Mechanical Engineering

• Personalize Your Experience: Compliment your major or connect with your passion by adding a minor or concentration to your degree program. The UD School of Engineering offers more than 30 minors, or you can choose a minor outside of engineering.
• Flight Simulator: If you choose a concentration in Aerospace Engineering, you'll learn to use our unique Merlin Flight Simulator. The simulator allows you to design any type of aircraft, program it into the simulator, and fly it at airports around the world.
• Build a Robot: Build and program a small robot in our Mechatronics class. You'll learn about the interface between electrical and mechanical engineering, and explore how each of your robot's components work.
• Get Involved With Faculty Research: We're big enough to have significant research programs, but small enough to involve you in cutting-edge, meaningful undergraduate research with our faculty as early as your first year.
• Capstone Project: Your academic journey culminates in a senior year capstone course, where you and your team will solve a real-world challenge for a client. You'll be paired with UD engineering students from majors outside mechanical engineering to work together to find a solution. Many clients go on to adopt the solutions presented to them by our student teams.
• ABET Accredited: Our accreditation by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Mechanical Engineering and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. ABET accreditation assures confidence that a collegiate program has met standards essential to prepare graduates to enter critical STEM fields in the global workforce.

Ready to take the next step? Explore admission options or schedule an academic visit to learn more about mechanical engineering at UD.

This program offers optional concentrations in aerospace engineering and energy systems. You can also choose from a variety of minors to personalize your educational experience.

Sample Plan of Study

This is a sample plan of study for students starting at UD in the 2025-26 academic year. This is a recommended course sequence, but your schedule may vary depending on previously earned college credits, course availability, advisor recommendations, and your personal goals and interests. Please contact your holistic advisor if you have any questions.

This program offers optional concentrations in concentrations in aerospace engineering and energy systems.

Aerospace Engineering

Designed for students who wish to specialize in aircraft and aerospace engineering. After an introductory course about all things flight, students will learn about the four pillars needed for airplane design: structures, aerodynamics, control and propulsion, culminating in a capstone-like course in aircraft design.

The aerospace engineering concentration gives students the opportunity to build technical depth in the understanding of how aircraft function and their design considerations, preparing students to shape and contribute solutions to aircraft development and advancement.

Energy Systems

Allows students to focus on areas related to thermal-fluid sciences and applied energy conversion. Courses within the concentration emphasize topics such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy systems in buildings, industrial processes and power systems, giving students the opportunity to build technical depth in the understanding of how energy is generated, managed and utilized.

This pathway equips students to shape and contribute solutions to global energy and sustainability needs.

Additional Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Programs

• Aerospace Engineering (Minor)
• Human Movement Biomechanics (Minor)
• Aerospace Engineering (M.S.)
• Mechanical Engineering (M.S.)
• Renewable and Clean Energy Engineering (M.S.)
• Aerospace Engineering (D.E., Ph.D.)
• Mechanical Engineering (D.E., Ph.D.)

Related Programs

• Bioengineering (Co-Major)
• Materials Engineering (Co-Major)
• Mechatronics Systems Automation (Co-Major)
• Automotive Systems Design (Minor)
• Electronic and Computer Engineering Technology (Minor)
• Engineering Management (Minor)
• Human Factors (Minor)
• Industrial Automation and Applied Robotic Systems (Minor)
• Quality and Lean Six Sigma (Minor)
• Computer Engineering (M.S.C.P.E.)
• Systems Engineering and Management (D.E.)
• Discover Engineering (Undecided)
• Discover Engineering Technology (Undecided)

At the University of Dayton, applying is free and test scores are optional. When you apply, you'll automatically be considered for a merit scholarship.

Learn about our admission process, then apply using UD's application or the Common App.

Rooted in our Catholic, Marianist traditions, the University of Dayton is dedicated to being transparent and ensuring student success. And with high graduation and success rates, UD is an excellent value.

To help you cover your costs, a variety of scholarships, grants, loans and part-time work study are available. The University also accepts transfer credits and credit by exam for undergraduates, giving you more flexibility to add a double major or minor or participate in a transformational experience like study abroad or co-op.