The Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering obtained through the Western-CU Boulder Engineering Partnership Program is conferred by the University of Colorado Boulder. Lower-division coursework is completed through Western Colorado University before applying for admission to the University of Colorado Boulder. The entire program is completed on the campus of Western Colorado University.
The Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering requires:
- The official transfer of all coursework listed on the plan of study to the University of Colorado Boulder: https://www.colorado.edu/engineering-advising/get-your-degree/transfer-students/transfer-credit-policy
- At least 45 credits earned from the University of Colorado Boulder (residency requirement): https://www.colorado.edu/engineering-advising/get-your-degree/academic-expectations-policies
- A minimum of 128 cumulative credits applied to degree
- Student knowledge and adherence to course prerequisites as listed in the course catalog
- A cumulative and major GPA of at least 2 (from entirely CU Boulder coursework as a student’s Western GPA will not continue in the CU portion of the program): https://www.colorado.edu/engineering-advising/get-your-degree/academic-expectations-policies
- Satisfactory completion of all HEAR requirement deficiencies related to high school coursework
- Successful completion of the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam
Students can learn more about the Western-CU Partnership Honors Program Certificate HERE.
Program Goals
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics.
- An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
- An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
- An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
- An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Engineering Courses
An interactive course to introduce students to the elements of engineering design. Learning objectives include a hands-on design experience, building teamwork and communication skills, understanding engineering methodology and engineering ethics The goal for the semester is an open-ended design problem that students must solve as part of a team effort. This provides the practice that students need to become more skilled in the process of technical design as it is practiced in the workplace. Intro to design aims to build students’ confidence in applying fundamental problem-solving concepts in order to solve complex, open-ended problems. Prerequisite or corequisite: MATH 141 or higher; or instructor permission.
Introduces CAD software and relevant concepts, including orthographic projection, sections, engineering drawing, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, and an introduction to manufacturing methods. Prerequisite: MATH 151 or instructor permission.
This course is designed to provide students with the application of machine speeds, machine feeds, materials, tooling, tapping, and boring, in the manufacturing processes. Prerequisite: Restricted to Mechanical Engineering majors. Co-requisite: ENGR 161. Or instructor permission.
FABRICATION:This course is designed to provide students with the application of machine speeds, machine feeds, materials, tooling, tapping, and boring, in the manufacturing processes. Prerequisites: Restricted to Mechanical Engineering majors or instructor permission.
Provides an overview of the structure, properties and processing of metallic, polymeric and ceramic materials. Specific topics include perfect and imperfect solids, phase equilibria, transformation kinetics, mechanical behavior and material degradation. Approach incorporates both materials science and materials engineering components. Prerequisites: CHEM 121 or CHEM 111 and CHEM 112; and PHYS 190 & PHYS 185 (all require minimum grade of C or higher). Or instructor permission.
An investigation of the kinematics and kinetics of particles and ridged bodies as well as modes of vibration and time response. Topics covered include coordinate systems, work-energy relations, momentum, relative motion, and vibration. Prerequisite: PHYS 250; or instructor permission.
An introduction to the profession of mechanical engineering. Specific topics addressed through the semester include career opportunities in mechanical engineering, internship search skills, resume writing skills, expectations for professional behavior in the classroom and in industry, and current events/ethics topics relevant to the field. The class format may include additional evening/weekend activities. Prerequisite: ENGR 131 or instructor permission
Examines the fundamentals of fluid flow with application to engineering problems. Topics covered include fluid statics and kinematics, Bernoulli equations, laminar and turbulent viscous boundary layers, laminar and turbulent pipe flow, and conservation equations for mass, momentum, and energy. Prerequisites: MATH 251 and PHYS 250; or instructor permission.
Covers shear force and bending moment, torsion, stresses in beams, deflection of beams, matrix analysis of frame structures, analysis of stress and strain in 2-D and 3-D (field equations, transformations), energy methods, stress concentrations and columns. Prerequisites: MATH 252 and PHYS 250 (all require minimum grade of C or higher). Or instructor permission.