Stanford
Mechanical Engineering

Majors

Stanford freshmen and sophomores who want to pursue a major in Mechanical Engineering should follow the course plan prescribed in Section one of the SoE Undergraduate Handbook.

Taking the appropriate math and sciences courses in the early years will be a great help throughout the undergraduate program.

The goal of the undergraduate program in Mechanical Engineering is to provide students with a balance of communications skills, an advanced understanding of quantitative principles, and project-based design and laboratory experiences — equipping them with a fundamental and diverse foundation to excel in their academic pursuits and careers.

The curriculum encompasses elements from a wide array of disciplines built around the themes of biomedicine, computational engineering, design, energy and multi-scale engineering. Course work may include:

  • mechatronics
  • computational simulation
  • solid and fluid dynamics
  • microelectromechanical systems
  • biomechanical engineering
  • energy science and technology
  • propulsion
  • sensing and control
  • nano- and micro-mechanics
  • design

The breadth of the major allows students to experience the depth of this field of study, encouraging them to broaden their knowledge base while allowing deeper study that expands upon their specific academic interests.

The program prepares students for entry-level work as mechanical engineers and for graduate studies in either an engineering discipline or another field in which a broad engineering background is useful. An undergraduate major in Mechanical Engineering can lead to one of three degrees as described in the School of Engineering Undergraduate Handbook: