University of Waterloo
200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1
Phone: (519) 888-4567
Staff and Faculty Directory
Contact the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering
The field of mechanical engineering is concerned with the application of the fundamental principles and laws of nature to the development and betterment of a technological society and culture. Virtually anything that moves, whether animate or inanimate, falls within the scope of mechanical engineering.
Of all the engineering disciplines, mechanical engineering is the broadest and most diversified. In all technical areas and types of industries, mechanical engineers are involved in virtually every phase of design, synthesis, development, and refinement of machines, processes, and systems. Mechanical engineers are required to understand the laws of mechanics and thermodynamics, the effects of forces on solids and liquids, the flow of heat through substances, the properties of engineering materials, and the design of mechanisms to accomplish useful tasks. Mechanical engineers play a leading role in the advancement of technology for sustainable development.
Mechanical engineers are expected to face many technical and managerial challenges, such as:
Manufacturing and next-generation material design
Design of next-generation renewable energy systems
Engineering of automotive and aerospace systems
Development of robotic and biomechanical systems
The courses in this area of specialization deal with a broad range of applications of the principles of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics, with emphasis on topics of industrial significance for example, aerodynamics, internal flows with heat and mass transfer, turbomachinery, and flows in the natural environment such as plumes in air and effluents in water. Many courses in fluid mechanics and thermal engineering are closely linked.
The courses offered in this area of specialization range from those which provide the mathematical and physical basis of the subject matter to those which are largely applied in nature. Subjects treated are: mechanics (including vibrations); theories of elasticity, plasticity and fracture; machine design and design optimization.
This area of specialization consists of a comprehensive series of courses in metallurgy, including heat treatment, casting, welding, cold and hot forming. Nonmetallic materials, including plastics and ceramics, and composites such as fibreglass and sandwich structures are also considered
The courses in this area of specialization are designed to provide the student with an understanding of the principles and control of production processes, the application of computers to the manufacturing activity and the organization of production. Topics treated are automation, metal forming, numerical control of machine tools, applications of fluid power and industrial noise control. These topics are also a prominent part of the mechanical portion of the Mechatronics Option.
The courses in this area of specialization develop and apply the principles of thermodynamics, heat transfer (conduction, convection, radiation), and fluid mechanics to such topics as combustion; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning of buildings; and energy conversion. Many courses in fluid mechanics and thermal engineering are closely linked.
An applied science degree in mechanical or mechatronics engineering provides several versatile career paths. University of Waterloo graduates often pursue careers in automation, automotive aerospace, and forensics. See where some of our outstanding MME alumni are now, as shown below.
Product Design Engineer at Apple
Gandhi earned a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) in Mechanical Engineering with the Management Sciences Option at the University of Waterloo in 2021.
Data Scientist at Pelmorex Corp
Dr. Jalali earned a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Waterloo in 2016. Dr. Jalali has a B.A.Sc. and M.A.Sc. in Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Visit our official Alumni Features page to view more career achievements of our oustanding alumni.
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University of Waterloo
200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1
Phone: (519) 888-4567
Staff and Faculty Directory
Contact the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Office of Indigenous Relations.