The Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT embodies the motto “mens et manus” — mind and hand. One of the six founding courses of study at MIT, Mechanical Engineering embodies the motto “mens et manus” — mind and hand. Disciplinary depth and breadth, together with hands-on discovery and physical realization, characterize our nationally and internationally recognized leadership in research, education, and innovation. MIT mechanical engineers have always stood at the forefront in tackling the engineering challenges of the day: inventing new technologies, spawning new fields of study, and educating generations of leaders in industry, government, and academia.
Research and Innovation
Today, mechanical engineering is one of the broadest and most versatile of the engineering professions. This is reflected in the portfolio of current research and education activities in the department, one that has widened rapidly in the past decade. Our faculty and students are involved in projects that aim to bring engineering solutions to a spectrum of global challenges, including the development and design of:
- Clean and renewable energy technologies, including research in photovoltaics, wind energy, fuel cells, thermoelectrics, and carbon capture
- New thermal and membrane technologies required for water purification and desalination
- Instrumentation, controls, and other technologies required for medical therapies and biomedical exploration
- Vehicles, acoustics, and control systems for underwater exploration and environmental monitoring
- Structured materials and advanced technologies for the protection and security of our first responders and soldiers
- Precision devices, machines, and robotics
To meet these challenges, research in the department is coordinated across seven collaborative disciplinary thrust areas:
- Mechanics
- Design, Manufacturing, & Product Development
- Controls, Instrumentation & Robotics
- Energy Science & Engineering
- Ocean Science & Engineering
- Bioengineering
- Micro and NanoEngineering
Education Programs
Undergraduate Programs
Our undergraduate programs combine a broad-based education in the engineering sciences with project-based laboratory and design subjects to give graduates a strong grounding in quantitative, problem-solving, design, and communications skills. MechE majors may choose from three SB degree programs, including the traditional mechanical engineering degree, the flexible Course 2-A engineering degree, or the joint mechanical engineering/ocean engineering degree. For more information about our undergraduate programs, please visit:
http://meche.mit.edu/academic/undergraduate
Graduate Programs
The Graduate Program in Mechanical Engineering creates a community of top-notch scholars by bringing together faculty members and graduate students with a common interest in innovation, creativity, and advanced professional study. MechE offers the research-oriented Master of Science (SM) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees, or the equivalent Doctor of Science (ScD) degree. Additionally, the Department offers a joint SM and PhD degree program in oceanographic engineering, and a Naval Construction and Engineering program that enrolls officers from the US Navy and navies from around the world. The Department also partners with the MIT Sloan School of Management for both the dual-degree Leaders for Global Operations program (LGO) and the Ocean Systems Management program.
We also offer professional degrees that emphasize comprehensive learning with broad applicability to industry. These degrees include the Master of Engineering in Manufacturing (MEng), Mechanical Engineer (ME), and Naval Engineer (NE).
For more information about our graduate programs, please visit:
http://meche.mit.edu/academic/graduate
In addition to the Mechanical Engineering courses listed below, see also Open Course Wares Supplemental Resources associated with the department.
Mechanical Engineering Courses
-
- 2.00AJ
-
Exploring Sea, Space, & Earth: Fundamentals of Engineering Design (Spring 2009)
- Undergraduate
- 2.00B
-
Toy Product Design (Spring 2008)
- Undergraduate
- 2.000
-
How and Why Machines Work (Spring 2002)
- Undergraduate
- 2.001
-
Mechanics & Materials I (Fall 2006)
- Undergraduate
- 2.002
-
Mechanics and Materials II (Spring 2004)
- Undergraduate
- 2.003SC
-
Engineering Dynamics (Fall 2011)
- Undergraduate
- 2.003J
-
Dynamics and Control I (Fall 2007)
- Undergraduate
- 2.003J
-
Dynamics and Control I (Spring 2007)
- Undergraduate
- 2.003
-
Modeling Dynamics and Control I (Spring 2005)
- Undergraduate
- 2.003J
-
Dynamics and Vibration (13.013J) (Fall 2002)
- Undergraduate
- 2.004
-
Dynamics and Control II (Spring 2008)
- Undergraduate
- 2.004
-
Systems, Modeling, and Control II (Fall 2007)
- Undergraduate
- 2.004
-
Modeling Dynamics and Control II (Spring 2003)
- Undergraduate
- 2.007
-
Design and Manufacturing I (Spring 2009)
- Undergraduate
- 2.008
-
Design and Manufacturing II (Spring 2004)
- Undergraduate
- 2.008
-
Design and Manufacturing II (Spring 2003)
- Undergraduate
- 2.011
-
Introduction to Ocean Science and Engineering (Spring 2006)
- Undergraduate
- 2.016
-
Hydrodynamics (13.012) (Fall 2005)
- Undergraduate
- 2.017J
-
Design of Electromechanical Robotic Systems (Fall 2009)
- Undergraduate
- 2.019
-
Design of Ocean Systems (Spring 2011)
- Undergraduate
- 2.032
-
Dynamics (Fall 2004)
- Graduate
- 2.034J
-
Nonlinear Dynamics and Waves (Spring 2007)
- Graduate
- 2.035
-
Special Topics in Mathematics with Applications: Linear Algebra and the Calculus of Variations (Spring 2007)
- Graduate
- 2.036J
-
Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos (Fall 2014)
- Graduate
- 2.036J
-
Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos (Fall 2004)
- Graduate
- 2.038J
-
The Art of Approximation in Science and Engineering (Spring 2008)
- Undergraduate
- 2.04A
-
Systems and Controls (Spring 2013)
- Undergraduate
- 2.050J
-
Nonlinear Dynamics I: Chaos (Fall 2012)
- Undergraduate
- 2.051
-
Introduction to Heat Transfer (Fall 2015)
- Undergraduate
- 2.06
-
Fluid Dynamics (Spring 2013)
- Undergraduate
- 2.062J
-
Wave Propagation (Spring 2017)
- Graduate
- 2.067
-
Advanced Structural Dynamics and Acoustics (13.811) (Spring 2004)
- Graduate
- 2.068
-
Computational Ocean Acoustics (13.853) (Spring 2003)
- Graduate
- 2.080J
-
Structural Mechanics (Fall 2013)
- Graduate
- 2.081J
-
Plates and Shells (Spring 2007)
- Graduate
- 2.082
-
Ship Structural Analysis & Design (13.122) (Spring 2003)
- Graduate
- 2.084J
-
Structural Mechanics in Nuclear Power Technology (Fall 2006)
- Graduate
- 2.086
-
Numerical Computation for Mechanical Engineers (Fall 2014)
- Undergraduate
- 2.086
-
Numerical Computation for Mechanical Engineers (Spring 2013)
- Undergraduate
- 2.086
-
Numerical Computation for Mechanical Engineers (Fall 2012)
- Undergraduate
- 2.087
-
Engineering Math: Differential Equations and Linear Algebra (Fall 2014)
- Undergraduate
- 2.092
-
Finite Element Analysis of Solids and Fluids I (Fall 2009)
- Undergraduate
- 2.093
-
Finite Element Analysis of Solids and Fluids I (Fall 2009)
- Graduate
- 2.094
-
Finite Element Analysis of Solids and Fluids II (Spring 2011)
- Graduate
- 2.096J
-
Introduction to Numerical Simulation (SMA 5211) (Fall 2003)
- Graduate
- 2.097J
-
Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations (SMA 5212) (Spring 2003)
- Graduate
- 2.110J
-
Information and Entropy (Spring 2008)
- Undergraduate
- 2.111J
-
Quantum Computation (Fall 2003)
- Graduate
- 2.12
-
Introduction to Robotics (Fall 2005)
- Undergraduate
- 2.14
-
Analysis and Design of Feedback Control Systems (Spring 2014)
- Undergraduate
- 2.140
-
Analysis and Design of Feedback Control Systems (Spring 2014)
- Graduate
- 2.141
-
Modeling and Simulation of Dynamic Systems (Fall 2006)
- Graduate
- 2.154
-
Maneuvering and Control of Surface and Underwater Vehicles (13.49) (Fall 2004)
- Graduate
- 2.156J
-
Dynamics of Nonlinear Systems (Fall 2003)
- Graduate
- 2.158J
-
Computational Geometry (Spring 2003)
- Graduate
- 2.159J
-
Foundations of Software Engineering (Fall 2000)
- Graduate
- 2.160
-
Identification, Estimation, and Learning (Spring 2006)
- Graduate
- 2.161
-
Signal Processing: Continuous and Discrete (Fall 2008)
- Graduate
- 2.171
-
Analysis and Design of Digital Control Systems (Fall 2006)
- Graduate
- 2.18
-
Biomolecular Feedback Systems (Spring 2015)
- Undergraduate
- 2.180
-
Biomolecular Feedback Systems (Spring 2015)
- Graduate
- 2.20
-
Marine Hydrodynamics (13.021) (Spring 2005)
- Graduate
- 2.22
-
Design Principles for Ocean Vehicles (13.42) (Spring 2005)
- Graduate
- 2.23
-
Hydrofoils and Propellers (Spring 2007)
- Graduate
- 2.24
-
Ocean Wave Interaction with Ships and Offshore Energy Systems (13.022) (Spring 2002)
- Graduate
- 2.25
-
Advanced Fluid Mechanics (Fall 2013)
- Graduate
- 2.26
-
Compressible Fluid Dynamics (Spring 2004)
- Graduate
- 2.27
-
Turbulent Flow and Transport (Spring 2002)
- Graduate
- 2.29
-
Numerical Fluid Mechanics (Spring 2015)
- Graduate
- 2.29
-
Numerical Marine Hydrodynamics (13.024) (Spring 2003)
- Graduate
- 2.341J
-
Macromolecular Hydrodynamics (Spring 2016)
- Graduate
- 2.372J
-
Design and Fabrication of Microelectromechanical Devices (Spring 2007)
- Graduate
- 2.391J
-
Submicrometer and Nanometer Technology (Spring 2006)
- Graduate
- 2.45J
-
Fundamentals of Energy in Buildings (Fall 2010)
- Undergraduate
- 2.500
-
Desalination and Water Purification (Spring 2009)
- Graduate
- 2.51
-
Intermediate Heat and Mass Transfer (Fall 2008)
- Undergraduate
- 2.57
-
Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes (Spring 2012)
- Graduate
- 2.570
-
Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes (Spring 2012)
- Undergraduate
- 2.58J
-
Radiative Transfer (Spring 2006)
- Graduate
- 2.59J
-
Thermal Hydraulics in Power Technology (Spring 2007)
- Graduate
- 2.60
-
Fundamentals of Advanced Energy Conversion (Spring 2004)
- Undergraduate
- 2.61
-
Internal Combustion Engines (Spring 2017)
- Graduate
- 2.611
-
Marine Power and Propulsion (Fall 2006)
- Graduate
- 2.612
-
Marine Power and Propulsion (Fall 2006)
- Undergraduate
- 2.62J
-
Fundamentals of Advanced Energy Conversion (Spring 2004)
- Graduate
- 2.626
-
Fundamentals of Photovoltaics (Fall 2013)
- Undergraduate
- 2.627
-
Fundamentals of Photovoltaics (Fall 2013)
- Undergraduate
- 2.64J
-
Superconducting Magnets (Spring 2003)
- Graduate
- 2.65J
-
Introduction to Sustainable Energy (Fall 2010)
- Graduate
- 2.650J
-
Introduction to Sustainable Energy (Fall 2010)
- Undergraduate
- 2.670
-
Mechanical Engineering Tools (January IAP 2004)
- Undergraduate
- 2.672
-
Project Laboratory (Spring 2009)
- Undergraduate
- 2.673J
-
Biological Engineering II: Instrumentation and Measurement (Fall 2006)
- Undergraduate
- 2.674
-
Micro/Nano Engineering Laboratory (Spring 2016)
- Undergraduate
- 2.675
-
Micro/Nano Engineering Laboratory (Spring 2016)
- Undergraduate
- 2.682
-
Acoustical Oceanography (Spring 2012)
- Graduate
- 2.693
-
Principles of Oceanographic Instrument Systems — Sensors and Measurements (13.998) (Spring 2004)
- Graduate
- 2.700
-
Principles of Naval Architecture (Fall 2014)
- Undergraduate
- 2.701
-
Principles of Naval Architecture (Fall 2014)
- Graduate
- 2.71
-
Optics (Spring 2014)
- Undergraduate
- 2.71
-
Optics (Spring 2009)
- Undergraduate
- 2.710
-
Optics (Spring 2014)
- Graduate
- 2.710
-
Optics (Spring 2009)
- Graduate
- 2.717J
-
Optical Engineering (Spring 2002)
- Graduate
- 2.72
-
Elements of Mechanical Design (Spring 2009)
- Undergraduate
- 2.722J
-
D-Lab II: Design (Spring 2010)
- Undergraduate
- 2.737
-
Mechatronics (Fall 2014)
- Graduate
- 2.739J
-
Product Design and Development (Spring 2006)
- Graduate
- 2.75
-
Precision Machine Design (Fall 2001)
- Graduate
- 2.76
-
Multi-Scale System Design (Fall 2004)
- Graduate
- 2.760
-
Multi-Scale System Design (Fall 2004)
- Graduate
- 2.761J
-
Noninvasive Imaging in Biology and Medicine (Fall 2005)
- Graduate
- 2.771J
-
Biomedical Information Technology (Fall 2008)
- Graduate
- 2.772J
-
Thermodynamics of Biomolecular Systems (Fall 2005)
- Undergraduate
- 2.772J
-
Statistical Thermodynamics of Biomolecular Systems (BE.011J) (Spring 2004)
- Undergraduate
- 2.782J
-
Design of Medical Devices and Implants (Spring 2006)
- Graduate
- 2.785J
-
Cell-Matrix Mechanics (Fall 2014)
- Graduate
- 2.79J
-
Biomaterials-Tissue Interactions (Fall 2009)
- Graduate
- 2.790J
-
Introduction to Bioengineering (BE.010J) (Spring 2006)
- Undergraduate
- 2.791J
-
Quantitative Physiology: Cells and Tissues (Fall 2004)
- Undergraduate
- 2.792J
-
Quantitative Physiology: Organ Transport Systems (Spring 2004)
- Undergraduate
- 2.793J
-
Fields, Forces and Flows in Biological Systems (Spring 2007)
- Undergraduate
- 2.794J
-
Quantitative Physiology: Cells and Tissues (Fall 2004)
- Undergraduate
- 2.795J
-
Fields, Forces, and Flows in Biological Systems (Fall 2015)
- Graduate
- 2.797J
-
Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Biomechanics (Spring 2015)
- Undergraduate
- 2.798J
-
Molecular, Cellular and Tissue Biomechanics (BE.410J) (Spring 2003)
- Graduate
- 2.800
-
Tribology (Fall 2004)
- Graduate
- 2.830J
-
Control of Manufacturing Processes (SMA 6303) (Spring 2008)
- Graduate
- 2.851J
-
System Optimization and Analysis for Manufacturing (Summer 2003)
- Graduate
- 2.852
-
Manufacturing Systems Analysis (Spring 2010)
- Graduate
- 2.853
-
Introduction to Manufacturing Systems (Fall 2016)
- Undergraduate
- 2.854
-
Introduction to Manufacturing Systems (Fall 2016)
- Graduate
- 2.875
-
Mechanical Assembly and Its Role in Product Development (Fall 2004)
- Graduate
- 2.882
-
System Design and Analysis based on AD and Complexity Theories (Spring 2005)
- Graduate
- 2.890J
-
Proseminar in Manufacturing (Fall 2005)
- Graduate
- 2.96
-
Management in Engineering (Fall 2012)
- Undergraduate
- 2.961
-
Management in Engineering (Fall 2012)
- Graduate
- 2.963
-
Engineering Risk-Benefit Analysis (Spring 2007)
- Graduate
- 2.964
-
Economics of Marine Transportation Industries (Fall 2006)
- Graduate
- 2.971
-
2nd Summer Introduction to Design (January IAP 2003)
- Undergraduate
- 2.978J
-
Teaching College-Level Science and Engineering (Fall 2015)
- Graduate
- 2.993
-
Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering: The Art and Science of Boat Design (January IAP 2007)
- Undergraduate
- 2.993J
-
Introduction to Numerical Analysis for Engineering (13.002J) (Spring 2005)
- Undergraduate
- 2.993
-
Designing Paths to Peace (Fall 2002)
- Undergraduate
- 2.994
-
MADM with Applications in Material Selection and Optimal Design (January IAP 2007)
- Graduate
- 2.996
-
Designing Paths to Peace (Fall 2002)
- Undergraduate
- 2.996
-
Biomedical Devices Design Laboratory (Fall 2007)
- Graduate
- 2.996
-
Sailing Yacht Design (13.734) (Fall 2003)
- Graduate
- 2.997
-
Direct Solar/Thermal to Electrical Energy Conversion Technologies (Fall 2009)
- Graduate
- 2.997
-
Decision Making in Large Scale Systems (Spring 2004)
- Graduate
- 2.A35
-
Biomimetic Principles and Design (Fall 2013)
- Undergraduate
- 2.S998
-
Marine Autonomy, Sensing and Communications (Spring 2012)
- Graduate
- 2.THA
-
Undergraduate Thesis for Course 2-A (January IAP 2007)
- Undergraduate