Get quick answers about Mechanical Engineering at the Schaefer School at Stevens, including what the field covers and key curriculum areas. For more details, visit our undergraduate or graduate program pages.
FAQ
What is Mechanical Engineering?
Mechanical engineering is the study and application of how objects move, how energy is used, and how materials behave, all with the goal of creating practical technologies that improve everyday life. It brings together principles of physics, mathematics, materials science, and thermodynamics to understand how systems should function and how to make them efficient and reliable. Beyond designing machines and components, mechanical engineering also focuses on how those products are manufactured, how they interact with their environment, and how they can operate sustainably.
Modern mechanical engineering extends into emerging areas such as autonomous systems, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, smart materials, and human machine interaction. It is a discipline that not only builds physical systems but also integrates digital tools such as simulation, data analytics, and artificial intelligence to optimize performance. Because motion, energy, and materials are fundamental to nearly all technologies, mechanical engineering remains one of the most versatile and impactful engineering fields, shaping innovations from medical devices and transportation systems to robotics, power generation, and climate control technologies.
About the Department of Mechanical Engineering >>
What subjects are addressed in the Mechanical Engineering curriculum?
The Mechanical Engineering curriculum provides students with the scientific, mathematical, and technical background needed to design and analyze mechanical systems. It begins with core studies in calculus, differential equations, physics, and chemistry, which establish the principles governing motion, energy, and matter. Students then progress to foundational engineering subjects such as statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer, which explain how forces, materials, fluids, and thermal processes behave in real systems.
The program also emphasizes engineering design and analysis through courses in CAD, numerical methods, and simulation, as well as studies in manufacturing and materials that show how products are created and how material properties influence performance. Modern curricula further include control systems, robotics, mechatronics, and instrumentation, integrating mechanical engineering with electronics and computing. Laboratory experiences and design projects allow students to apply theory to practical challenges. Together, these subjects prepare students to design and improve mechanical systems used across industries such as energy, transportation, manufacturing, robotics, and aerospace.