Message from the Chair
One of five departments in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Department of Mechanical Engineering offers the degrees of Bachelor and Master of Science in Engineering (BSE/MSE) in Mechanical Engineering and the degree of Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) in Bioengineering. Its 20 full-time faculty members teach and engage in research on solid mechanics, dynamics and control, materials and manufacturing, nano- and biotechnology, and thermal/fluids science. Our faculty are also dissertation advisors for the Ph.D. program in Automotive Systems Engineering, through the Interdisciplinary Programs (IDP) department. The ME department stresses cutting-edge and applied research that enriches our faculty's intellectual creativity and skills while also benefiting students in both lecture rooms and laboratories. ME faculty are engaged in externally-funded research in automobile design, vehicle controls and dynamics, energy system management and development, nanomaterials and manufacturing, biomechanics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and manufacturing.
The ME department strives to provide undergraduate students with a high-quality engineering education that emphasizes both strong fundamentals and hands-on experience. Our curriculum includes flexible senior elective courses in the areas of automotive engineering, nanotechnology, materials and manufacturing, energy systems, and biotechnology. This allows students to work effectively in the local automobile industry as well as in other diversified economic sectors. Our faculty motivate students to learn through classroom teaching and by engaging undergraduate students in their research specialties through various internally- and externally-funded research and educational programs.
Many local and regional engineering companies hire our students for co-op or internship opportunities. Nearly all of our students have co-op, internship, or other work experience during their academic careers, thereby allowing them to quickly adapt themselves to industrial settings upon graduation. Our Study Abroad program is expanding yearly, providing global study opportunities for students.
The ME department offers a graduate program with full-time or part-time study available, suitable for locally-employed engineers. All of our graduate courses are offered in the evening from 6-9 p.m., and it is also possible to complete the MSE-ME degree fully online. Many full-time students choose to engage in research and are supported by faculty members through externally-funded grants. We also offer certificate programs designed for those students who want to develop special skills in certain niche areas.
I thank you for browsing through our department web site. Whatever your background and interest, you are certainly welcome to visit the beautiful Dearborn campus of the University of Michigan, located next to the national historical site of the magnificent Henry Ford Estate.
Ben Q. Li, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of Mechanical Engineering