Mechanical engineering is the most versatile of all engineering programs. Mechanical engineering encompasses the design, analysis, testing and manufacture of products used in every facet of modern society. Mechanical engineers design components, machines, systems or processes.

Mechanical engineers pursue careers in the automotive, aerospace, chemical, computer, communication, defense, energy, railroad, and robotics industries, just to name a few. Mechanical engineers will also be found in virtually any manufacturing industry. Increasingly, mechanical engineers are needed in the environmental and bio-medical fields. Without a doubt, virtually every product or service in modern life has probably been touched in some way by a mechanical engineer

A significant number of mechanical engineering graduates also use mechanical engineering as the foundation for careers in business administration, law, medicine, and other professions. Many graduates have also been accepted for advanced study in mechanical engineering, medicine, law, business administration, and even dentistry.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Alabama presently has about 500 undergraduate students, 20 master's students, and 30 doctoral students.