Mechanical Engineering Overview: colleges, syllabus, eligibility, jobs and more

The field of engineering is very diverse. One of the most versatile fields of engineering is Mechanical Engineering. It is the oldest and broadest discipline of engineering, where engineers create the systems to drive industry and technology.

Table of contents:

1. What is mechanical engineering all about?

2. Why Mechanical Engineering? 

3. Syllabus for Mechanical Engineering courses.

4. What makes you eligible for a course in Mechanical Engineering?

    4.1 Requirements for an MS in Mechanical engineering

5. Top colleges for Mechanical Engineering.

6. The job market for Mechanical Engineering graduates.

7. A list of high-paying jobs in 2022 after Mechanical engineering.

8. Skills that you must have as a mechanical engineer.

9. Closing Remarks

10. Frequently Asked Questions

1. Let’s discuss what mechanical Engineering is all about.

Mechanical engineering involves the principles of materials, mechanics and energy so as to design machines and devices. It actually combines the principles of mathematics, material science and physics to produce and operate machinery.

The mechanical engineers are responsible for designing and manufacturing many products, including medical devices, batteries, machinery, elevators, escalators, automated transfer stations, etc. The primary object of a mechanical engineer is to build a machine that works smoothly and doesn't cost high.

2. Why should you pursue Mechanical Engineering?

Honestly speaking, mechanical engineering is the broadest of all the engineering streams. As a result, it allows anyone to have a diverse career choice after having a degree. The mechanical engineering syllabus is also very fast, which means that it helps the students build numerous skills.

When a person thinks of pursuing a degree course, the first question that comes to their mind is, of course, the range of career options. The job market for mechanical engineers is very vast. Mechanical engineers are always in demand in many industries, making this field one of the best options. Also, the average salary after graduation is pretty high, and students can have the worldwide options to get employed because every country needs mechanical engineers to work for societies benefit. 

3. Here is the syllabus for Mechanical Engineering courses:

The syllabus for various Mechanical engineering courses can vary slightly according to the university/ college you want to study. Let's briefly discuss the common subjects that one needs to study while pursuing mechanical engineering courses:

• Syllabus for BE in Mechanical Engineering

The subjects for BE in Mechanical engineering include Mathematics, Electrical Technology, Physics, Engineering Materials, Electronics & Instrumentation, Introduction to Information technology, Applied thermodynamics, Dynamics of Machinery, material technology, mechanics of solids, Fluid Mechanics, Electrical Machines & Control, Chemistry, Theory of Mechanics, Kinematics, Industrial Drafting & Machine design, Maintenance Engineering, Production & Industrial Management and Mechanical Handling Equipment.

• Syllabus for MS in Mechanical Engineering

The subjects for BE in Mechanical engineering include Advanced Heat Transfer, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, Mechanical Vibration, Optimization techniques, Mechanical Design analysis, Advanced Fluid mechanics and Instrumentation & Automatic Control.

• Syllabus for MS in Mechanical Engineering

The MS in Mechanical Engineering subjects includes Bioengineering, Solid Mechanics, Robotics, nanotechnology, Fluid Mechanics & Fluid dynamics, Design, Combustion, Manufacturing & Materials, Mechanics and vibration, HVAC & Refrigeration, Heat transfer & thermodynamics and Systems, measurements & Controls.

4. Eligibility for a course in Mechanical Engineering:

Mechanical engineering can be pursued in three significant degrees, i.e., BE in mechanical engineering, ME in Mechanical Engineering and MS in Mechanical Engineering. Let's discuss the eligibility for all three courses:

4.1. Let's discuss the eligibility/requirements for an MS course in Mechanical Engineering:

For admission in an MS course, the following things are always required:

• A minimum of 3 letters of recommendation 
• Statement of purpose
• 4 years of bachelor’s degree
• Good GRE score (this is especially needed for admission in the United States)
• Good IELTS and TOEFL scores (to check the English proficiency of international students)

5. What are the top colleges to follow your dream of Mechanical Engineering?

Let’s discuss the top 10 universities that offer the best mechanical engineering programs for the students:

• Stanford University- Founded in 1891, Stanford University is currently having 17,246 students and 2,279 faculty members. The university is one of the top ways to find new discoveries and ideas. Having experience of more than 125 years, Stanford University offers one of the best MS courses.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology- Founded in 1861, MIT is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The university has a vast campus of nearly 166 acres and offers one of the best courses in mechanical engineering.
• Georgia Institute of Technology- Georgia Tech or Georgia Institute of Technology is a public university in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1885, Georgia Tech offers its students an excellent environment to study mechanical engineering with diverse courses and curricula.
• California Institute of Technology- Caltech is a private research university known for its strength in Engineering. With annual fees of $18,000, its mechanical engineering degree is one of the best degrees in the United States.
• The University of California, Los Angeles- Founded in 1882, ULCA is a public university. The university offers 337 undergraduate and graduate programs in various disciplines, including mechanical engineering.
• Princeton University- Established in 1746, Princeton University is a private league university. It is the fourth-oldest institution in the USA and is home to almost 8,500 students.
• Cornell University- Established in 1865, Cornell University is a private university based in Ithaca, New york. The campus is located among the regions of Finger Lakes and offers the best environment to study various courses.
• John Hopkins University- Established in 1876, Johns Hopkins University is a private research university. The university is ranked among the top colleges in the United States with the best MS courses.
• Duke University- Founded in 1838, Duke University is one of the oldest universities. It is a private research university that offers a Master of Science course in mechanical engineering.
• The University of California, San Diego- Founded in 1860, UCSD is a public research university. The university offers more than 200 undergraduate and graduate courses, with more than 40,000 students enrolling on the programs.

6. The growing job market can make you fall in love with mechanical engineering.

Mechanical engineering is an old stream of engineering and is continuously growing. As a mechanical engineer, you can find tremendous opportunities to work, which can surely make you fall in love with this stream. A mechanical engineer can easily work after a bachelor's degree or even after a master's degree. Also, they can enjoy an excellent level of job satisfaction because of high increments, less stress level during the job and outstanding work-life balance.

Let’s have a look at the job opportunities after mechanical engineering:

• Mechanical engineering manager- A mechanical engineer manager’s work is to look after the management of the whole department. A mechanical engineer manager handles the technical and administrative aspects of the mechanical department. Also, a mechanical engineer manager is responsible for selecting and approving materials based upon the quality according to the standardization and specification. The Average Salary of a mechanical engineer manager can be as high as $1,00,000 per annum.
• Manufacturing engineer- As a manufacturing engineer, you are required to design, develop and operate the integrated production systems so as to get economically competitive products, such as robots, computers, machine tools etc. Manufacturing can access a wide range of industries, including biotechnology, clothing, automation, plant manufacturing, oil refinery, plastics and pharmaceuticals. The Average Salary of a manufacturing engineer can easily be around $70,000 per annum.
• Robotics engineer- As a robotic engineer, you will need to design and build autonomous machines to replicate human actions. These autonomous machines or robots are basically designed to perform hazardous jobs that humans cannot do. The sectors where robotic engineers can work includes manufacturing, mining, automotive etc. A robotic engineer, on average, can expect an annual salary of around $78,500. The pay can go as high as $1,00,000 per year.
• Project engineer- A project engineer has to work on project-related technical activities. These include pre-planning, preparation and forecasting of a resource or project. As a project engineer, you will need to develop project objectives, manage the entire project data, document the project's progress, and create project specifications for all the tools. The Average Salary of a project engineer can easily be around $68,000.
• Equipment engineer- As an equipment engineer, you need to combine your skills in designing electrical devices, computers and mechanical devices. An equipment engineer typically works on developing mechanical and electronic devices. The Average Salary of an equipment engineer is usually around $86,000 per annum.
• Automation engineer- As an automation engineer, you are required to create systems to reduce human efforts—for instance, computer systems or other manufacturing processes. To be an automation engineer, knowledge of various programming languages is necessary. An automation engineer can easily expect an average salary of nearly $82,000 per year.

7. Here’s a list of high-paying jobs in 2022:

Mechanical engineers are one of the most crucial parts of any industry. They have many duties and roles to perform in the industry. Let’s discuss the top five highest-paying jobs that you can get after your degree in mechanical engineering:

• Research and development engineer- The role of a research and development engineer includes building new manufacturing methods and products. A Research and Development Engineer needs to improve the existing systems so as to increase efficiency and productivity. They provide innovative solutions to the current problems, and the average Salary of research and development is $92,000 per annum.
• Senior mechanical engineer- The role of a senior mechanical engineer includes planning, designing and developing the products. A senior mechanical engineer needs to work on the sensors, mechanical parts, electrical systems and circuit boards. They are usually involved in leading the team to help them understand the process of production. The Average Salary of a senior mechanical engineer is around $99,000 per annum.
• Automation engineer- The role of an automation engineer includes designing, building and maintaining self-operating machines and processes. An automation engineer is required to work with the clients to understand the task and design accordingly. They can work in many industries, including the manufacturing and food industries. The Average Salary of an automation engineer is usually $90,000 per annum.
• Powertrain engineer- the role of a powertrain engineer includes working in the automotive industry to improve the engines’ appearance and performance. A powertrain engineer is required to work with cars, motorcycles, trucks, etc. the Average Salary of a powertrain engineer is around $102,000 per annum.
• Instrumentation engineer- The role of an instrumentation engineer includes designing, building, testing, maintaining and managing the equipment to ensure their proper working. An instrumentation engineer needs to understand the working of different systems, and they might sometimes write software programs as well. The Average Salary of an instrumentation engineer is roughly $107,000 per annum.

8. What skills should you have to work as a mechanical engineer?

A mechanical engineer needs to work in various fields. We have already studied the requirements to pursue a mechanical engineer and the qualifications to get an excellent job. But, apart from mechanical knowledge and designing skills, there are 5 skills that you should have to make an excellent career out of it. Let's discuss:

• Problem-solving skills- Problem-solving skills means how well a person can handle difficult situations in their job/work. As a mechanical engineer, you will have to work on different problems to find solutions and hence, you must be an excellent problem solver and an active listener.
• Communication skills- Strong communication skills can easily improve your daily interactions at any workplace. Effective communication is one of the keys to being successful in difficult situations or to leading a team. As a mechanical engineer, you must have the excellent ability to relay messages in an engaging manner.
• Creativity- Creativity means that you must be able to make observations when you are accessing a particular problem at your workplace. A mechanical engineer needs to design and build the products, and hence, creativity as a skill is a must-have.
• Strategic planning- Strategic planning includes achieving the target by setting timelines and objectives. As a mechanical engineer, you must be able to set your target/goal and accomplish it in a proper manner by optimum planning and strategies. 
• Project management- Project management means managing the processes to provide a proper structure to the projects and to guide the employees. As a senior mechanical engineer, one will often need to interact/lead various teams and project management skill is a must-have to fetch an excellent job in this field.

Closing Remarks

Mechanical engineering is very vast and involves the application of problem-solving techniques of engineering. As a mechanical engineer, you need to constantly upgrade your skills and knowledge to remain competitive in the market. The demand for mechanical engineers is increasing, and so are job opportunities. So, if you have a thing for machines and devices, you can surely pursue your dream to be a mechanical engineer by choosing the correct school accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is Mechanical engineering an excellent career?

A. Mechanical engineering is one of the oldest branches of engineering whose job market is pretty huge. For people who are interested in machinery and their design, Mechanical engineering can prove to be an excellent career option with tremendous placement opportunities.

Q. Which countries pay the most to mechanical engineers?

A. Mechanical engineers can easily get job opportunities across the globe, and the top-paying countries include USA, Germany, Australia and Switzerland.

Q. What are the top-notch companies that hire mechanical engineers all across the world?

A. Mechanical engineers can find jobs in top companies such as HCL, Altair, Apple, L & T Technology Services and Rivian Automotive.