MechE

Mechanical Engineering

Website Faculty

Course 2

MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering (MechE/Course 2) advances the design, fundamental principles, and realization of physical systems with mechanical engineering at their core.

Technical Skills

  • Fundamentals to design
  • Hands-on making
  • Computing & modeling for physical systems

Common Careers

  • Engineer
  • Consultant
  • Entrepreneur
A young man and woman work together to assemble a robotic arm in a bright classroom. The woman holds a tool while the man supports the arm. A ping pong table, paddle, scattered screws, and whiteboard are visible in the background.
A humanoid robot with a white head and metal frame stands against a black background, holding a tool in its right hand. Wires and mechanical components are visible throughout its body.
A yellow underwater vehicle navigates deep, dark blue water beneath a layer of ice, illuminated by a blue glow from the ice above and a small onboard light.
A group of smiling people wearing yellow construction hats and yellow or blue clothing pose together outdoors on grass, waving at the camera. Some hold plush toys, and colorful decorations are visible around them.
A professor gestures while talking to two students at a lab table. The students listen attentively, holding rolled-up materials. Several cylindrical lab samples are arranged on the table in front of them.

About

Our research and education programs embody MIT’s motto, mens et manus (“mind and hand”) – and we bring “heart” into the work. We combine theory and hands-on learning with a commitment to make the world a better place. By uniting the core areas of MechE with emerging frontiers and cross-disciplinary learning, we discover new knowledge, create innovative technologies, and train future leaders who help address the biggest challenges facing our society.

MechE Degrees

Undergraduate
  • Course 2 Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
  • Course 2-A Bachelor of Science in Engineering
  • Course 2-OE Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Ocean Engineering
Graduate
  • Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (SMME)
  • Master of Science in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (SMNAME)
  • Master of Engineering in Manufacturing Naval Engineer’s (NE) Degree
  • Dual degree with Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) Program in MIT Sloan School of Management
  • Master of Science in Ocean Engineering (SMOE)
  • Master of Science in Oceanographic Engineering (SMOGE, joint MIT/WHOI degree)
  • Mechanical Engineer’s (ME) Degree
  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
  • Doctor of Science (ScD)

Why Choose MechE?

We encourage students to think outside the box, helping foster an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit that permeates our classrooms and laboratories. Our passion for pushing boundaries and developing creative solutions to the world’s problems has led to a remarkable number of discoveries – and our students have a lot of fun along the way, too.

Mechanical Engineering at MIT has expanded through the years from its traditional areas to encompass many emerging technologies, ideas, and principles – this breadth allows our department to confront multidisciplinary challenges, while embracing the core principles that have always defined our work.

MechE Stories

Faculty Spotlights

All MechE Faculty

Carlos Portela

Associate Professor

MIT News
A woman with blonde hair, wearing a navy blue and white patterned dress, stands smiling in a bright laboratory filled with scientific equipment, supplies, and shelves in the background.

Ellen Roche

Associate Head for Research, Department of Mechanical Engineering; Abby Rockefeller Mauzé Professor

MIT News

Ask a MechE Engineer

A person kneels on the ground in a field with rows of crops and irrigation hoses, working on a laptop. Mountains are visible in the background under an overcast sky.
A person kneels on a dock, reaching toward a small, yellow, unmanned sailboat on the water. A city skyline with tall buildings is visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Two women smiling and working together on a project; one is holding a hammer while the other holds a chisel on a piece of wood marked with a circle, surrounded by blue tape and craft supplies on the table.
A large group of people in colorful shirts run across the grass in front of the domed Maclaurin building at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with cardboard pieces scattered on the lawn.

Affiliated Research Labs and Centers

In 2.72/2.270 (Elements of Mechanical Design), “if it doesn’t break the laws of physics, it’s possible… you just have to figure out how to engineer it.” Undergraduate and graduate students engage in advanced study of modeling, design, and integration, and explore best practices for use of machine elements like bearings, bolts, belts, flexures, and gears. Students build machines that must meet certain technical and physical standards, including surviving being dropped and hit with a hammer.

Passionate Engineers Apply Here

Create an undergraduate or graduate degree around building.

  1. About MechE (we like to have fun)
  2. Prospective Students
  3. Undergraduate Degrees
  4. MechE Graduate Program