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Mechanical Engineering

College of Engineering

Minor available

Undergraduate programs in Mechanical Engineering explore fundamental principles of mechanical engineering and their application to modern technological problems. Students collaborate on interdisciplinary work where they research and design creative, leading-edge solutions to these problems. Our curriculum focuses on the study of dynamics, controls and robotics; manufacturing processes and advanced materials; energy and environmentally-friendly “green” engineering; engineering for health with biotechnologies and biomechanics.

Major category: Capacity-constrained

Curricular options: Mechatronics, Nanoscience & Molecular Engineering

Topic(s): Engineering

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Degree requirements

Applicant type

Applicant type

Freshmen can apply to the UW to begin autumn quarter or winter quarter (U.S. applicants only)

Read more about applying to the UW as a freshman, including details for programs that provide high school students with college credit (like Running Start).

The primary pathway to mechanical engineering is through Direct to College admission to the College of Engineering. If you want to major in this or any major within the College of Engineering, be sure to list it as your first-choice major on the freshman application.

Quarters of general admission to UW: autumn / winter (U.S. applicants only) / spring / summer

Preparation for the major is a factor in transfer admission.

  • Use the information below to help you prepare for this degree
  • Visit MyPlan to run a degree audit.
  • Use the UW Equivalency Guide to find out how courses taken at a Washington state community or technical college will transfer to the UW.
  • UW college and school graduation requirements

Department admission information

Please contact the department for details about the application process.

This major is capacity-constrained. Completion of prerequisites does not guarantee admission.
  • Transfer students must submit two separate applications: one to the Office of Admissions and one to Mechanical Engineering.
  • To be eligible to apply, you must have a 2.0 (“C” grade) minimum GPA in each prerequisite course and a 2.5 cumulative GPA in all the prerequisites. These are minimums; the actual GPA of those admitted is much higher.
  • To plan your transfer, be sure to utilize the engineering transfer admission website and contact the department if you have additional questions. A separate departmental application is required in addition to the UW application for admission.
  • For more information, please visit the department’s website.

Read more about applying to the UW as a transfer student.

Courses required for the major:

  • MATH 124 NSc RSN – Calculus Analytic Geometry I 1
  • MATH 125 NSc – Calculus Analytic Geometry II1
  • MATH 126 NSc – Calculus Analytic Geometry III1
  • CHEM 142 NSc RSN – General Chemistry 1
  • CHEM 152 NSc RSN – General Chemistry 2
  • PHYS 121 NSc RSN – Mechanics1
  • PHYS 122 NSc – Electromagnetism 1
  • PHYS 123 NSc – Waves, Light, and Heat2
  • A A 210 NSc – Engineering Statics1
  • CEE 220 NSc – Introduction to Mechanics of Materials2
  • M E 230 NSc – Kinematics and Dynamics2
  • English composition C 1

Entering transfer information:

Total undergraduates: 539
Total from Washington community colleges: 63

Entering transfer GPA (from WA community colleges):

3.75 – 4.00: 22
3.50 – 3.74: 12
3.25 – 3.49: 21
3.00 – 3.24: 5
2.75 – 2.99: <5
2.50 – 2.74: <5
2.49 and below: <5

NOTES:

    1 All courses completed prior to the application deadline.
    2 All completed prior to autumn quarter.

Career outcomes

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