Dr. Tingwen "Tim" Wu
Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies
Department of Mechanical Engineering
wu@engr.uky.eduFrom aerospace to manufacturing and aviation to acoustics, a degree in Mechanical Engineering can prepare you for an exciting career in a variety of industries. Examples of products and processes developed by mechanical engineers include engines and control systems for automobiles and aircraft, electric power generation, lifesaving medical devices, robots, and high-tech consumer products such as low-energy lighting, HVAC, refrigeration, and household appliances. Mechanical engineers use mathematics, computers, sophisticated modeling and analysis to solve problems associated with energy usage, propulsion, power generation, sound and vibration, machinery design, and manufacturing. In short, mechanical engineers play a part in designing and building the mechanical devices and systems that are essential to our everyday lives.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers ABET-accredited undergraduate programs on two campuses, the main Lexington campus and the Paducah extended campus. The Department of Mechanical Engineering prepares students for
financially lucrative, high-demand professions or for furthering their education through acceptance to prominent graduate schools. Through a challenging curriculum of undergraduate study, collaboration with renowned businesses and technology centers and research options within the college’s centers and consortia, UK delivers an education designed to produce proficient, marketable graduates adept at meeting today’s engineering needs.
Career opportunities in Mechanical Engineering
“As a mechanical engineering student, I began to see how engineering really opens a door for you. You might not necessarily be doing engineering your whole life, but you still have the creative problem-solving mindset that you get from becoming an engineer.”
2019 Mechanical Engineering Graduate
Fall 2023 first-time freshmen: Automatic admission to the College of Engineering will be based on meeting the below requirements. However, if you cannot take or choose not to submit ACT or SAT scores with your admission application, a holistic review will be used to determine your admission to the engineering program.
Students may directly enroll as pre-engineering students; however, there are minimum admission requirements. Minimum freshman entry requirements are an ACT math score of 25 or higher (or a SAT math score of 590 or higher) and a 3.0 or higher unweighted high school GPA. Additionally, students must also meet the minimum Kentucky statewide academic readiness requirements for reading and writing.If you do not meet the initial admission requirements, please contact visit@engr.uky.edu for information about alternative routes to admission to the College of Engineering.
Admission requirements for transfer students can be accessed here.
The smartest, most talented engineers around the world are devoting themselves to tackling immense global challenges. As a First-Year Engineering (FYE) student, you get to join them!
In 2008, the National Academy of Engineering identified 14 “Grand Challenges for Engineering in the 21st Century”—opportunities to greatly increase humanity’s sustainability, health, security and joy of living. Themes include making solar energy economical, enhancing virtual reality, reverse-engineering the brain, securing cyberspace, providing access to clean water and more.
These ambitious goals demand engineers roll up their sleeves and get to work, which is why we put them front and center during your first year as an engineering student. We have designed the FYE program to inspire you. We want you to discover your passion. We want you to explore where you might make your unique contribution. We want you to get your hands dirty and make stuff that might, one day, lead to a breakthrough.
Why wait until you’re taking upper-level classes to figure out what interests you? Through real engineering classes taught by top faculty and exposure to engineering’s greatest challenges, the FYE program gets you into the game from day one.
The following curriculum meets the requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, provided the student satisfies the graduation requirements of the College of Engineering.
2022-23 Major Sheet 2021-22 Major Sheet 2020-21 Major Sheet 2018-19 Major Sheet 2017-18 Major Sheet 2016-17 Major Sheet 2015-16 Major Sheet 2014-15 Major Sheet 2013-14 Major Sheet 2012-13 Major Sheet 2011-12 Major Sheet 2010-11 Major Sheet 2009-10 Major Sheet 2008-09 Major Sheet
Jake [Ingram] recently began a job at SpaceX, where he's building rockets to send humans to Mars. He's specifically focused on the engines of Falcon 9, the world's first orbital class rocket capable of reflight.
From undergraduate research with his professors to service projects with other Wildcats, and even a stint as student body president, Jake harnessed every opportunity to learn not only about engineering, but about how to connect with people and achieve a common mission.
Click here to read the full article and find out more.
Student organizations are an outgrowth of student interest and serve the needs of a variety of students. Many provide programs that supplement the classroom experience and extend into areas of service for the community. All provide learning and leadership training for participating students. Student organizations that are typically of interest to Mechanical Engineering students include: American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Society of Automotive Engineers, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Pi Tau Sigma, Tau Beta Pi, Society of Women Engineers, Engineers Without Borders, and many others.
There are countless ways to “see blue.” on campus, but the best way to maximize your journey at the University of Kentucky is by engaging in an Education Abroad opportunity.
This will allow you to gain a global perspective and enhance future employability. As you take the first step towards investing in your future, we encourage you to take advantage of all the opportunities UK has to offer. Take a look at some of the options UK Education Abroad & Exchanges office suggests to complement your major! #SeeBlueAbroad
View Major Advising PageGrowth and learning also happen outside the classroom. It happens in research labs working alongside professors and graduate students. It happens on student design teams in capstone design courses. It happens on cooperative education rotations and internships with companies all over the country. There are also numerous education abroad programs. A substantial number of our students undertake co-op placements or summer internships to gain valuable experience in industries that employ mechanical engineers. The Engineering Career and Co-op Center is a valuable resource for assisting you with developing job, co-op and internship search skills, participation in education abroad programs, participation in research endeavors and building career networks so you can secure a rewarding career in your chosen field of study
Mechanical engineers work in a wide variety of industries: aerospace, automobile, manufacturing, industrial equipment design, consulting firms, and government agencies. Examples of job placement for our graduates include: GE Appliances, GE Aviation, Cummins, Toyota, Lexmark, Trane, Link-Belt, Belcan, NASA, and many more.
Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Click the link for more info.
Median Salary
$95,300
per year in 2021
Number of Jobs
284,900
in 2021
10 Year Job Outlook
6,400
new jobs (average)
Mechanical engineers generally work in offices. They may occasionally visit worksites where a problem or piece of equipment needs their personal attention. Mechanical engineers work mostly in engineering services, research and development, and manufacturing.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Read MoreAerospace engineers design primarily aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Click the link for more info.
Median Salary
$122,270
per year in 2021
Number of Jobs
58,800
in 2021
10 Year Job Outlook
3,700
new jobs (average)
Aerospace engineers are employed in industries whose workers design or build aircraft, missiles, systems for national defense, or spacecraft. Aerospace engineers are employed primarily in manufacturing, analysis and design, research and development, and the federal government.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Read MoreIndustrial engineers devise efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Click the link for more info.
Median Salary
$95,300
per year in 2021
Number of Jobs
301,000
in 2021
10 Year Job Outlook
30,600
new jobs (average)
Depending on their tasks, industrial engineers work either in offices or in the settings they are trying to improve. For example, when observing problems, they may watch workers assembling parts in a factory. When solving problems, they may be in an office at a computer, looking at data that they or others have collected.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Read More
Dr. Tingwen "Tim" Wu
Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies
Department of Mechanical Engineering
wu@engr.uky.eduCollege of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
151 Ralph G. Anderson Building
Lexington, KY 40506-0503
(859) 257-6336
