The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers an undergraduate Honors Program for students who seek to be challenged by both independent and team projects and receive additional distinction with their undergraduate degrees.

This individually tailored program culminates with the awarding of an Honors Certificate and recognition at the Honors Day Ceremony in the student’s senior year.

Students enrolled in the Department of Mechanical Engineering Honors Program are encouraged to participate in one of the three University-wide honors programs offered through the Honors College.

Apply to join the Department of Mechanical Engineering Honors Program. Applications are also available in the Department’s main office in Hardaway Room 290.

Honors by Contract

Students may earn up to 6 hours of honors credit in appropriate regularly scheduled JUNIOR and SENIOR level courses through satisfactory completion of the terms of an Honors By Contract. This contract requires a prospectus, prepared by the student consultation with his/her professor and with the Honors Program Director. The prospectus must be approved by the Professor, his/her Department Head, and the Honors Program Director.

Eligibility

  • Mechanical engineering majors
  • New freshmen—28 or higher ACT score (SAT 1240+)
  • Transfer students—28 or higher ACT score (SAT 1240+) and 3.3 or higher GPA on all college-level work
  • Current UA students—3.3 or higher GPA
  • Participate in one of the University-wide Honors College programs
  • Continuation in the program requires maintenance of a minimum UA GPA of 3.3

Requirements

  • Complete all requirements for the bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering
  • Complete a minimum of 18 hours of honors course work
    • Twelve hours of ME honors courses or honors-by-contract courses, but may include other engineering or computer science honors courses with prior approval by the ME Honors Coordinator
    • Three of the 12 hours must be “experience-based.” Examples of experience-based activities are approved co-op or internship experiences that result in a substantial technical report on independent design or research work and research-based special project courses such as ME 497. Academic credit for co-op or internship work is limited to 3 hours and must be pre-approved. The report from the experience-based activity will constitute an honors thesis.
    • Six hours of other honors courses, which may include University Honors courses and honors courses in mathematics, science, English, etc.

Students interested in the Department of Mechanical Engineering Honors Program should contact Dr. Beth Todd for further details.