Mechanical Engineering

Career and Academic Paths
Academic Advising
Admission Requirements
General Education Program
Accelerated B.S./M.S. Program
Special Opportunities
Student Organizations

Faculty

Chair

Charles Eggleton
B.S., University of California, Berkeley, 1986; M.S., Stanford University, 1989; Ph.D., 1994
Interests: Biomechanics, computational fluid mechanics

Professors

Muniswamappa (Appa) Anjanappa
B.S., Bangalore University (India), 1973; M.Sc., University of Madras, 1975; Ph.D., University of Maryland, College Park, 1986
Interests: Mechatronics (controls, sensors and actuators), manufacturing process control, design optimization

Dwayne Arola
B.S., University of Washington, Seattle, 1989; M.S., 1991; Ph.D., 1996
Interests: Manufacturing, advanced engineering materials

Panos Charalambides
B.Sc., University of Thessaloniki (Greece), 1981; M.Sc., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1983; Ph.D., 1986
Interests: Fracture mechanics, mechanics of composites, non-linear material behavior, biomechanics, finite elements, computational mechanics, technology transfer

Charles Eggleton
B.S., University of California, Berkeley, 1986; M.S., Stanford University, 1989; Ph.D., 1994
Interests: Biomechanics, computational fluid mechanics

Akhtar S. Khan
B.S., Aligarth University (India), 1961; B.S.E., 1965; Ph.D., The Johns Hopkins University, 1972
Interests: Dynamic plasticity, constitutive modeling of finite plastic behavior, fracture mechanics, rock mechanics, experimental mechanics

Uri Tasch
B.Sc., M.E., Technion (Israel), 1976; M.E., Illinois Institute of Technology, 1978; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1983
Interests: Automatic controls, robotics, manufacturing, grasping mechanics

Tim Topoleski
B.S., Cornell University, 1981; M.S., 1984; Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1990
Interests: Biomaterials and biomechanics, fracture and fatigue of natural and biological materials

Weidong Zhu
B.S., Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China), 1986; M.S., Arizona State University, 1988; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1994
Interests: Vibrations and dynamics

Associate Professors

Tony Farquhar
B.S., University of Massachusetts Amherst, 1977; M.S., Cornell University, 1988; Ph.D., 1991
Interests: Mechanics of living structures, mechanical design

Ronghui Ma
B.S., Zhejiang University (China), 1991; M.S., Southeast University (China), 1994; Ph.D., State University of New York at Stony Brook, 2003
Interests: Computational heat transfer and fluid dynamic with specific empasis on novel materials processing and MEMS devices

Liang Zhu
B.S., University of Science and Technology (China), 1988; M.Phil., The City University of New York, 1995; Ph.D., 1995
Interests: Biomechanics and heat transfer

Marc Zupan
B.Eng., The University of Dayton, 1995; M.S., The Johns Hopkins University, 1997, Ph.D., 2001
Interests: Micro-mechanics of materials and structures

Assistant Professors

Soobum Lee
B.S., Yonsei University, Korea, 1998; M.S., KAIST, Korea, 2000; Ph.D., 2007
Interests: Energy Harvesting, Design Optimization

Carolos Romero-Talamás
B.S., Instituto Technológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, 1995; Master of Space Studies, International Space University, 1998; M.S., California Institute of Technology, 2000; Ph.D., 2005
Interests: Plasma science and industrial applications, self organization in strongly coupled complex plasmas, magnetofluids

Associate Professor Emeritus

Christian von Kerczek
B.S., University of Notre Dame, 1963; M.S., 1965; Ph.D., The Johns Hopkins University, 1973
Interests: Theoretical and computational fluid mechanics, internal combustion engines

Lecturers

Neil Rothman
B.S., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; M.S., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University
Interests: Product design and development, medical device design and manufacturing, application of design thinking, innovation and creativity, entrepreneurship, intellectual property strategy

Wa-Muzemba Anselm Tshibangu
B.Eng., University of Kinshasa (D.R.Congo), 1986; M.Eng.,University of Johannesburg (Ex. Rand Afrikaans University), Johannesburg, South Africa, 1998; D.Eng., Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, 2003
Interests: Robust design, discrete simulation modeling, optimization of manufacturing systems, manufacturing processes,robotics, automation and process control, quality and statistical process control, lean manufacturing, six sigma

Professor of the Practice

Anne Spence
B.S., University of Missouri, 1985; M.S., The University of Texas Arlington, 1988; Ph.D., University of Maryland, College Park, 1994
Interests: Engineering education, helicopter stability and control

Professor & Dean Emeritus

Shlomo Carmi
B.S., University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), 1962; M.S., University of Minnesota, 1966; Ph.D., 1968
Interests: Hydrodynamic stability and transition to turbulence, non-Newtonian fluid flow, heat and mass transfer, numerical methods and computer simulations, manufacturing process

Courses in this program are listed under ENME.

Mechanical Engineering focuses on the design and production of energy-producing systems and on mechanical devices or mechanisms. These systems and mechanisms are applied to fields ranging from Biology, such as artificial hearts, to transport systems, such as cars and airplanes, and in manufacturing tools and plants. The Mechanical Engineering curriculum at UMBC, accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET, Inc., 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202 Telephone: 410-347-7700, Fax: 410-625-2238, Web: http://www.abet.org), provides students thorough training in Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Engineering Sciences and Engineering Design. Mechanical Engineering students also gain a broad education by completing a cross section of courses in the arts and humanities, social sciences, and language and culture in accordance with university General Foundation Requirements (GFR) or General Education Program (GEP).

Program Educational Objectives

The faculty of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UMBC is dedicated to serving its constituencies by graduating mechanical engineers who will achieve the following milesstones 3-5 years from graduation:

Demonstrate success as a professional mechanical engineer, or a successful transition from the traditional mechanical engineer career path into another career.
Demonstrate success in advanced education, research and development, or other creative efforts in engineering, science and technology.

There are several ways for students to progress through the mechanical engineering program. A traditional four-year timetable provides the quickest path to completing the degree, although most students choose to complete their degree in five years. Many students combine their mechanical engineering program with part-time work or community service. UMBC’s Shriver Center helps students develop various ways to accomplish their goals, while working with students to develop service internships outside of mechanical engineering, such as tutoring disadvantaged children.

It is also possible and quite desirable to combine a Mechanical Engineering major with a minor, such as Entrepreneurship & Innovation or Mathematics, or a second major, such as Mathematics, Physics, Geography or various other fields. Students meet with their undergraduate advisor in Mechanical Engineering each semester during the advising session to assess their progress towards achieving their educational and career goals.

Career and Academic Paths

Recent graduates of UMBC’s Mechanical Engineering Program have secured starting engineering positions in both large and small firms, as well as in government laboratories. Some large firms that employ UMBC graduates are BGE, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Black & Decker, Ford Motor Co. and Toyota of North America. Other graduates have secured professional positions in government laboratories, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Naval Surface Weapons Center, the U.S. Army Aberdeen Proving Ground and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry is also a large employer of mechanical engineers. Many UMBC Mechanical Engineering graduates are pursuing both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees at major universities such as The Johns Hopkins University, University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Michigan State University, University of Cincinnati, University of Maryland, College Park; as well as UMBC. Many graduates working in nearby industries pursue part-time graduate work in mechanical engineering or engineering management at UMBC.

Academic Advising

Mechanical Engineering students obtain academic advising in two stages. Students at the freshman and sophomore level (determined by the level of engineering courses taken and passed, not by the total number of credit hours taken) are advised by professional advisors in the Undergraduate Student Services in the College of Engineering and Information Technology. When a student advances to the junior level, a mechanical engineering faculty member is assigned as a permanent advisor who takes over the formal academic advising. Students must meet with their faculty advisor at least once per semester to prepare pre-registration requirements for the following semester. At this time, the faculty advisor helps the student review his or her academic status and plan for an efficient continuation of the student’s program. The overall advising activity is supervised by the mechanical engineering Undergraduate Program Director (UPD).

Admission Requirements

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING REPEAT POLICY: At UMBC, students may not register for a course more than two times. They are considered registered for a course if they are enrolled after the end of the schedule adjustment period. Students may petition the Office of Undergraduate Education for a third and final attempt of a course taken at UMBC or another institution, however, the Department of Mechanical Engineering will not support petitions to repeat required lower-level (100 and 200 level) courses for the purpose of continuing in the major.

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING REPEAT POLICY IMPLICATIONS: Any student who meets the appropriate Gateway criteria but has attempted a lower-level required course (100 and 200 level) twice and not earned a grade of “C” or better cannot continue in the Mechanical Engineering program. This policy applies to courses which may be offered at a higher level (300 and 400 level) at another institution but are considered equivalent to lower-level courses at UMBC. Transfer students who have attempted a required lower-level course or its equivalent at another institution two or more times without earning a grade of “C” on the second attempt may be admitted to UMBC, but are NOT eligible for admittance to the Mechanical Engineering Program.

GATEWAY CRITERIA –EFFECTIVE FALL 2009: Applicants admitted Fall 2009 and later may designate mechanical engineering as their intended major. However, students are admitted to the Mechanical Engineering Program only when they pass all four of the following Gateway courses: MATH 152 , ENES 101 and ENME 110 with a grade of “B” or better and CHEM 101 , with a grade of “C” or better. Students are permitted to retake two of the Gateway courses one time to earn the required grade. Enrolling in a Gateway course at UMBC or another institution is considered an attempt. Students are not allowed to take any 300-level or 400-level Mechanical Engineering courses until the Gateway requirements are fulfilled.

GATEWAY CRITERIA - PRIOR TO FALL 2009: Students admitted prior to Fall 2009 and transfer students that began their higher education prior to fall 2009 that have maintained a continuous enrollment (without a two year break) may designate Mechanical Engineering as their intended major. Students who have more than a two year break in enrollment must complete the requirements (gateway and general education) in effect at UMBC at the time of re-admission to higher education. However, students are admitted to the Mechanical Engineering program only when they pass all four of the following Gateway courses: MATH 151 , ENES 101 , CHEM 101 , ENGL 100 or ENGL 110 with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 (note repeat policy). Transfer Students: In addition to the four courses listed above, the Gateway criteria also includes any Math, Chemistry, Physics or Engineering course that is being transferred. Courses from an engineering technology program (even an accredited one) may not be substituted for any engineering or basic science courses.

PROGRAM REGULATIONS 1: The responsibility for proper registration and for satisfying stated pre-requisites for any course must rest with the student, as does the responsibility for proper achievement in courses in which the student is enrolled. Each student is responsible for being thoroughly familiar with the provisions of the University Undergraduate Catalog, including all the academic regulations. 2. Required courses in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry have highest priority, and it is strongly recommended that every engineering student registers for mathematics, chemistry and physics each semester until he or she has satisfied these requirements. 3. To be eligible for a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, a student must have an overall average of a least a “C” (2.0) and a grade of “C” or better in all courses. Responsibility for knowing and meeting all degree requirements for graduation in any curriculum rests with the student. 4. To earn a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UMBC,students must complete a minimum of 24 credits of ENME courses with a grade of “C” or better at UMBC.

General Education Program

In addition to the major requirements, students must satisfy the General Foundation Requirements (GFR) or the General Education Program (GEP) requirements as applicable. One course in the Arts and Humanities sequence must be PHIL 251 - Ethical Issues in Science and Engineering .

Accelerated B.S./M.S. Program

This combined program is designed for completion in five years. Students are encouraged to plan on such an effort from the start. See the Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate website, http://www.me.umbc.edu/, for most current information.

Special Opportunities

The Mechanical Engineering faculty strives to make research opportunities available to undergraduate students at any level. Many students are involved in research projects with faculty advisors. Such activities are particularly valuable and effective for students who aim to pursue their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the combined B.S./M.S. Program offered by the department.

Student Organizations

The Mechanical Engineering Department offers various extracurricular activities to enhance students’ professional development. Students may participate in student chapters of major professional organizations such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME); the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE); the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE); the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process in Engineering (SAMPE). There is also a chapter of Tau Beta Pi, the National Engineering Honor Society and the Engineers Without Borders (EWB). Other notable activities include technical competitive activities such as the Baja SAE all-terrain vehicle competition. There is also an Executive Club of undergraduate students which addresses entrepreneurship and innovation.

Programs

Bachelor of Science

Mechanical Engineering, B.S.

Courses

Mechanical Engineering