Undergraduate Program

The undergraduate program in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Columbia University teaches students to be creative problem solvers and nurtures the teamwork, leadership and communication skills necessary to be effective leaders in mechanical engineering as well as in other fields such as medicine, law, consulting, management, banking and finance.

Undergraduate Course Requirements

Comprehensive details of undergraduate course requirements are available.

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MS Express Program

This option is open to Columbia students already enrolled in the BS degree program, who have a Columbia GPA of no lower than 3.5. This option offers a quick and smooth transition to the MS degree program, with its well-known utility in professional training.

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Integrated BS/MS Program

The Integrated BS/MS Program is open only to Columbia University juniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.40. After earning the BS degree, students are able to seamlessly proceed toward earning their MS degree. Merging the BS and MS programs allows Columbia students to earn the MS degree in a very flexible and efficient manner. One major benefit of this program is the double-counting of two 4000-level tech electives toward the MS degree. In addition, up to 9 additional graduate level credits taken during the BS degree, but not counted toward the BS degree, can be transferred to the MS degree, significantly reducing the length of the program.

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Study Abroad

In order to fulfill nontechnical requirements, engineering students often study abroad during the spring semester of their sophomore year.

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Our unique curriculum provides a rigorous grounding in math and fundamental and applied science, as well as the humanities, as part of Columbia’s famed Core Curriculum. There are 27 points of nontechnical credit within the B.S. degree requirement. This gives students the flexibility to take electives within the engineering school and at Columbia College. Undergraduate students can choose from a large list of available courses from the college and the school.

Beginning in the first semester, students become immersed in designing engineering solutions, take part in collaborative research projects, and expand their thinking in Columbia’s legendary Core Curriculum.

Undergraduate students have numerous opportunities to work with top faculty, both in the classroom and in the laboratory, who are actively engaged in pioneering research across disciplines. Opportunities exist for both semester-long and full-time summer research projects. Students also participate in local chapters of clubs such as the ASME, Solar-Splash, SAE, Engineers without Borders and AIAA.

Program Educational Objectives

The Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Program at Columbia University has the following Program Educational Objectives (PEOs):

Practice mechanical engineering in a broad range of industries
Pursue advanced education, research and development, and other creative and innovative efforts in science, engineering, and technology, as well as other professional careers.
Conduct themselves in a responsible, professional, and ethical manner.
Participate in activities that support humanity and economic development nationally and globally, developing as leaders in their fields of expertise.

Our department periodically reviews these objectives and as part of this review process, encourages comments from all interested parties: current students, alumni, prospective students, faculty, teaching assistants, those who hire or admit our graduates to other programs, members of related professional organizations, and colleagues from other educational institutions. Please send comments to our ABET coordinator Arvind Narayanaswamy at an2288@columbia.edu.

Student Outcomes

Graduates of the Mechanical Engineering program at Columbia University will attain:

An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health, and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
An ability to communicate effectively
The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
A recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning
A knowledge of contemporary issues
An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice

Additionally, graduates of the Mechanical Engineering program at Columbia University will also attain:

An ability to apply principles of basic science and mathematics (including multivariate calculus and differential equations)
An ability to model, analyze, design, and realize physical systems, components or processes
An ability to work professionally in both thermal and mechanical systems areas

Enrollment and Graduation Statistics

Academic Year	Total Undergraduate Enrollment (sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors)	Size of Graduating Class
2007-2008	117	38
2008-2009	124	53
2009-2010	118	43
2010-2011	140	40
2011-2012	166	64
2012-2013	149	61
2013-2014	151	64
2014-2015	155	58
2015-2016	155	59
2016-2017	148	61
2017-2018*	117	N/A

*includes only up to fall 2017; excludes sophomores

ABET Accreditation

The undergraduate program in Mechanical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET: http://www.abet.org.

Advising

Undergraduate students benefit from highly accessible and supportive advisors who help guide their academic and career path. From the moment they enter the department, students are assigned an advisor who provides guidance and counseling regarding the selection of a major, career planning and student life.

FAQ

Have a quick question about the undergraduate program in the Department of Mechanical Engineering? Visit our FAQ.

Senior Design

In the fall and spring, Engineering Design MECE E3420 and MECE E3430 (collectively called Senior Design) constitute the capstone design course in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Columbia University. Students form teams to research, design, and produce a prototype of an original system of their own design. These courses bring together many of the concepts that were introduced in the undergraduate curriculum.

Minors

Undergraduate minors are designed to allow engineering and applied science students to study, to a limited extent, a discipline other than their major.

Technical Electives

The undergraduate major in Mechanical Engineering offers significant flexibility in allowing students to tailor their academic program to their interests. When choosing technical electives, we encourage students to think about their most likely career path, whether it may be industry, academia, research, or perhaps a profession outside of engineering, and then explore the most interesting or relevant course(s) that pertain to that career path.