Every day, mechanical engineers apply science, math and technology to solve complex issues. Their versatile skillset allows them to work in many in-demand industries, including the biomedical, aerospace, automotive and energy sectors. Mechanical engineers are projected to have the second-highest new job growth of all engineering fields from 2016 to 2026.
Program Overview
Become a University of Colorado Boulder Engineer—at Western.
Most businesses depend on mechanical engineers to innovate, test and build systems and devices that are essential to their existence. In our program, you’ll have an unparalleled opportunity to take advantage of our new partnership with the prestigious University of Colorado Boulder. You’ll complete your initial two years as a Western student, then transfer to University of Colorado Boulder to finish your final two years in the program—all while attending classes at Western’s campus in Gunnison. Graduates of the partnership program receive their Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder’s College of Engineering & Applied Science.
The partnership program is housed in the new, state-of-the-art Paul M. Rady School of Computer Science & Engineering at the heart of Western’s campus. The new labs and classrooms are designed to provide you with a hands-on learning experience, supported by faculty who are experts in their field. Through intensive coursework, labs and competitive internship opportunities, you’ll be well-prepared for exceptional career opportunities in many diverse fields.
To learn more about the application process and CU Boulder’s transition requirements, please visit our Partnership Admissions Process page.
The Western-CU Partnership program in Mechanical Engineering is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). To learn more about Western’s accreditation, visit this page.
The best of both worlds
Enjoy the small class sizes, know-your-name attention from faculty and the mountain-town grandeur of Gunnison—all while earning a prestigious degree from the University of Colorado Boulder’s renowned College of Engineering & Applied Science.
Program Requirements
At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.
This program provides a seamless transfer of coursework from the Gunnison residential campus for a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering awarded by CU Boulder. A student must meet the requirements for the CU Boulder College of Engineering & Applied Science (CEAS) and may apply for admission when they have established a successful collegiate record as a Western student. This is demonstrated through academic requirements outlined at https://western.edu/program/mechanical-engineering-university-colorado-partnership/transition-to-cu-boulder/
Students are expected to follow the Academic Policies of the respective University/Universities at which they are registered.
- Western: https://catalog.western.edu/undergraduate/policies/
- CU Boulder College of Engineering & Applied Science: https://www.colorado.edu/engineering-advising/get-your-degree/academic-expectations-policies
Planned Western coursework is outlined below in red font and course numbers are all three digits, while CU Boulder coursework is outlined below in black font and course numbers are all four digits. Students must complete 45 credits of CU Boulder coursework.
Degree Requirements - Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Composition (total of 3 credit hours) | ||
| ENG 302 | Technical Writing | 3 |
| Mathematics (total of 16 credit hours) | ||
| MATH 151 | Calculus I (GT-MA1) | 4 |
| MATH 251 | Calculus II | 4 |
| MATH 252 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MATH 358 | Introduction to Differential Equations and Linear Algebra | 4 |
| Computer Science and Engineering Courses | ||
| CS 191 | Computer Science II | 3 |
| ENGR 131 | Introduction to Engineering Design | 3 |
| ENGR 161 | Computer-Aided Design | 3 |
| ENGR 197 | Special Topics (Fabrication) | 1 |
| ENGR 224 | Materials Science | 3 |
| ENGR 265 | Engineering as a Profession | 1 |
| ENGR 397 | Independent Study (Fluid Mechanics) | 3 |
| or PHYS 335 | Fluid Mechanics | |
| ENGR 363 | Mechanics of Solids | 3 |
| MCEN 3012: Thermodynamics | 3 | |
| MCEN 3017: Circuits and Electronics for Mechanical Engineers | 3 | |
| MCEN 3022: Heat Transfer | 3 | |
| MCEN 3025: Component Design | 3 | |
| MCEN 3030: Computational Methods | 3 | |
| MCEN 3032: Thermodynamics 2 | 3 | |
| MCEN 3047: Data Analysis and Experimental Methods | 4 | |
| MCEN 4026: Manufacturing Processes and Systems | 3 | |
| MCEN 4043: System Dynamics | 3 | |
| MCEN 4045: Mechanical Engineering Design Project 1 | 3 | |
| MCEN 4085: Mechanical Engineering Design Project 2 | 3 | |
| MCEN 4086: Writing for Design | 1 | |
| Technical Electives (total of 12 credits) | ||
| Choose 6 credit hours of ME Technical Elective coursework | ||
| Choose 6 credit hours of General Technical Elective coursework | ||
| Sciences (total of 20 credits) | ||
| CHEM 121 | General Chemistry for Engineers | 3 |
| PHYS 200 | General Physics I (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| PHYS 201 | General Physics II (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| PHYS 250 | Statics | 3 |
| PHYS 251 | Dynamics | 3 |
| PHYS 320 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| Humanities/Social Sciences | ||
| Complete 15 credits of approved humanities and social science coursework, 6 credits of which must be upper-division. | ||
| Free Elective Courses | ||
| Additional coursework is necessary to bring the cumulative total credit hours to at least 128. The number of credits needed may vary based on options selected to complete other requirements. | ||
The following plan lists all the specific course requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree at Western Colorado University and the University of Colorado (CU) Boulder. The order in which these courses are taken may vary with course availability. Students are responsible for completing all course prerequisites. Please note that this is a suggested degree program; your program may vary.
Planned Western coursework is outlined below in red font and course numbers are all three digits, while CU Boulder coursework is outlined below in black font and course numbers are all four digits. Students must complete 45 credits at CU Boulder.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| MATH 151 | Calculus I (GT-MA1) | 4 |
| PHYS 200 | General Physics I (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| CS 191 | Computer Science II | 3 |
| CHEM 121 | General Chemistry for Engineers | 3 |
| HWTR 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MATH 251 | Calculus II | 4 |
| PHYS 201 | General Physics II (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| ENGR 131 | Introduction to Engineering Design | 3 |
| H&SS lower-division or Foreign Language | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| MATH 252 | Calculus III | 4 |
| PHYS 250 | Statics | 3 |
| PHYS 320 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| ENGR 161 | Computer-Aided Design | 3 |
| ENGR 197 | Special Topics (Fabrication) | 1 |
| ENGR 224 | Materials Science | 3 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| MATH 358 | Introduction to Differential Equations and Linear Algebra | 4 |
| PHYS 251 | Dynamics | 3 |
| ENGR 397 or PHYS 335 | Independent Study (Fluid Mechanics) or Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| ENGR 265 | Engineering as a Profession | 1 |
| ENGR 363 | Mechanics of Solids | 3 |
| ENG 302 | Technical Writing | 3 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| MCEN 3012 Thermodynamics | 3 | |
| MCEN 3017 Circuits & Electronics for Mechanical Engineers | 3 | |
| MCEN 3025 Component Design | 3 | |
| MCEN 3030 Computational Methods | 3 | |
| MCEN Technical Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MCEN 3032 Thermodynamics 2 | 3 | |
| MCEN 3047 Data Analysis & Experimental Methods | 4 | |
| MCEN 4026 Manufacturing Processes & Systems | 3 | |
| MCEN Technical Elective | 3 | |
| H&SS lower-division or Foreign Language | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| MCEN 3022 Heat Transfer | 3 | |
| MCEN 4043 System Dynamics | 3 | |
| MCEN 4045 Mechanical Engineering Design Project 1 | 3 | |
| MCEN 4086 Writing for Design | 1 | |
| General Technical Elective | 3 | |
| H&SS lower-division or Foreign Language | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| MCEN 4085 Mechanical Engineering Design Project 2 | 3 | |
| General Technical Elective | 3 | |
| H&SS upper-division | 3 | |
| H&SS upper-division | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 128 | |
Careers
Career preparation starts your first year at Western and is the primary focus of every degree.
Visit Career Services in Library 120 or online to discover your interests, define your goals, and land the career of your dreams.
The data below is automatically collected by Burning Glass Technologies, a firm that sources job market data and provides analytics. The statistics illustrate general trends in U.S. careers, but do not precisely represent every job and salary.
Scholarships
Eligibility
- Declared a major in the Computer Science or Mechanical Engineering partnership programs
- Have a 3.5 GPA or higher
- Are eligible for Math 151 – Calculus 1 (via placement tests, credit transfer or a Math ACT/SAT score of 27/630)
To maintain their scholarship award, students must remain:
- In the partnership program
- Eligible for transfer to CU Boulder by earning a B average or better in transfer coursework
Description
This is a two-year, full-tuition Western scholarship. The number of scholarships awarded is based on fund availability.
Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.
Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.
- This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
- Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
- GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).
Due date has been extended to April 15 for 2021. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Board, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).
Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:
- This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
- Nominee must be an incoming freshman or new transfer.
- The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
- The admission application fee is waived (a $30 value).
- GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).
The applicant must fill out the application form found here (click). Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.
For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.
Description
The Western Presidential Honors Scholarships, established by the Jack and Marilyn MacAllister Foundation shall be an elite class of scholarships awarded to Western’s highest achieving and most deserving students, celebrating the ideals of academic excellence and service to the campus and community. Recipients of the Scholarships will be members of the Western Colorado University Honors Program.
There are eight Presidential Honors Scholarships of $2500 each. Each year two new Presidential Honors Scholarships will be awarded to two incoming freshmen.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
Get Involved
Make your education a life changing experience.
A college education is so much more than just taking classes. Expand your community and network, while gaining hands-on experience in your field.
- Advising Night: Once a semester, the Academic Resource Center arranges a meeting between students and their Rady School Academic Advisor to plan classes for next semester and navigate the CU Boulder transfer process as a group.
- Annual CU Boulder STEM Career & Internship Fair: Students can connect with recruiters to learn about internships and job opportunities in the fields of computer science, robotics, math, statistics, technology and engineering. This is also an opportunity for Gunnison-based students to network with CU Boulder students, faculty and alumni.
- Peer Support: Mechanical Engineering freshmen who meet the prerequisites take Chemistry 121: General Chemistry for Engineers together their first semester. This brand-new course is designed specifically for engineering students.
- Residence Hall Community-Building: Most Rady School students live in Robidoux Hall during their first year at Western, allowing them to strengthen bonds with fellow students outside of class. Robidoux Hall houses designated study spaces and a computer lab for students. Staff host educational and community-building initiatives throughout the academic year.
- Study Group: The “Nerd Corner” is located in Leslie J. Savage Library. Students can dive deeper into STEM-related coursework in an informal, collaborative environment.
State-of-the-Art facilities
The partnership program is housed in the new, state-of-the-art Paul M. Rady School of Computer Science & Engineering at the heart of Western’s campus. The new school and partnership program were created with an astounding $80 million gift from an alumnus who is now the CEO of Antero Resources in Denver.
News & Research
Additional Resources
Department Information
Paul M. Rady School of Computer Science & Engineering
Department Chair
Jeremy Muskat, Ph.D.Chair of the Department of Mathematics & Computer Science
Office Support Coordinator
Lainy SorensenOffice Support Coordinator
Campus Location
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231