First-Year Exploration
As a first-year student at Harvard College interested in Mechanical Engineering, 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 Mechanical Engineering.
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 MechE 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 MechE. These sample schedules are provided as a guiding example, and students may decide on an alternate path. We strongly recommend that students interested in any of the engineering areas begin taking mathematics in their first semester and plan to complete their math, chemistry, and physics requirements within the first two years. Leading up to a declaration of the Mechanical Engineering during the sophomore year, students will work with concentration advisers to construct an individual degree program that matches their specific interests within MechE while simultaneously fulfilling all of the concentration requirements.
|
First-Year Fall Foundational Math ES 51 or CS 50
|
First-Year Spring Foundational Math ES 51 (if needed) or ES 54 Physics |
|
Sophomore Fall Foundational Math (if needed) Physics CS 50 (if needed) |
Sophomore Spring Foundational Math (if needed) Physics (if needed) ES 54 (if needed) ES 120 |
Tips for MechE students:
- MechE students should complete ES 51 by sophomore fall
- Almost all MechE students take ES 120 in sophomore spring