Undergraduate

Mechanical Engineering

Study thermodynamics and fluid dynamics while accessing state-of-the-art facilities like the Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center.

2026

Degree

Minor

Location

Durham, NH

Courses

Credit

20 hrs.*

Full-time

- -

Part-time

- -

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Mechanical Engineering

The Mechanical Engineering minor at UNH offers fundamental training in design, analysis, and experimentation. Here you'll be able to study thermodynamics and fluid dynamics while accessing state-of-the-art facilities like the Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center.

With complementary coursework for science and business majors, this program prepares you for careers in aerospace, robotics, and industrial engineering.

*Number of courses and course credit hours may vary, please reach out to your academic advisor for exact requirements.

Mechanical Engineering Department

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What is mechanical engineering?

The mechanical engineering minor is tailored to students who want to understand the fundamentals of mechanical engineering. You’ll develop abilities in design, analysis and experimentation through a foundation of math, physics, chemistry and computer science, including modeling, thermodynamics, statics, the mechanics of materials,and fluid dynamics. You’ll be able to select electives to complement your electrical and computer engineering or physics major. Or you can combine the skills and technological expertise of this minor with majors in the sciences, education or business to prepare for a wide variety of career opportunities in industrial fields, business, government, law or education.

Why study mechanical engineering at UNH?

You’ll analyze, design, build, test and maintain the tools and products of our growing technological society. You’ll work in state-of-the-art laboratories such as the John Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center, the Jere A. Chase Ocean Engineering Lab and the Flow Physics Facility, which houses the longest wind tunnel of its type in the world. Our faculty are leading researchers in their fields, and they care deeply about your education. The curriculum is challenging but flexible, providing opportunities that will prepare you for a variety of in-demand careers.

Potential career areas

Aerospace
Automotive industries
Biomedical engineering
EducationIndustrial engineering
Ocean engineering
Patent law
Power generation
Robotics

Curriculum & Requirements

Program Description

The minor, administered by the Department of Mechanical Engineering and offers a broad introduction to mechanical engineering.

Interested students should contact the Mechanical Engineering Chair, Dr. Christopher White.

Requirements for the Program

Academic policies related to Minors.

Credit toward the minor will only be given for courses passed with C- or better, and a 2.00 grade-point average must be maintained in courses for the minor.

Courses taken on a pass/fail basis may not be used for a minor.
No more than 8 credits used to satisfy major requirements may be used for the minor.
No more than 2 courses or 8 credits may be from transfer coursework. Any transferred coursework must be approved by the minor coordinator.

For additional details on how to declare a minor, please visit https://www.unh.edu/registrar/academic-records/majors-minors.

Required Courses

Students must complete a minimum of six courses as follows:

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
ME 441	Introduction to Engineering Design and Solid Modeling	4
ME 503	Thermodynamics	3
ME 525	Statics	4
ME 526	Mechanics of Materials	3
ME 627	Dynamics	3
ME 608	Fluid Dynamics	3
Total Credits		20

Electrical and Computer Engineering majors should take the following courses:

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
ME 477	Introduction to Solid Modeling	1
ECE 633	Signals and Systems I ¹	3
ECE 634	Signals and Systems II ¹	3
ME 503	Thermodynamics	3
ME 525	Statics	4
ME 561	Introduction to Materials Science	4
Select one of the following: ²
ME 526	Mechanics of Materials	3
ME 608	Fluid Dynamics	3
ME 627	Dynamics	3

¹ ECE Major Required Courses.

² The total number of credits required is 21.

Physics majors should take the following courses:

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
PHYS 508	Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics ¹	4
PHYS 615	Classical Mechanics and Mathematical Physics I ¹	4
ME 477	Introduction to Solid Modeling	1
ME 526	Mechanics of Materials	3
ME 608	Fluid Dynamics	3
Select one of the following: ²
ME 643	Machine Design	3
ME 670	Systems Modeling, Simulation, and Control	4
ME 705	Thermal System Analysis and Design	4