The focus area (FA) is a set of 21 semester hours (s.h.) of elective courses taken during the sophomore to senior years that provide undergraduate students in the ME department with a unique opportunity to acquire advanced education in an area of their choice. FAs are not only intended to spark the interest of students in a specialty, but they can also make a student more attractive to future employers.

An FA must be rigorous, well focused, in-depth, and consistent with a student's career plan. A collection of lower level courses in a number of disparate areas will not satisfy this FA requirement. Consequently, approval of a student's FA by the department is generally required. A Plan of Study form, described in greater detail below, facilitates the process of choosing and obtaining approval for the FA courses.

In order to maintain some technical rigor and depth, FAs must contain at least 9 s.h. of upper level* College of Engineering courses. However, this requirement may be waived if the FA consists of an in-depth program in mathematics, computer science, the physical sciences, or the natural/health sciences, with an equivalent component of upper level* courses. This requirement is also waived if an official UI minor or UI certificate program is completed.

Students are urged to integrate their FA with internships or cooperative education experiences they may be taking as part of their undergraduate studies. Furthermore, an FA may be complemented by courses taken as part of the General Education Component (GEC) requirement. If a focus in the humanities or social sciences is desired in an FA, up to 12 s.h. of GEC courses should be used. The remaining balance of FA courses may be used as technical electives or toward a second focus area, consistent with the above FA requirements.

There are two types of FAs:

  • Standard FAs (S-FA) are programs that are designed and pre-approved by the department and are periodically reviewed. Each S-FA has a faculty member as a coordinator who can advise a student in more detail.
  • Tailored FAs (T-FA) are individualized and career specific programs designed by the student and approved by the department.

The plan of study facilitates the process of choosing and obtaining approval for the courses for the FA. During the first academic year on campus, all undergraduate students consult with their advisor and begin to develop a tentative plan of study. The plan of study is further finalized during the third semester. The Sophomore Seminar (third semester) is used to explain FA choices. The plan of study:

  • Identifies the career goal
  • Identifies the courses to be taken as the 21 s.h. of FA electives
  • Presents the rationale for how the electives support the career goal; the student should provide any necessary supporting material
  • Is signed by the student and the advisor; if a student is pursuing a T-FA or deviating from the approved courses for an S-FA, the plan of study must also be approved by the department chair
  • Must be completed in advance of taking any FA courses
  • Is placed in the student's official file
  • May be altered at any time during the undergraduate program; any changes must be approved by completing a new plan of study

*Upper-level mechanical engineering courses are defined as ME courses numbered 4100 or above. However, upper-level courses in other College of Engineering departments may also have 3000 numbers in some cases. Students should consult their advisors for clarification on whether or not a non-ME course is classified as upper-level. See also the policy for numbering of ME courses.

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ME Focus Areas (FA)