Course Lists
The Department’s teaching approach combines hands-on activities with traditional academic teaching to give students the balance of practical and analytical skills needed to become successful engineers. Mastery of fundamental engineering concepts and application of practical design skills are particularly emphasized. The undergraduate program is fully accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board of the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers.
A sample list of the general mechanical curriculum is below. Please note that the Department evaluates its programs and courses on an ongoing basis, so the curriculum is subject to change.
This curriculum list is unofficial. The official curriculum for a cohort (a group of students starting the same program in the same year) is determined by taking the appropriate UBC Calendar curriculum listing for four sequential years, beginning in the year a student starts the program.
Current students with questions about their curriculum should review our Course Planning and Registration Guides on the Curriculum Page or consult an advisor.
General Program
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 254 | Multivariable Calculus (taught as part of MECH 222) | 3 |
| MATH 258 | Differential Equations (taught as part of MECH 221) | 3 |
| MECH 2201 | Technical Skills Practicum | 4 |
| MECH 221 | Engineering Science I | 12 |
| MECH 222 | Engineering Science II | 6 |
| MECH 223 | Mechanical Design | 7 |
| MECH 224 | Integration of Engineering Topics I | 1 |
| MECH 225 | Integration of Engineering Topics II | 1 |
| MECH 226 or 2272 | Technical Communication for Mechanical Engineers | 3 or 5 |
| Total: | 40 or 42 |
1Taken prior to Term 1 of second year
2 MECH 227 is taken in the summer after Second Year. Student with prior credit for APSC 201 will be granted equivalency.
For more information on our second-year curriculum, see MECH 2.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MECH 305 | Data Analysis and Mechanical Engineering Laboratories | 6 |
| MECH 325 | Machine Design | 4 |
| MECH 328 | Mechanical Engineering Design Project | 3 |
| MECH 360 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| MECH 368 | Engineering Measurement and Instrumentation | 3 |
| MECH 375 | Heat Transfer I | 3 |
| Technical Electives | 9 | |
| Complementary Studies Electives | 6 | |
| Total: | 37 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MECH 400 | Professionalism and Ethics in Engineering | 3 |
| MECH 431 | Engineering Economics | 3 |
| MECH 457 or APSC 4963 |
Mechanical Engineering Design Project (Capstone Design Program) or Interdisciplinary Engineering Design Project (New Venture Design) |
6 |
| MECH 463 | Mechanical Vibrations | 4 |
| MECH 466 | Automatic Control | 4 |
| Technical Electives | 12 | |
| Total: | 33 |
3 There is a separate application process for APSC 496D. This course is 9 credits, so will also cover 3 credits towards a General B technical elective.
Aerospace Engineering Option
The Aerospace Option in Mechanical Engineering allows students interested in aircraft, spacecraft, and related systems to have a course and project concentration in these areas.
Students will be admitted to the option at the end of second year by permission of the option coordinator, based on academic achievement and a demonstrated interest in aerospace engineering.
To complete this option, students will modify the standard Mechanical Engineering third- and fourth-year programs.
Note: Some students will not take courses in the order below, depending on their Co-op schedule. Please refer to the Department website for recommended course sequences.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MECH 305 | Data Analysis and Mechanical Engineering Laboratories | 6 |
| MECH 327 | Thermodynamics II | 3 |
| MECH 328 | Mechanical Engineering Design Project | 3 |
| MECH 358 | Engineering Analysis | 3 |
| MECH 360 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| MECH 368 | Engineering Measurement and Instrumentation | 3 |
| MECH 375 | Heat Transfer | 3 |
| MECH 380 | Fluid Dynamics | 3 |
| MECH 426 | Mechanical Design | 3 |
| MECH 463 | Mechanical Vibrations | 4 |
| MECH 481 | Aerodynamics of Aircraft I | 3 |
| Complementary Studies electives1 | 3 | |
| Total Credits: | 40 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MECH 400 | Professionalism and Ethics in Engineering | 3 |
| MECH 431 | Engineering Economics | 3 |
| MECH 453 or APSC 4962 | Aerospace Design Project (Capstone Design Program) or Interdisciplinary Engineering Design Project (New Venture Design) |
6 |
| MECH 462 | Finite Element Analysis | 3 |
| MECH 466 | Automatic Control | 4 |
| MECH 477 | Aerospace Propulsion | 3 |
| MECH 479 | Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics | 3 |
| MECH 484 | Aircraft Design: Aerodynamics | 3 |
| MECH 485 | Aircraft Design: Structures | 3 |
| MECH 489 | Experimental Thermofluids | 4 |
| MTRL 494 | Composite Materials | 3 |
| Complementary Studies electives1 | 3 | |
| Total Credits: | 41 |
3 There is a separate application process for APSC 496D. This course is 9 credits, so will also cover 3 credits towards a General B technical elective.
Biomechanics & Medical Devices
The Biomechanics & Medical Devices Option in Mechanical Engineering allows students interested in biomedical engineering, biomechanics and related topics to have a course and project concentration in these areas.
Students will be admitted to the option at the end of second year by permission of the program director, based on academic achievement and a demonstrated interest in biomedical engineering. Enrolment in this option is limited.
To complete this option, students will modify the standard Mechanical Engineering third- and fourth-year programs.
Note: Some students will not take courses in the order below, depending on their Co-op schedule. Please refer to the Department website for recommended course sequences.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BMEG 410 | Biomedical Equipment, Physiology, and Anatomy | 3 |
| MECH 305 | Data Analysis and Mechanical Engineering Laboratories | 6 |
| MECH 325 | Machine Design | 4 |
| MECH 328 | Mechanical Engineering Design Project | 3 |
| MECH 360 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| MECH 368 | Engineering Measurement and Instrumentation | 3 |
| MECH 375 | Heat Transfer I | 3 |
| MECH 463 | Mechanical Vibrations | 4 |
| Complementary Studies electives1 | 3 | |
| Technical Electives | 3 | |
| Total: | 35 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MECH 400 | Professionalism and Ethics in Engineering | 3 |
| BMEG 456 | Clinical and Industrial Biomedical Engineering | 3 |
| MECH 431 | Engineering Economics | 3 |
| MECH 439 | Biomechanics Research | 1 |
| MECH 459 or APSC 4963 |
Biomedical Design Project or Interdisciplinary Engineering Design Project (New Venture Design) |
6 |
| MECH 466 | Automatic Control | 4 |
| MTRL 495 | Biomaterials | 3 |
| Technical Electives | 9 | |
| Complementary Studies Electives | 3 | |
| Total: | 35 |
3 There is a separate application process for APSC 496D. This course is 9 credits, so will also cover 3 credits towards a General B technical elective.
Mechatronics Option
The Mechatronics Option in Mechanical Engineering allows students interested in mechanical systems integrated with embedded electronics, sensors, actuators, and related systems to have a course and project concentration in these areas.
Second-year students will take the same courses as regular mechanical engineering students.
Students will be admitted to the option at the end of first year by permission of the program director, based on a demonstrated interest in mechanical engineering and electronic design, and the grade point average obtained in the first year of engineering.
To complete this option, students will modify the standard Mechanical Engineering third- and fourth-year programs.
Note: Some students will not take courses in the order below, depending on their Co-op schedule. Please refer to the Department website for recommended course sequences.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CPSC 259 | Data Structures and Algorithms for Electrical Engineers | 4 |
| CPEN 312 | Digital Systems and Microcomputers | 3 |
| ELEC 302 | Electronic Circuits for Electromechanical Design | 3 |
| ELEC 343 | Electromechanics | 3 |
| MECH 306 | Data Analysis and Mechatronics Laboratories | 4 |
| MECH 325 | Machine Design | 4 |
| MECH 328 | Mechanical Engineering Design Project | 3 |
| MECH 360 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| MECH 366 | Modelling of Mechatronic Systems | 3 |
| MECH 375 | Heat Transfer I | 3 |
| MECH 392 | Manufacturing Processes | 2 |
| MECH 463 | Mechanical Vibrations | 4 |
| Total: | 39 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CPEN 333 | System Software Engineering | 3 |
| MECH 400 | Professionalism and Ethics in Engineering | 3 |
| MECH 420 | Sensors and Actuators | 3 |
| MECH 421 | Mechatronic System Instrumentation | 4 |
| MECH 423 | Mechatronics Product Design | 4 |
| MECH 431 | Engineering Economics | 3 |
| MECH 458 or APSC 4963 |
Mechatronics Design Project or Interdisciplinary Engineering Design Project (New Venture Design) |
6 |
| MECH 467 | Computer Control of Mechatronics Systems | 4 |
| Technical Electives | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies Electives | 6 | |
| Total: | 38 |
3 There is a separate application process for APSC 496D. This course is 9 credits, so will also cover 3 credits towards a General B technical elective.
Thermofluids Option
The Thermofluids Option in Mechanical Engineering allows students interested in aircraft, naval architecture, engines, and related systems to have a course and project concentration in these areas.
Students will be admitted to the option at the end of second year by permission of the program director, based on a demonstrated interest in engineering thermofluids.
Students can continue into the Thermofluids Option in the Master of Engineering degree program if they have a strong interest in a particular area of thermofluids and are eligible for graduate studies.
To complete this option, students will modify the standard Mechanical Engineering third- and fourth-year programs.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MECH 305 | Data Analysis and Mechanical Engineering Laboratories | 6 |
| MECH 325 | Machine Design | 4 |
| MECH 327 | Thermal Systems Design | 3 |
| MECH 328 | Mechanical Engineering Design Project | 3 |
| MECH 358 | Engineering Analysis | 3 |
| MECH 360 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| MECH 375 | Heat Transfer I | 3 |
| MECH 380 | Fluid Dynamics | 3 |
| MECH 386 | Industrial Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| Complementary Studies electives | 6 | |
| Total: | 37 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MECH 400 | Professionalism and Ethics in Engineering | 3 |
| ELEC 344 | Applied Electronics and Electromechanics | 3 |
| MECH 431 | Engineering Economics | 3 |
| MECH 454 or APSC 4963 |
Thermofluids Capstone Design Project or Engineering Physics Project Lab or Interdisciplinary Engineering Design Project (New Venture Design) |
6 |
| MECH 463 | Mechanical Vibrations | 4 |
| MECH 466 | Automatic Control | 4 |
| MECH 479 | Computational Fluid Dynamics | 3 |
| MECH 489 | Experimental Thermofluids | 4 |
| Technical Electives | 9 | |
| Total: | 38 |
3 There is a separate application process for APSC 496D. This course is 9 credits, so will also cover 3 credits towards a General B technical elective.