Mechanical Engineering
Advance the machines and systems that keep the world moving.
Mechanical engineering majors learn to design, develop and manufacture machines that produce, transmit and use power. Wherever machines are produced or used, there are mechanical engineers. The mechanical engineering program stresses lab work, internships, and a focus on solving real-world problems.
When you graduate, you’ll be ready to use your expertise and experience to shape innovations that move industries forward and make a lasting difference in the world.
Key Information:
What is Mechanical Engineering?
Mechanical Engineering focuses on the design, analysis, and improvement of machines and mechanical systems. The field is broad, spanning engines and robotics, aerospace, biomedical devices, and advanced manufacturing. You will learn to apply physics and materials science, think creatively about design, and solve complex problems with precision and persistence.
How is mechanical engineering different from other engineering programs?
Mechanical Engineering covers a wider range of applications than most other branches of engineering. While Civil Engineering involves structures and public works, and Electrical Engineering focuses on circuits and digital systems, Mechanical Engineering centers on machines, energy, and motion. It combines science, design, and problem-solving to create and improve systems across industries. The work is both technical and creative, giving you the skills to design, test, and refine solutions that keep the world moving.
What can I do with a Mechanical Engineering degree?
With a Mechanical Engineering degree, you can step into careers where design, testing, and problem-solving drive progress. You might work as a design engineer creating robotic systems, a project engineer improving renewable energy technology, or a manufacturing engineer streamlining production. Graduates also enter fields like aerospace, automotive, and biomedical engineering, where they develop everything from propulsion systems to life-changing medical devices. Your education gives you the versatility to adapt across industries and the experience to make an immediate impact.
Explore careers in Mechanical Engineering
Life as a Norwich Mechanical Engineering Student
Mechanical Engineering challenges you to imagine how things work and then build the systems that put them in motion. You’ll spend your time in labs, design studios, and machine shops where theory quickly becomes practice. Along the way, you’ll take on projects that show how engineering improves daily life, from creating adaptive devices to building tools that support local business. Small classes keep professors accessible, and team projects push you to problem solve, think creatively, and refine your skills in real time.
Program Breakdown by Year
Year 1 and Year 2:
Start by exploring the fundamentals that shape every machine. Math, science, and engineering courses introduce how forces, energy, and materials interact. Early labs and design projects let you put those ideas into practice, giving you hands-on experience from the beginning.
Year 3:
Dive deeper into the core of mechanical engineering. Courses in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, materials science, and control systems build your technical expertise, while labs and team projects challenge you to apply concepts in new ways. Industry visits, such as a trip to Gillette Stadium, show you how engineers keep large and complex systems operating.
Year 4:
The final year is built around the Senior Design Project, a year-long, team-based experience that mirrors real engineering practice. Your project moves from concept to prototype to working solution, applying everything you’ve learned along the way. Recent teams have built an adaptive joystick to aid those with cerebral palsy and designed a flour applicator for a local bakery, showcasing how your work can make an immediate impact.
