David
Hey so I'm wondering what classes you need to take to become an mechanical engineer.
Well I've been wanting to peruse in this career and I want to know what I need to studie to become a good engineer. #mechanical-engineering
4 answers
Spruce Cox
Spruce’s Answer
I agree with the two other answers given to you but I would like to expand on them a bit. The best way to see what classes you need to take to graduate in ME is to go to a college counselor or look online at the colleges you might attend and look for their curriculum for ME. This curriculum will say what classes you need and for each class if there are any prerequisites. Then you know what classes you HAVE TO TAKE (required or offered only certain semesters), you SHOULD TAKE (Class “B” that is a prerequisite for Class “A" and class “A” is only offered certain semesters) and classes you CAN TAKE (no prerequisites or you’ve completed them and met all other requirements).
The other answers below also mentioned that it’s good to have experience with 3-D solid modeling or even to 2-D design software. In addition, some of your classes may require you to run, for example, sample data through an algorithm already written in Java, C++, or dozens of others. You may be asked to write it yourself. You need to ask students and faculty in the ME department which computer languages will help you the most through your time at school.
Now, do you want to be a good engineer or a great one? In my experience, a good engineer is someone who is smart, solves difficult problems, is innovative, gives 110% every day, receives a few patents, thinks outside the box, is always on time and under budget, works well with his teammates and bosses, and is generally a positive influence on those around him.
However, a great engineer can do at least a few of the things above, but is also someone who can lead others to think and work together and achieve much higher goals than the sum of individual accomplishments, and in doing so train a new cadre of good and great engineers moving the enterprise forward. So, who do you want to be?
Good luck,
Spruce
Kate Fay
Kate’s Answer
Hi David,
I studied mechanical engineering in college and it is a very good choice for a major. It will give you a lot of opportunities for different career paths. In high school you will want to at least take calculus and physics to help you prepare for college courses. If you high school offers any engineering/ CAD/ programming classes I would suggest taking those as well.
Like others mentioned most of your classed will be laid out by the engineering program you are in. Your first year will most likely be intro to engineering classes, physics, calculus, chemistry and writing. As you get into your second year you will take more mechanical engineering specific classes in addition to more physics and calculus. Some mechanical engineering classes you may take are Material Science, Thermodynamics, Statics, Statistics, Dynamics, Manufacturing and Design Classes. Like others suggested I would recommend getting proficient in CAD and some basic programming.
Kate recommends the following next steps:
Calvin Weyers
Calvin’s Answer
Sam Seldon, P.E.
Sam’s Answer
Broadly speaking, you would want to take math and science classes. In addition, you would want to learn how to use the basic computer programs Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Finally, learning to use 3D CAD software such as SolidWorks to create models and drawings would be good.
Sam