Duke MEMS student works with a power drill.

Undergraduate Study

Become a creative mechanical engineer, inspired and equipped to make an impact

What does tomorrow’s engineer need to know? At Duke's Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, we’ve thought hard about this question.

U.S. News Rankings

  • #7 national university
  • #8 national university for undergraduate research
  • #16 engineering school for undergraduates

More Duke MEMS facts »

From your very first semester at Duke, our signature educational experience immerses you in:

At Duke MEMS, we are preparing creative engineers who are inspired and equipped to solve complex societal problems.

APPLY TO DUKE 


Customize Your Degree

We offer an accredited BSE degree with a major in mechanical engineering, and undergraduate certificates in Aerospace EngineeringEnergy & the EnvironmentMaterials Science & Engineering and Robotics & Automation

Our undergraduate program provides firm preparation in the essential engineering topics while allowing wide flexibility for you to pursue your own specialized interests—including independent study, dual majors, the sciences and liberal arts, and study abroad.


Program Educational Objectives

Our goal is to graduate mechanical engineers who embody excellence in a broad sense. We expect our graduates to advance within industry positions or in graduate study, or to carry the attributes of an engineering education into other disciplines.

The mechanical engineering program of study must include mathematics and basic sciences, fundamentals and applications in several engineering sciences, and team-based experience in the process of design, where theory is applied in the context of real needs and limitations, and where judgment must be exercised. 

Our mechanical engineering graduates should be able to think critically when solving problems and managing tasks and communicate effectively in multi-disciplinary professional environments. 

To be a responsible member of the engineering profession, each graduate must be aware of social, ethical, environmental and economic factors and constraints on engineering activity, and must understand the importance of these matters in a global context. We aspire to have our graduates exhibit intellectual depth and creativity, uphold high ethical standards, and show a commitment to the betterment of society through service and professional work.

Our specific Program Educational Objectives are to prepare our graduates to:

  • Identify and address significant needs and challenges in engineering and society, and effectively communicate solutions
  • Advance in professional careers that may encompass a broad range of endeavors, both technical and non-technical
  • Exhibit intellectual depth and creativity in employment, advanced education and research
  • Uphold high ethical standards and show a commitment to the betterment of society through service and professional work

Student Learning Outcomes

Our students will have the following capabilities upon completion of their degrees:

  • An ability to identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
  • An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors
  • An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
  • An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
  • An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals,  plan tasks, and meet objectives
  • An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
  • An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

Explore Duke MEMS