First-Year Exploration
As a first-year student at Harvard College interested in Mechanical Engineering (ME), you have a wealth of opportunities to explore this exciting field. Below is a guide to help you navigate your first year and prepare for a concentration in ME.
Getting Started with Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering is a dynamic discipline that combines principles of physics, mathematics, and engineering to design, analyze, and manufacture mechanical systems. First-year students are encouraged to engage with the ME program early to build a strong foundation for advanced studies.
The sample schedules below show a typical path through the first two-years for a preconcentrator interested in ME. These sample schedules are provided as a guiding example, and students may decide on an alternate path. We strongly recommend that students interested in engineering begin taking mathematics in their first semester and plan to complete their math (through 21b) and physics requirements within the first two years. Leading up to a declaration of the ME during the sophomore year, students will work with concentration advisers to construct an individual degree program that matches their specific interests within ME while simultaneously fulfilling all of the concentration requirements.
First-Year Fall Foundational Math ES 51 or AM 10
| First-Year Spring Foundational Math ES 51 (if needed) Physics |
Sophomore Fall Foundational Math (if needed) Physics AM 10 (if needed) and ES 55 | Sophomore Spring Foundational Math (if needed) Physics (if needed) or ECE 50 ES 120 and ES 55 (if needed) |
Tips for ME students:
- ME students should complete ES 51 by sophomore fall - earlier is better.
- Almost all MechE students take ES 120 in sophomore spring.
Frequently asked questions
- Start taking math (according to placement) and science in your first year
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Talk to a concentration advisor (ADUS) in any of our fields to chat about your options
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Take one of our introductory courses
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Join a SEAS club (HUES, EWB, HURC, etc...)
Students should start math freshman fall according to their placement (i.e., start at Math Ma, 1a, 1b, or Math 21a) and continue each semester until completion of the 21a/b series, which is required of all students. SB students starting in Math 1b and beyond will need to take additional advanced math courses beyond foundational math.
- SB: 20 courses, engineering design courses, including individual capstone design project in ES100 (this is a required thesis), ABET-accredited (for professional licensure)
- AB: 14-16 courses, more flexible requirements, can do research thesis, can do joint concentration
- Term-time: SEAS labs welcome undergraduates to work on research projects during the term
- Can do research for credit with an ES 91r
- During summer: Students regularly join SEAS labs with funding through PRISE, HCRP, HUCE
- Many students participate in research at other universities through NSF REU programs
- Research internships are available through SEAS and national labs. See above.