Mechanical Engineering @ Iowa State University

College of Engineering | Iowa State University

Department Information

Prospective Students

Current Students

Welcome to the Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Program
The faculty and staff of Mechanical Engineering at Iowa State would like to welcome you to the department, either as a returning or as a new student. This is a program that has established a rich tradition of excellence primarily due to our faculty and staff, modern facilities, and a growing number of remarkable alumni.

The following links are of special interest to ME undergraduates:

Program Objectives

Mechanical Engineering Learning Communities

The Mechanical Engineering Advising Center

The ME Undergraduate Handbook (2.0 MB PDF)

Schedule of Classes

The M.E. Curriculum at Iowa State
After completion of the basic program, the mechanical engineering core curriculum is designed to provide undergraduate students exposure to each of the three major areas in the field. These three areas are: energy cultivation, manufacturing, and design.

Energy cultivation. This area deals with the generation, distribution, and use of energy. M.E.s involved in this area are constantly challenged to find more productive and less expensive methods of energy conversion, distribution, and use.
Manufacturing. M.E.s in this area deal with the processing of raw materials into finished products. Manufacturing systems are implemented by directing the control and automation of the manufacturing process. M.E.s in manufacturing are faced with the challenge of developing products that are safe to use and manufacture.
Engineering-design and analysis. This area challenges the M.E. to continually analyze and model complex physical systems according to known mathematical models. Scaled models are commonly used to study such things as the stresses imposed on an airfoil by wind resistance. Computer simulations of naturally occurring phenomenon are common (modeling weather patterns, for example, is useful in the study of wind turbines). In fact, the digital computer is an essential tool of the mechanical engineer working in design and analysis.

Students are encouraged to use their technical and design electives to develop a deeper understanding in one of the three areas of the ME field. 16credits in the humanities and social sciences provide mechanical engineering students a complete undergraduate education.

Current Student Info

ME Advising Center

Information for Current Graduate Students

Information for Current Undergraduate Students

Computing Resources

ME Courses

Schedule of Classes