Overview of the Department

An Overview of Mechanical Engineering at Berkeley

Department History and Statistics
The Department of Mechanical Engineering was established when the University of California was founded in 1868. The Department, first called the College of Mechanics, was one of the five original colleges at Berkeley. Starting with five faculty and an entering class of two students in 1873, the Department has grown to 44 regular faculty, 500 undergraduate students and 275 graduate students.
The Department graduates about 1% of the nation's BS degrees in mechanical engineering, about 5% of the MS degrees and 8% of the PhD degrees.

Disciplines
Mechanical Engineering includes the science and art of the formulation, design, development, and control of systems and components involving thermodynamics, mechanics, fluid mechanics, mechanisms, and the conversion of energy into useful work. The mechanical engineer needs a thorough preparation in mathematics, physics, chemistry, manufacturing processes, properties of materials, mechanics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, as well as intensive design and laboratory experience. The program of study includes basic subjects common to all engineering fields, fundamental subjects important to all mechanical engineers and specialization in one or more phases of mechanical engineering.
See the Undergraduate Study and Graduate Study pages for futher details.

Bioengineering
Controls and Robotics
Design, Manufacturing and Materials
Dynamics and Dynamic Systems
Fluid Mechanics
Ocean Engineering
Solid Mechanics
Thermosciences

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