Online Mechanical Engineering Courses Overview

Online mechanical engineering classes teach students how machines and materials function in integrated mechanical systems. These classes usually fulfill undergraduate and graduate degree requirements. Businesses and professional associations also offer online classes that provide continuing education units for specialized or advanced study.

Overview of Online Mechanical Engineering Courses

Online mechanical engineering courses usually satisfy some requirements for undergraduate degrees such as a Bachelor of Manufacturing Management or Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Technology. The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Master of Science in Engineering Technology are graduate degrees with similar, advanced classes that may be taken via the Internet.
Other engineering programs may accept mechanical engineering courses as electives. These may result in the Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering, Master of Science in Industrial Engineering or Master of Civil Engineering.

General Requirements for Online Courses

Courses with intensive graphic content require a high-speed connection and high-quality printers. Some classes need additional software like a computer-assisted drawing program; schools either include the cost of such software in the course price or specify an additional purchase. When classes require experience with differential equations, linear algebra and calculus, institutions usually recommend using specific calculators.
Courses may also require specific animation and video programs such as Flash. Internet phone and instant-messaging applications are also useful for communication purposes, especially when completing online laboratory work.

Sample List of Online Mechanical Engineering Courses

Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering Course

The basic concepts of machine operation and mechanical system design form the crux of this class. Students learn the physical properties of force, motion, stress and elasticity. They also study the principles of equilibrium, compatibility and the behavior of materials while applying modeling techniques to manufacturing theory and processes.

Applied Thermodynamics in Mechanical Engineering Course

Instructors teach the basics of Newton's Laws of Thermodynamics and demonstrate how they govern closed and open mechanical systems. Class topics include energy, work, phase equilibriums and conservation of mass.

Failure Analysis and Quality Control Course

Attendees examine the causes and effects of material and component failure on mechanical systems. They learn both theoretical and practical techniques to identify, predict and prevent deformation, fatigue, wear, creep, corrosion and fracturing. Students also discover how to weigh costs against benefits by assessing risk, reviewing reliability studies, mapping failure-based decision trees and analyzing other cost-benefit data.

Applied Mechatronics Course

The curriculum for this class combines electronics, computer science and mechanical engineering to teach how microcontrollers and processors govern mechanical systems. Students balance theoretical application and practical hardware implementation to define optimal operating parameters. They examine mechatronic system design and master modeling and analysis of dynamic systems. Some of the concepts and components covered include digital logic, aliasing, quantization, actuators and sensors.