Mechanical Engineering

University of California, Berkeley

About the Program

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers three graduate degree programs: the Master of Engineering (M.Eng), the Master of Science (M.S.), and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).

Master of Engineering (M.Eng)

This accelerated Masters of Engineering Program has been designed in collaboration with several other departments in the College of Engineering for the purpose of developing professional leaders who understand the technical, environmental, economic, and social issues involved in Mechanical Engineering. It is supported by the College of Engineering's Coleman Fung Institute for Engineering Leadership. For more information about this interdisciplinary program, please see the Fung Institute Website.

There are full-time and part-time options for pursuing this program.

Master of Science (M.S.)

The MS degree can be earned only in conjunction with a Ph.D. (for the MS/PhD option) as application for the terminal M.S. is currently paused. Degrees are granted after completion of a program of study that emphasizes the application of the natural sciences to the analysis and solution of engineering problems. Advanced courses in engineering, math, and the sciences are normally included in a program that incorporates the engineering systems approach for the analysis of problems.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

This degree can be completed in conjunction with a master of science degree or alone. Degrees are granted after completion of programs of study that emphasize the application of the natural sciences to the analysis and solution of engineering problems. Advanced courses in mathematics, chemistry, physics, and the life sciences are normally included in a program that incorporates the engineering systems approach for the analysis of problems.

Visit Department Website

Admissions

Admission to the University

Applying for Graduate Admission

Thank you for considering UC Berkeley for graduate study! UC Berkeley offers more than 120 graduate programs representing the breadth and depth of interdisciplinary scholarship. A complete list of graduate academic departments, degrees offered, and application deadlines can be found on the Graduate Division website.

Prospective students must submit an online application to be considered for admission, in addition to any supplemental materials specific to the program for which they are applying. The online application can be found on the Graduate Division website.

Admission Requirements

The minimum graduate admission requirements are:

  1. A bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution;

  2. A satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale; and

  3. Enough undergraduate training to do graduate work in your chosen field.

For a list of requirements to complete your graduate application, please see the Graduate Division’s Admissions Requirements page. It is also important to check with the program or department of interest, as they may have additional requirements specific to their program of study and degree. Department contact information can be found here.

Where to apply?

Visit the Berkeley Graduate Division application page.

Doctoral Degree Requirements

Normative Time

5 years or 10 semesters

Minimum Number of Units To Complete Degree

36 Semester units.  For students who are in the process of obtaining or have obtained their master’s degrees at UC Berkeley, master’s degree units that meet the restrictions below can be used towards their PhD unit requirement.

Minimum Units You Required In Order To Be Registered Each Semester

Students must enroll in 15 units each semester

Maximum Amount of Independent Study Units (298, 299, 300 and Above)

Independent course units are not counted towards the 36 semester units needed to graduate. The maximum of these units you can enroll per semester are listed below.

  • 298s: 8 units
  • 299s: 12 units
  • 300s:  6 units
  • 600s:  8 units

Maximum Number of Courses That Can Be Transferred Towards Degree

Students can transfer up to 2 courses from another school towards the PhD

  • Courses must be in the major field of study
  • Courses must be letter graded
  • Courses cannot be from the student’s Undergraduate course of study; courses must have been taken while in graduate standing

GSI/ME 300-Level Course Requirement

Each student must either serve as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) for at least 1 semester or have taken a 300-level course on teaching.

Minimum Grade Point Averages (GPAs)

All students are required to have the following minimum Grade Point Averages:

  • 3.5 in Major
  • 3.0 in Minors

Only courses with a C- or better can count towards graduate requirements.  Please note that only 1/3 of your unit total at the time of graduation may be pass/not pass or satisfactory/unsatisfactory.  Please note that to earn a “pass” or a “satisfactory” grade in a graduate course you need a grade of B- or better.

Required Emphases

Each student must declare 1 Major area as well as 2 Minors. At least one Minor is required to be outside of the department. The minor fields are required to broaden the base of the studies and lend support to the major field as well as the dissertation research.

Required Number of Courses

  • 5 Courses in your major, all of which must be letter graded
  • 3 Courses in your First Outside ME Minor (only 1 of these courses can be taken with the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option rather than letter graded)
  • 2 Courses in your Inside ME or 2nd Outside ME Minor, all of which must be letter graded 2 Courses to support your Major or one Minor

Please note that 2/3 of the courses counted towards your degree must be letter graded.

Preliminary Examination (Prelim)

The objective of the Preliminary Examination is the early assessment of a student's potential for satisfactory completion of the doctoral degree.  The exams are entirely closed - no books or notes are allowed. Please see the FAQ on the department website for the latest information.

The examination is given twice a year, during the first week of the Spring and Fall semesters, and must be taken following two semesters of registration as a graduate student at the latest.  Tests cannot be taken before entering the program.

Qualifying Examination

This is an oral exam which covers courses and research. Exam should be scheduled 1 month in advance of the end of student’s 3rd year/6th semester. Students receive 2 attempts to pass. It may be taken after having completed:

  • 4 courses in the major for a GPA of 3.5, all of which must be letter-graded
  • 2 courses in each minor for a GPA of 3.0
  • Or, if you are in the Mechanics major field, all courses need to have been taken.
Qualifying Exam Committee Requirements
  • Chair (the first Inside ME member)
  • Second Inside ME member
  • Third Inside ME or additional members
  • Outside ME member
  • At least 2 members must be from the ME Department
  • The Chair of the Qualifying Examination
  • Committee cannot also serve as the Chair of the Dissertation Committee for the same student
  • There cannot be co-chairs for the Qualifying Exam

Detailed requirements can be found in Graduate Division’s Guide to Graduate Policyhttp://grad.berkeley.edu/policy/

Advancement To Candidacy

All students must complete the Advancement to Candidacy Application directly after passing their qualifying exam. The form can be found Section 13.

PhD Dissertation

Dissertations are required of all students. Each dissertation committee must include

All members of the dissertation committee must be members of the Berkeley Division of the Academic Senate. Detailed requirements and restrictions can be found in Graduate Division’s Guide to Graduate Policy: http://grad.berkeley.edu/policy/  

PhD Candidate Seminar

Each student must present their dissertation findings with at least one member of their dissertation committee present. The seminar must take place prior to the end of the semester in which you receive your degree.

Master's Degree Requirements (MS)

Note: The MS degree can be earned only in conjunction with a Ph.D. (for the MS/PhD option) as application for the terminal M.S. is currently paused temporarily. 

Plan I

Generally, this Plan is used by some people who are funded by government projects whose sponsors require them to write a thesis as a component/stipulation of their support.  It is not a common option.  

Normative Time

1.5 years or 3 semesters

Minimum Number of Units To Complete Degree

20 Semester Units

Course Restriction: Must be either in 200 series or 100 elective upper division series

Minimum Number of Mechanical Engineering Units

8 Semester Units 

Course Restriction:  Must be in 200 series and letter-graded

Minimum Units Required to Be Registered Each Semester

Students must enroll in 15 units each semester

Maximum Amount of Independent Study Units (298, 299, 300 And Above)

The maximum units in which you can enroll per semester are listed below.

  • 298s: 8 units 
  • 299s: 12 units*
  • 300s: 6 units 

*Please note that only 4 units of 299 can be counted towards the 20 unit total requirement.  

Residency, Minimum GPA, and P/NP & S/U

To be eligible to receive the Master’s degree, the student must complete at least two semesters in residency and undertake the total coursework units defined for the program, earning a CGPA of at least 3.0.  Only courses with a C- or better can count towards graduate requirements.

Please note that only 1/3 of your unit total at the time of graduation may be pass/not pass or satisfactory/unsatisfactory.  Please note that to earn a “pass” or a “satisfactory” grade in a graduate course you need a grade of B- or better.

Minimum Recommended Number of Units in Major Field Area (E.g.  Bioeng, Controls, Etc.)

8 Semester units from 200 or 100 upper division series

Maximum Number of Units You Can Transfer Towards Your Masters Degree

A master's student may transfer up to 4 semester units or 6 quarter units of course work completed as a graduate student at another institution.  The units must be equivalent to courses in the student's graduate program at Berkeley, and the student must have received at least a B in the course(s) and have a grade-point average of at least 3.3 at both Berkeley and the other institution.  However, students cannot use units from another institution to satisfy the minimum unit requirement in 200 series courses or the minimum academic residence requirement.  In addition, they may not present course work previously used to satisfy requirements for another degree program at Berkeley or at another institution.

Berkeley undergraduates who take graduate course work during their last undergraduate semester may petition to backdate graduate standing in order to receive graduate credit for that course work.  Graduate standing may be backdated from the last semester, and students may petition for credit only for the course work that was not required for the undergraduate degree.

All petitions to have units transferred must be first approved by the Vice-Chair for Graduate Study.  The ViceChair then forwards the petitions to Graduate Division.

Detailed restrictions can be found in Graduate Division's Guide to Graduate Policy.

Advancement to Candidacy

Before you can receive a Master's degree, you must first be Advanced to Candidacy.  The opportunity for this occurs during the first four (4) weeks of each semester.  By Academic Senate regulation, a minimum period of study of one term must intervene between formal advancement to candidacy and the conferring of the master's degree.  The form can be found on in Chapter 13.

Thesis

Thesis Committee

Three (3) committee members are needed for the thesis (please see restrictions below).  All committee members are required to be members of the Berkeley Division of the Academic Senate.   - Your Research Adviser

  • ME Professor
  • Professor outside of the ME Department
  • At least two committee members must be from ME
  • All members must also be members of the Berkeley Division of the Academic Senate
Procedures for Filing Your Thesis

After you have written your thesis, formatted it correctly, assembled the pages into the correct organization, and obtained your signatures, you are ready to file it with the UC Berkeley's Graduate Division:

  • Convert your thesis to a standard PDF file.  
  • Print and sign the Thesis Release Form.
  • Email your thesis as an attachment to edegrees@berkeley.edu.  Put your full name in the subject line.  Note: DO NOT SUBMIT A DRAFT.  Once your thesis has been submitted, you will not be allowed to make changes.  Be sure that it is in its final form!
  • The Degrees Office staff will review your submission and if everything is in order, you will receive an email stating that it has been approved.  If you need to make changes, you will be given the opportunity and will need to re-send a revised PDF.
  • Submit the following final documents to the Graduate Degrees Office at 318 Sproul Hall: your signed approval page, and your signed Thesis Release Form.
  • Submit a copy of the final documents to the Student Services Office at 6189 Etcheverry Hall.

Please note that all documents should be submitted together (the Graduate Degrees Office will not accept lone signature pages, for example).  You must submit your electronic thesis and bring your final documents to 318 Sproul Hall before 4:00 P.M. on the last day of the term.

For details about filing requirements, including information on deadlines, preparing the thesis, registration, and use of human or animal subjects, please see Instructions for Preparing and Filing Your Thesis and Policies Affecting Both Master's and DoctoralStudents.

Changes in Committee Membership

Before planning to file their theses, students who wish to change the membership of their thesis committee must be sure that such a change has been approved by the Graduate Division.  A student may request a change in committee by submitting a completed Change in Higher Degree Committee form.  The Head Graduate Adviser (who is our Vice Chair of Graduate Study) must state the reason for the change and sign the form.  The Head Graduate Adviser, rather than any committee member, has the final authority to approve the changes.  Forms are available from the Graduate Division website.

Library Permission Form

Each student filing a master's thesis must also submit a completed Library Permission Form, stating whether or not the student is willing to allow the University Library to supply copies of the thesis to any interested persons immediately, or if permission to do so should be withheld (for up to two years) while the student applies to obtain copyright.

Plan II

This Plan is the common master’s degree plan in our department; very rarely do students choose to complete Plan I.  The primary differences between Plan II and Plan I is Plan II requires 24 units (see below for details) and an Oral Presentation and Report, while Plan I requires 20 units and a Thesis 

Normative Time

1.5 years or 3 semesters

Minimum Number of Units To Complete Degree

24 Semester Units

Course Restriction: Must be either in 200 series or 100 elective upper division series.  At most, one third of the total units of course work may be taken S/U

Minimum Number of Mechanical Engineering Units

12 Semester Units

Course Restriction:  Must be in 200 series and letter-graded with the exception of the optional 4 units of ME 299 that can be included in the 12

Minimum Units to Be Registered Each Semester

Students must enroll in 15 units each semester.

Maximum Amount of Independent Study Units (298, 299, 300 And Above)

The maximum units in which you can enroll per semester are listed below.

  • 298s: 8 units
  • 299s: 12 units*
  • 300s: 6 units

*Please note that only 4 units of 299 can be counted towards the 24 unit total requirement.  

Minimum Required Number of Units in Major Field Area (ex.  Bioeng, Controls, Etc.)

12 Semester units

Course Restriction:  Must be in 200 or 100 elective upper division series

Residency, Minimum GPA, and P/NP & S/U

To be eligible to receive the Master’s degree, the student must complete at least two semesters in residency and undertake the total coursework units defined for the program, earning a CGPA of at least 3.0.  Only courses with a C- or better can count towards graduate requirements.

Please note that only 1/3 of your unit total at the time of graduation may be pass/not pass or satisfactory/unsatisfactory.  Please note that to earn a “pass” or a “satisfactory” grade in a graduate course you need a grade of B- or better.

Maximum Number of Units You Can Transfer Towards Your Master’s Degree

A master's student may transfer up to 4 semester units or 6 quarter units of course work completed as a graduate student at another institution.  The units must be equivalent to courses in the student's graduate program at Berkeley, and the student must have received at least a B in the course(s) and have a grade-point average of at least 3.3 at both Berkeley and the other institution.  However, students cannot use units from another institution to satisfy the minimum unit requirement in 200 series courses or the minimum academic residence requirement.  In addition, they may not present course work previously used to satisfy requirements for another degree program at Berkeley or at another institution.  

Berkeley undergraduates who take graduate course work during their last undergraduate semester may petition to backdate graduate standing in order to receive graduate credit for that course work.  Graduate standing may be backdated from the last semester, and students may petition for credit only for the course work that was not required for the undergraduate degree.  

All petitions to have units transferred must be first approved by the Vice-Chair for Graduate Study, then forwarded to Graduate Division.  Detailed restrictions can be found in Graduate Division's Guide to Graduate Policy.

Advancement to Candidacy

Before you can receive a Master's degree, you must first be Advanced to Candidacy.  The opportunity for this occurs during the first four (4) weeks of each semester.  By Academic Senate regulation, a minimum period of study of one term must intervene between formal advancement to candidacy and the conferring of the master's degree.  

Please complete the Application for Candidacy for Master's Degree Form and bring it to 6189 Etcheverry Hall for processing.  

Filing Your Master's Report (Plan II)

After you have written your report, formatted it correctly, assembled the pages into the correct organization, and obtained your signatures, you are ready to file your report (Plan II).  The steps are as follows:

  1. Convert your report to a standard PDF file.  
  2. Complete, sign, and convert the Library Permission Form to a standard PDF file.  Each student filing a master's report must also submit a completed library permission form, stating whether or not the student is willing to allow the University Library to supply copies of the report to any interested persons immediately, or if permission to do so should be withheld (for up to two years) while the student applies to obtain copyright.
  3. Log on your account on the College of Engineering Student Progress Summary Database webpage.
  4. Under "Document Type", select "Library Permission".
  5. Under "Upload File", click on "Choose file" to browse and navigate through your computer to locate and select your signed library permission form.  You should see your file name displayed near the menu "Choose File".
  6. Click on "submit" at the bottom of your summary page.  Once your file is successfully uploaded, you will see it on the page.
  7. Repeat the same procedure to upload your Master's Report.

Note: DO NOT SUBMIT A DRAFT.  Once your report has been submitted, you will not be allowed to make changes.  Be sure that it is in its final form and the cover-page is signed by the committee members!

Please note that all documents should be submitted together (e.g.  signed Report and the signed Library Permission Form).  The Graduate Student Services Office will not accept lone signature pages.  You must submit your electronic report before 4:00 P.M.  on the indicated deadline date listed on the Graduate Division's website.

Oral Presentation and Final Report (Plan II)

An oral presentation and a written report are required.  2 Faculty are required to be present.  At least one needs to be from the MS Committee.  All committee members are required to be members of the Berkeley Division of the Academic Senate.

Degree Committee Members

Two committee members are needed for the report:

  • Your Research Advisor
  • ME Professor or Professor outside the ME department
  • At least one committee members must be from ME
  • Both members must also be members of the Berkeley Division of the Academic Senate 

Master's Degree Requirements (MEng)

Normative Time

Full-time: Nine months or two semesters.

Part-time: Two-four years, depending on the student. Part-time students take the same classes as full-time students.

Minimum Number of Units to Complete Degree

25 semester units

Course restriction:  must be in 200 series.

Minimum Number of Mechanical Engineering Units in Area of Concentration

12 semester units (must be in 200 series and letter-graded). Only courses with a C- or better can count towards graduate requirements.

Minimum Grade Point Averages (GPAs)

All students are required to have a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0. 

Minimum Units You Are Required to Take in Order to Be Registered Each Semester

Full-time graduate students must enroll in 12 Semester units each semester. Part-time students may take one-to-three courses per semester and complete the program at their own pace in 2-4 years*

*Students must enroll in a minimum 6 units per semester to be eligible for financial aid, including federal loans

Maximum Number of Units Transferable Towards Master's of Engineering Degree

A master of engineering student may petition to transfer up to four semester units or six quarter units of 200-level courses completed as a graduate student at another UC campus.

Advancement To Candidacy

Students should apply for advancement to candidacy at the beginning of their second semester. 

Comprehensive Leadership and Technical Exam

A student must pass a comprehensive leadership exam and a comprehensive technical exam to receive their MEng degree..  

Curriculum

Courses Required
Approved individualized study list per student’s interest in concentration area, including the courses below:
ENGIN 270AOrganizational Behavior for Engineers1
ENGIN 270BR&D Technology Management & Ethics1
ENGIN 270CTeaming & Project Management1
ENGIN 270HAccounting & Finance for Engineers1
ENGIN 296MAMaster of Engineering Capstone Project3
ENGIN 296MBMaster of Engineering Capstone Project2
ENGIN 295Communications for Engineering Leaders ( 1 unit in fall and 1 unit in spring )1
Choose ENGIN 270D or ENGIN 270E
ENGIN 270DEntrepreneurship for Engineers1
ENGIN 270ETechnology Strategy & Industry Analysis1
Choose ENGIN 270F or ENGIN 270G
ENGIN 270FData Analytics1
ENGIN 270GMarketing & Product Management1
Concentrations
Advanced Energy Technology

Provides you with both technical and business foundations in energy engineering sciences and their potential applications in leading edge technologies, in fields such as advanced combustion, nanoscale energy conversion, and large scale renewable energy systems.

Coursework offerings vary year by year, and may include:
MEC ENG 235Design of Microprocessor-Based Mechanical Systems4
MEC ENG 246Advanced Energy Conversion Principles3
MEC ENG 249Machine Learning Tools for Modeling Energy Transport and Conversion Processes3
MEC ENG 250BAdvanced Convective Transport and Computational Methods3
MEC ENG 254Advanced Thermophysics for Applications3
MEC ENG 255Advanced Combustion Processes3
MEC ENG 258Heat Transfer with Phase Change3
MEC ENG 259Microscale Thermophysics and Heat Transfer3
Aerospace Engineering (NEW)

Aerospace Engineering has seen exponential growth over the last decade spanning: Commercial Aircraft, Urban Air Mobility, Spacecrafts, Military Aircraft, Drones, Satellites, Telecommunications, and Supersonic flight. This track provides you with both technical and business foundations in Aerospace Engineering and their potential applications in leading edge technologies.

Required courses:
Mechanical Engineering course in Aerodynamics (MEC ENG 200+)
MEC ENG 236UDynamics and Control of Autonomous Flight3
Students must take at least two courses from the following list. Coursework offerings may vary year to year.
Highly recommended:
Mechanical Behavior of Composite Materials [3]
Experiential Advanced Control Design I [3]
Experiential Advanced Control Design II [3]
Oceanic and Atmospheric Waves [3]
Advanced Combustion Processes [3]
Advanced Fluid Mechanics I [3]
Advanced Fluid Mechanics II [3]
Hydrodynamic Stability and Instability [3]
Introduction to the Finite Element Method [3]
Foundations of the Theory of Continuous Media [3]
Turbulence [3]
Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics [3]
Advanced Dynamics [3]
Graduate Introduction to Continuum Mechanics [3]
Optional:
Oscillations in Linear Systems [3]
Nonlinear and Random Vibrations [3]
Finite Element Methods in Nonlinear Continua [3]
Theory of Elasticity [3]
Nonlinear Theory of Elasticity [3]
Theory of Shells [3]
Finite Difference Methods for Fluid Dynamics [4]
Spectral Methods for Fluid Dynamics [4]
Biomechanics

The Masters of Engineering (MEng) track in Biomechanical Engineering covers theories, methods, and practice of biomechanical engineering. Students will gain skills through biomechanics-focused courses, as well as through advanced courses in mechanics, materials, manufacturing and design. Courses will enable students to work on cutting-edge biomechanical engineering grand challenges. Capstone projects bring biomechanical prowess to ongoing clinical needs. Students will also gain skills in verbal and oral communication and mentorship. Biomechanical students are expected to take four technical courses from the list below as well as a capstone experience course.

Coursework offerings vary year by year, and may include:
MEC ENG C210Advanced Orthopedic Biomechanics4
MEC ENG 211The Cell as a Machine3
MEC ENG C213Fluid Mechanics of Biological Systems3
MEC ENG C214Advanced Tissue Mechanics3
MEC ENG C215Advanced Structural Aspects of Biomaterials4
MEC ENG C216Molecular Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of the Cell4
MEC ENG C223Polymer Engineering3
MEC ENG C225Deformation and Fracture of Engineering Materials4
MEC ENG 239Robotic Locomotion4
MEC ENG 270Advanced Augmentation of Human Dexterity4
MEC ENG C278Adv Designing for the Human Body4
MEC ENG 290LIntroduction to Nano-Biology3
MEC ENG 292AAdvanced Special Topics in Bioengineering1-4
MEC ENG 292CAdvanced Special Topics in Design1-4
Control of Robotic and Autonomous Systems

(Formerly Experimental Advanced Control Systems Design)

The complexity of modern robotic and autonomous systems has grown exponentially in the past ten years. Today’s engineers are challenged by the task of building high-performance machines which: (1) are safe despite the uncertainty of the environment they operate in; (2) are able to interact with humans; and (3) effectively use data, local embedded control platforms and distributed cloud computing. You will gain experience in state-of-the-art control systems design and implementation for such modern and highly complex systems. This concentration immerses you in the design and application of advanced controls systems, with numerous cutting-edge applications such as self-driving cars, drones, aerospace systems, and robotics for manufacturing and human assistance.

Coursework offerings vary year by year, and may include:
MEC ENG C231AExperiential Advanced Control Design I3
MEC ENG C231BExperiential Advanced Control Design II3
MEC ENG C232Advanced Control Systems I3
MEC ENG 233Advanced Control Systems II3
MEC ENG 235Design of Microprocessor-Based Mechanical Systems4
MEC ENG 237Control of Nonlinear Dynamic Systems3
MEC ENG 292BAdvanced Special Topics in Controls (Control and Dynamics of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles)1-4
MEC ENG 292CAdvanced Special Topics in Design (Feedback Control of Legged Robots)1-4
Fluids and Ocean (NEW)

This track provides graduates with a firm foundation in analytical, computational, and experimental essentials of fluid dynamics. Research activities span the Reynolds number range from creeping flows to planetary phenomena. Topics of current study include suspension mechanics, dynamics of phase changes (in engineering and in geophysical flows), earth mantle dynamics, interfacial phenomena, non-Newtonian fluid mechanics, biofluid mechanics, vascular flows, chaotic mixing and transport of scalars, bubble dynamics, environmental fluid dynamics, aerodynamics, vortex dynamics and breakdown, aircraft wake vortices, rotating flows, stability and transition, chaos, turbulence, shock dynamics, sonoluminescence, sonochemistry, reacting flows, planetary atmospheres, ship waves, internal waves, and nonlinear wave-vorticity interaction. One key application area is Ocean Engineering, which involves the development, design, and analysis of man-made systems that can operate in the offshore or coastal environment. Such systems may be used for transportation, recreation, fisheries, extraction of petroleum or other minerals, and recovery of thermal or wave energy, among others. Some systems are bottom-mounted, particularly those in shallower depths; others are mobile, as in the case of ships, submersibles, or floating drill rigs. All systems should be designed to withstand a hostile environment (wind, waves, currents, ice) and to operate efficiently while staying environmentally friendly.

Coursework offerings vary year by year, and may include:

Coursework offerings vary year by year, and may include:
MEC ENG 163Engineering Aerodynamics3
MEC ENG 165/242Ocean-Environment Mechanics3
MEC ENG 167Microscale Fluid Mechanics3
MEC ENG 168/292KMechanics of Offshore Systems3
MEC ENG C213Fluid Mechanics of Biological Systems3
MEC ENG 241AMarine Hydrodynamics I3
MEC ENG 241BMarine Hydrodynamics II3
MEC ENG 245Oceanic and Atmospheric Waves3
MEC ENG 260AAdvanced Fluid Mechanics I3
MEC ENG 260BAdvanced Fluid Mechanics II3
MEC ENG 262Hydrodynamic Stability and Instability3
MEC ENG 263Turbulence3
MEC ENG 266Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics3
MEC ENG C268Physicochemical Hydrodynamics3
MEC ENG 290CTopics in Fluid Mechanics3
MEC ENG 292KAdvanced Special Topics in Ocean Engineering1-4
ENGIN 266AFinite Difference Methods for Fluid Dynamics4
ENGIN 266BSpectral Methods for Fluid Dynamics4
MEMS/Nano (Micro-Electromechanical Systems/Nanotechnology)(NEW)

Over the past 20 years, the application of microelectronic technology to the fabrication of mechanical devices has revolutionized research in microsensors and microactuators. Micromachining technologies take advantage of batch processing to address the manufacturing and performance requirements of the sensor industry. This track provides you with highly interdisciplinary skills in microfabrication, MEMS design, and related topics such as microscale thermophysics, micro and nanoscale tribology, cellular and sub-cellular level transport phenomena and mechanics, and physicochemical hydrodynamics of ultra-thin fluid films.

Coursework offerings vary year by year, and may include:
MEC ENG C218/EL ENG 247AIntroduction to MEMS Design4
MEC ENG C231AExperiential Advanced Control Design I3
MEC ENG C231BExperiential Advanced Control Design II3
MEC ENG 235Design of Microprocessor-Based Mechanical Systems4
MEC ENG 238Advanced Micro/Nano Mechanical Systems Laboratory3
MEC ENG 259Microscale Thermophysics and Heat Transfer3
MEC ENG 280AIntroduction to the Finite Element Method3
MEC ENG 290LIntroduction to Nano-Biology3
MEC ENG 290TPlasmonic Materials3
Mechanics and Dynamics (NEW)

Having its roots in the classical theory of elastic materials, solid mechanics has grown to embrace all aspects involving the behavior of deformable bodies under loads. Thus, in addition to including the theory of linear elasticity, with its applications to structural materials, solid mechanics also incorporates modern nonlinear theories of highly deformable materials. This includes synthetic polymeric materials, as well as biological materials. Our program also includes other aspects of continuum mechanics including approximate theories (such as those involving moderate strains or moderate rotations) and the Lagrangian representation of vorticity. The behavior of continua that are almost rigid, with a view to characterizing their dynamical characteristics, is also an important top.

Coursework offerings vary year to year, and may include:
MEC ENG 273Oscillations in Linear Systems3
MEC ENG 274Random Oscillations of Mechanical Systems3
MEC ENG 275Advanced Dynamics3
MEC ENG 277Nonlinear and Random Vibrations3
MEC ENG C279/CIV ENG C235Introduction to Statistical Mechanics for Engineers3
MEC ENG 280AIntroduction to the Finite Element Method3
MEC ENG 280BFinite Element Methods in Nonlinear Continua3
MEC ENG 281Methods of Tensor Calculus and Differential Geometry3
MEC ENG 282Theory of Elasticity3
MEC ENG 283Wave Propagation in Elastic Media3
MEC ENG 284Nonlinear Theory of Elasticity3
MEC ENG 285AFoundations of the Theory of Continuous Media3
MEC ENG 285BSurfaces of Discontinuity and Inhomogeneities in Deformable Continua3
MEC ENG 285CElectrodynamics of Continuous Media3
MEC ENG 285DEngineering Rheology3
MEC ENG 286Theory of Plasticity3
MEC ENG 287Graduate Introduction to Continuum Mechanics3
MEC ENG 288Theory of Elastic Stability3
MEC ENG 289Theory of Shells3
MEC ENG 290ACourse Not Available
Modeling and Simulation  OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING PROCESSES

Modern manufacturing can be characterized by three basic processing strategies – additive, subtractive and near-net shape. These are somewhat self-explanatory in their names. Near-net shape, aka forming/forging and molding techniques. Subtractive, for example, machining, is the “old standby” process used extensively in basic machine construction but is quite limited as applied to higher technology products. Additive manufacturing, ranging from deposition processes to the more recent rapid prototyping approaches, is an area that offers much future potential for both accurate and fast creation of complex products. Additive manufacturing (AM) and Rapid-Prototyping (RP) have received a great deal of attention for a number of years. In particular, the idea of 3-D Printing (3DP) has received quite a large amount of press. According to ASTM, AM is defined as the “process of joining materials to make objects from  3D model data, usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing methodologies. This track provides you with the sophisticated mathematical modeling skills critical to the manufacturing of advanced devices and systems across all sectors and industries. You will gain experience creating the tools that are used in an array of technologies that employ advanced manufacturing and 3D printing.

Coursework offerings vary year to year, and may include:
MEC ENG C201Modeling and Simulation of Advanced Manufacturing Processes3
MEC ENG C219Parametric and Optimal Design of MEMS3
MEC ENG 221Graduate Introduction to Lean Manufacturing Systems3
MEC ENG C223Polymer Engineering3
MEC ENG 224Mechanical Behavior of Engineering Materials3
MEC ENG C225Deformation and Fracture of Engineering Materials4
MEC ENG 226Tribology3
MEC ENG 227Mechanical Behavior of Composite Materials3
MEC ENG 229Design of Basic Electro-Mechanical Devices3
MEC ENG C231AExperiential Advanced Control Design I3
MEC ENG 280AIntroduction to the Finite Element Method3
MEC ENG 280BFinite Element Methods in Nonlinear Continua3
MEC ENG 290DSolid Modeling and CAD/CAM Fundamentals3
MEC ENG 290GLaser Processing and Diagnostics3
MEC ENG 290HGreen Product Development: Design for Sustainability3
MEC ENG 290ISustainable Manufacturing3
MEC ENG 290RTopics in Manufacturing3
Product Design

Theories, methods, and practice of design. Enables you to create, design, develop, and market new and innovative products to meet the needs of consumers from all backgrounds and requirements, including sustainability. You gain skills in communicating with and assessing the needs of the user/customer, prototyping and evaluating potential designs with respect to the performance specifications and requirements and ensuring safe operation, economical production, and reduced energy and resource consumption as well as environmental impact.

Coursework offerings vary year by year, and may include:
MEC ENG C205Critical Making4
MEC ENG C223Polymer Engineering3
MEC ENG 229Design of Basic Electro-Mechanical Devices3
MEC ENG C231AExperiential Advanced Control Design I3
MEC ENG 235Design of Microprocessor-Based Mechanical Systems4
MEC ENG 290KAInnovation through Design Thinking2
MEC ENG 290KBLife Cycle Thinking in Engineering Design1
MEC ENG 290DSolid Modeling and CAD/CAM Fundamentals3
MEC ENG 290PNew Product Development: Design Theory and Methods3
MEC ENG 290UInteractive Device Design4
MEC ENG 292CAdvanced Special Topics in Design1-4

Courses

Mechanical Engineering

Contact Information

Department of Mechanical Engineering

6141 Etcheverry Hall

Phone: 510-642-1338

Fax: 510-642-6163

Visit Department Website

Department Chair

Christopher Dames, PhD

6143 Etcheverry Hall

Phone: 510-643-7013

cdames@berkeley.edu

Vice Chair of Graduate Study

Shawn Shadden, PhD

6149 Etcheverry Hall

Phone: 510-664-9800

shadden@berkeley.edu

Director, Student Services; 5th Year MS Advisor

William Orta, MBA

6187 Etcheverry Hall

Phone: 510-642-5085

worta@berkeley.edu

Graduate Student Affairs Advisor, MS & PhD

Yawo Dagbevi Akpawu

6189 Etcheverry Hall

Phone: 510-642-5084

yawo@me.berkeley.edu

Graduate Student Affairs Advisor, MEng

Isabel Blanco

6189 Etcheverry Hall

Phone: 510-642-6780

miblanco@berkeley.edu

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