One of the most valuable experiences available at Northwestern is the opportunity for undergraduates to work with faculty one-on-one, in cutting-edge research projects. Motivated and capable students find faculty pleased to provide these opportunities, sometimes as parts of externally funded research projects, and sometimes on projects proposed by the student.

The curriculum in Mechanical Engineering at Northwestern University provides a broad, fundamental education preparing a student for direct entry into industry as well as for further professional study. The first part of the curriculum is devoted to mathematics, physics and chemistry. With this background, fundamental mechanical engineering subjects are studied. These include dynamics, solid mechanics, fluid mechanics and thermodynamics followed by specialized subjects such as manufacturing, heat transfer and automatic control. Throughout the curriculum, design courses, laboratory courses and project courses allow students to acquire a taste for the complex task of designing, analyzing and building a device. In particular, students become aware of the coupling between conceptual design, subsequent analysis (mathematical modeling), manufacturing, systematic experimentation and final testing. Supporting courses in allied fields of science and engineering broaden the student's technical proficiency, while elective courses in social sciences, fine arts, history and philosophy enlarge the student's background in the humanities.

Education Objectives

Program Education Objectives and Student Outcomes are located in Education Objectives.

McCormick Undergraduate Awards

The winners of the 2010 Margaret and Muir Frey Memorial Prize were announced at the 2010 McCormick Convocation on June 19. The prize is awarded each year for innovation and creativity in senior capstone work, as judged by a jury of recognized leaders from the fields of engineering. It was established by Donald Frey, professor of industrial engineering and management science, in honor of his late parents.

The First Place prize was awarded to a team of four ME department students, Noah Pentelovitch, George Randolph, Sean Wood, Krystian Zimowski, for their project: "Automatic Meat Casting Remover" with their advisor, Professor Wei Chen. The prize was $12,000 to the students and $5,000 to the faculty adviser.