The Expanding Role of Mechanical Engineers
Mechanical engineers build useful products for society. They design and manufacture everything from medical devices to jet engines, and they integrate computer chips into "smart products." Mechanical engineers now reach far beyond the industries traditionally associated with the field, such as transportation and power generation. Mechanical engineers are creating new, important technologies that impact upon every aspect of our lives.
Designing for a Sustainable World
Recognizing that the environmental impact of the products we use has become a crucial design consideration, Stanford’s Mechanical Engineering department has made this an important focus. ME’s focus on sustainable design aligns with Stanford’s leadership position in promoting environmental sustainability – helping societies lean how to meet the demands for energy, food, water and other vital needs without undermining the planet’s precious resources.
Combining Excellence in Education with Service to Society
The goal of the undergraduate program in Mechanical Engineering is to provide students with a balance of intellectual and practical experiences that enable them to address a variety of societal needs.
Our program at the undergraduate level prepares students for entry-level work as mechanical engineers or for graduate study in engineering or in another discipline where a fundamental engineering background constitutes a desirable foundation.
With a solid grounding in the principles and practice of mechanical engineering, our graduates are ready to engage in ethical approaches to engineering, with concern for society and the environment.
ME - A Broad Discipline
The Mechanical Engineering program is designed to provide students with a wide range of options within the field of mechanical engineering. The discipline is very broad, encompassing elements of these areas:
- mechatronics
- computational simulation
- solid and fluid dynamics
- microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)
- biomechanical engineering
- energy science and technology
- propulsion
- sensing and control
- nano- and micro-mechanics
- design
The five engineering themes around which the department is built make this broad-based education possible:
- Biomedicine
- Computational Engineering
- Design
- Energy
- Multi-Scale Engineering
The five programs within the department are built around these themes where a continued emphasis on fundamental understanding of a range of engineering and scientific concepts is combined with a sensitized empathy for human need.
The department's aim is to help produce academic and industry leaders. We believe that because of our unique and forward-thinking approach to research incorporating these five academic themes, as well as our emphasis on human-centered design and sustainability, our graduates are widely sought after.
