modern engineering program, such as fluid mechanics and robotics, but it is an experimental laboratory itself; its heating and air-conditioning systems, were specifically designed for energy conservation. This unique building is used in educational programs, as well as in research. In addition, the building has a large atrium, which provides a tranquil ambiance in which to study or just relax. Adjacent to it is our student lounge and snack bar, a favorite gathering place for our students between classes. We also have many excellent facilities and resources. To see more on this, CLICK HERE.

Contact  back to the top