ME Technical Electives

The Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering offers a wide range of upper-level courses designed to increase students’ knowledge and allow them to pursue more advanced career opportunities. View the Mechanical Engineering Graduate and Elective Courses guide to view full descriptions of our current courses.

Exclusions

A class can be applied toward one requirement in your major only. For example, if a class is approved as both a Humanities & Social Sciences elective and a mechanical technical elective, it can only count toward one requirement, not both.
 

Technical elective & graduate courses information, schedule, and instructor PowerPoint (non-exhaustive) 

Graduate Courses PowerPoint and Syllabi Repository (non-exhaustive)

  • 4000-level courses are open to mechanical engineering undergraduate juniors and seniors.
  • 5000-level are open to engineering graduate students and mechanical engineering undergraduate juniors and seniors.
  • 6000-level and above courses are recommended for graduate students. 

Fall 2026 Course Offerings

Classes indicated with the   symbol are approved for the Biomedical Engineering minor.
Classes indicated with the   symbol are approved for the Energy Engineering minor.
Classes indicated with the   symbol are approved for the Materials Science minor.
 

MCEN 4032/5032 Sustainable Energy  
MCEN 4115/5115 Mechatronics 1
MCEN 4131/5131 Air Pollution Control
MCEN 4138/5138 Control Systems Analysis
MCEN 4151/5151 Flow Visualization
MCEN 4155/5155 Automated Mechanical Design Synthesis 
MCEN 4157/5157 Modeling Human Movement  
MCEN 4174/5174 Failure of Engineering Materials  
MCEN 4183/5183 Mechanics of Composite Materials 
MCEN 4228/5228 Surface Forces in Biology 
MCEN 4228/5228 Thermal Systems Analysis and Innovation  
MCEN 4228/5228 3D Printing with Polymers
MCEN 4228/5228 Intellectual Property Law
MCEN 4228/5228 Design of Chocolate
MCEN 4228 Finance for Engineers
MCEN 4291/5291 PBL in Rural Schools
MCEN 5000 Sociotechnical Skills
MCEN 5020 Methods of Engineering Analysis 
MCEN 5021 Fluid Dynamics
MCEN 5023 Solid Mechanics
MCEN 5030 Intro to Research
MCEN 5045 Design for Manufacturability 
MCEN 5055 Advanced Product Design
MCEN 5065 Graduate Design 1
MCEN 5122 Statistical Thermodynamics
MCEN 5228 Membrane Technologies
MCEN 5228 Advanced Computer Vision 
MCEN 5636 Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems 1

If you started your Mechanical Engineering degree at CU Boulder in Summer 2024 or earlier, the following non-MCEN Electives can be counted as ME Tech Electives. If you started your degree in Fall 2024 or later, these are no longer accepted and only MCEN classes can be counted as ME Tech Electives.

Non-MCEN Options

At least one of the two ME Technical Electives must be completed as an MCEN class in the Mechanical Engineering curriculum, and undergraduate students may choose to apply one of the following courses toward an ME Technical Elective:

APPM 4350 Fourier Series and Boundary Value Problems
AREN 4830/AREN 5020 Building Energy Audits
ASTR 3730 Astrophysics 1 - Stellar and Interstellar
ATOC 4720 Atmospheric Dynamics
CHEN 4521 Physical Chemistry for Engineers
COEN 3210 Climate Change and Engineering
CSCI 3287 Design & Analysis of Database Systems
CSCI 3302/ECEN 3303 Intro to Robotics
CSCI 3308 Software Development Methods and Tools

 

CSCI 4229 Computer Graphics
CVEN 4333 Engineering Hydrology
ECEN 3250 Microelectronics
Any 3000+ Engineering Management (EMEN) class
ENEN 4600 Interdisciplinary Energy Engineering Projects   
GEEN 3400 Invention and Innovation
PHYS 3210 Classical Mechanics and Mathematical Methods 2
PHYS 3220 Quantum Mechanics 1
PHYS 3320 Principles of Electricity and Magnetism 2

Classes indicated with the   symbol are approved for the Biomedical Engineering minor.
Classes indicated with the   symbol are approved for the Energy Engineering minor.

MCEN 4012/5012 Renewable Fuels, Fuel Cells, & Internal Combustion Engines  
MCEN 4113/5113 Mechanics of Cancer  
MCEN 4117/5117 Anatomy and Physiology  
MCEN 4133/5133 Intro to Tissue Biomechanics  
MCEN 4135/5135 Wind Turbine Design  
MCEN 4138/5138 Control Systems Analysis
MCEN 4141/5141 Indoor Air Pollution
MCEN 4152/5152 Intro to Combustion  
MCEN 4173/5173 Finite Element Analysis
MCEN 4193/5193 Design of Coffee
MCEN 4215/5215 Design for Inclusion
MCEN 4228/5228 Electromagnetic Energy Conversion
MCEN 4228/5228 Aerodynamics for Mechanical Engineers
MCEN 4228 Climate Action Planning
MCEN 4228/5228  Electromechanical Biomaterial
MCEN 4228/5228 Science of Sports Gear
MCEN 4228/5228 Biohybrid Robotics
MCEN 4228/5228 Advanced Biotransport
MCEN 4228/5228 AI for Engineers
MCEN 4228/5228 Mechatronics 2
MCEN 4231/5231 Computational Fluid Dynamics
MCEN 4279/5279 Aesthetics in Design
MCEN 4291/5291 PBL in Rural Schools
MCEN 5000 Sociotechnical Industry Skills
MCEN 5022 Classical Thermodynamics
MCEN 5024 Materials Chemistry & Structures
MCEN 5042 Grad Heat Transfer
MCEN 5045 Design for Manufacturability
MCEN 5055 Advanced Product Design
MCEN 5075 Grad Design 2
MCEN 5228 Design of Beer
MCEN 5228 Fracture Mechanics
MCEN 5228 Optical Sensing
MCEN 5228 Advanced Dynamics
MCEN 5228 Design Research Theory and Methods
MCEN 5298 Intro to Polymers

Fall 2025 Course Offerings

Classes indicated with the   symbol are approved for the Biomedical Engineering minor.
Classes indicated with the   symbol are approved for the Energy Engineering minor.

MCEN 4032/5032 Sustainable Energy  
MCEN 4110/5110 Regenerative Biology and Tissue Repair  
MCEN 4115/5115 Mechatronics I  
MCEN 4127/5127 Biomedical Ultrasound  
MCEN 4131/5131 Air Pollution Control  
MCEN 4138/5138 Feedback Control
MCEN 4151/5151 Flow Visualization
MCEN 4157/5157 Modeling Human Movement  
MCEN 4174/5174 Failure of Engineering Materials
MCEN 4183/5183 Mechanics of Composite Materials
MCEN 4193/5193 Design of Coffee 
MCEN 4228/5228 Surface Forces of Biology
MCEN 4228/5228 Machine Learning in ME
MCEN 4228/5228 Thermal Systems Analysis and Innovation  
MCEN 4228/5228 3D Printing with Polymers
MCEN 4228/5228 Design of Chocolate
MCEN 4228/5228 Practical Electronics
MCEN 4228/5228-802 Analog Electronic Music (application required, students interested should email Shalom Ruben to apply)
MCEN 4291/5291 PBL in Rural Schools
MCEN 5020 Methods of Engineering Analysis
MCEN 5021 Fluid Dynamics 
MCEN 5023 Solid Mechanics
MCEN 5030 Intro to Research  
MCEN 5045 Design for Manufacturability
MCEN 5055 Advanced Product Design
MCEN 5065 Graduate Design I
MCEN 5228 Climate Engineering
MCEN 5228 Membrane Technologies
MCEN 5228 Intro to Wildfires
MCEN 5228 Introduction to Batteries
MCEN 5228 Advanced Computer Vision
MCEN 5448 Linear Systems
MCEN 5653 Micro Electrical Mechanical Systems
MCEN 6228 Kinetics

Spring 2025 Course Offerings

Classes indicated with the   symbol are approved for the Biomedical Engineering minor.
Classes indicated with the   symbol are approved for the Energy Engineering minor.

MCEN 4012/5012: Renewable Fuels, Fuel Cells and Internal Combustion Engines  
MCEN 4113/5113: Mechanics of Cancer  
MCEN 4117/5117: Anatomy and Physiology  
MCEN 4133/5133: Intro to Tissue Biomechanics  
MCEN 4135/5135: Wind Energy and Wind Turbine Design     
MCEN 4138/5138: Feedback Control
MCEN 4152/5152: Intro to Combustion
MCEN 4173/5173: Finite Element Analysis
MCEN 4193/5193: Design of Coffee  
MCEN 4228/5228-001: Design of Beer
MCEN 4228/5228-002: Mechanics of Snow
MCEN 4228/5228-003: Climate Engineering
MCEN 4228/5228-004: Mechanics of Biological Materials
MCEN 4228/5228-005: Biohybrid Robotics 
MCEN 4228/5228-006: Design Research Theory and Methods
 

MCEN 4228/5228-007: Advanced Biotransport  
MCEN 4228/5228-100: Mechatronics 2
MCEN 4215/5215-800: Design for Inclusion (application required)
MCEN 4231/5231: Computational Fluid Dynamics  
MCEN 4279/5279: Aesthetics in Design
MCEN 4291/5291: Project Based Learning in Rural Schools (see flyer)
MCEN 5022: Classical Thermodynamics
MCEN 5024: Materials Chemistry and Structures
MCEN 5042: Heat Transfer
MCEN 5045: Design for Manufacturability
MCEN 5055: Advanced Product Design (priority goes to MS Design Track students, but students can submit an Intent to Enroll to be considered)
MCEN 5228-009: Advanced Dynamics
MCEN 5228-010: Flexible Electronics
MCEN 5228-011: Environmental Law
MCEN 5298: Introduction to Polymers
MCEN 6228-001: Robust Multivariable Control

Fall 2024 Course Offerings

Classes indicated with the   symbol are approved for the Biomedical Engineering minor.
Classes indicated with the   symbol are approved for the Energy Engineering minor.

MCEN 4032/5032: Sustainable Energy    
MCEN 4115/5115: Mechatronics 1
MCEN 4127/5127: Biomedical Ultrasound   
MCEN 4131/5131 Air Pollution Control Engineering
MCEN 4138/5138: Feedback Control
MCEN 4151/5151: Flow Visualization
MCEN 4155/5155: Automated Mechanical Design Synthesis
MCEN 4157/5157: Modeling of Human Movement    
MCEN 4174/5174: Failure of Engineering Materials
MCEN 4195/5195: Bioinspired Robotics 
MCEN 4/5228-002: Surface Forces in Biology
MCEN 4/5228-004: Machine Learning in Mechanical Engineering
MCEN 4/5228-006: Analog Electronic Music
MCEN 4/5228-007: Continuum Mechanics
MCEN 4/5228-009: Membrane Technologies
 

MCEN 4/5228-100: Design of Chocolate (also available Summer 24)
MCEN 4/5228-200: Practical Electronics
MCEN 4/5193 Design of Coffee   
MCEN 4/5299 Household Energy Systems   
MCEN 4291/5291: PBL in Rural Schools
MCEN 5020: Methods of Engineering Analysis
MCEN 5021: Intro to Fluid Dynamics
MCEN 5023: Solid Mechanics
MCEN 5044: Mechanical Behavior of Materials
MCEN 5055: Advanced Product Design (priority goes to MS Design Track students, but students can submit an Intent to Enroll to be considered)
MCEN 5030: Intro to Research
MCEN 5161: Aerosols   
MCEN 5228-012: Energy Materials Characterization
MCEN 5448: Linear Systems
MCEN 5636: Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems

Spring 2024  Course Offerings

Classes indicated with the   symbol are approved for the Biomedical Engineering minor.
Classes indicated with the   symbol are approved for the Energy Engineering minor.

MCEN 4012/5012 Renewable Fuels, Fuel Cells and Internal Combustion Engines   
MCEN 4113/5113 Mechanics of Cancer   
MCEN 4117/5117 Anatomy and Physiology   
MCEN 4125/5125 Optimal Design
MCEN 4133/5133 Intro to Tissue Biomechanics   
MCEN 4135/5135 Wind Energy and Wind Turbine Design   
MCEN 4138/5138 Feedback Control
MCEN 4171/5171 Biofluids on the Micro Scale
MCEN 4173/5173 Finite Element Analysis
MCEN 4193/5193 Design of Coffee   
MCEN 4195/5195 Bioinspired Robotics   
MCEN 4228/5228-003 Fluid Mechanics in the Human Body   
MCEN 4228/5228-006 Thin Film Materials
MCEN 4228/5228-011 Mechanics of Snow

 

MCEN 4228/5228-100 Mechatronics 2
MCEN 4228/5228-801 Design for Inclusion (application required)
MCEN 4231/5231 Computational Fluid Dynamics   
MCEN 4238 Design for Community
MCEN 4279/5279 Aesthetics in Design
MCEN 4291/5291 Project Based Learning in Rural Schools (see flyer)   
MCEN 5022 Classical Thermodynamics
MCEN 5024 Materials Chemistry and Structures
MCEN 5042 Heat Transfer
MCEN 5045 Design for Manufacturability
MCEN 5055 Advanced Product Design (priority goes to MS Design Track students, but students can submit an Intent to Enroll to be considered)
MCEN 5228-005 Fracture Mechanics
MCEN 5228-007 Advanced Dynamics
MCEN 5298 Introduction to Polymers

Fall 2023 Course Offerings

Classes indicated with the symbol are approved for the Biomedical Engineering minor.
Classes indicated with the  symbol are approved for the Energy Engineering minor.

MCEN 4032/5032: Sustainable Energy 
MCEN 4115/5115: Mechatronics 1
MCEN 4127/5127: Biomedical Ultrasound
MCEN 4131/5131 Air Pollution Control Engineering
MCEN 4138/5138: Feedback Control
MCEN 4141/5141: Indoor Air Pollution
MCEN 4151/5151: Flow Visualization
MCEN 4152/5152: Intro to Combustion 
MCEN 4157/5157: Modeling of Human Movement 
MCEN 4174/5174: Failure of Engineering Materials
MCEN 4195/5195: Bioinspired Robotics 
MCEN 4228-001: Thermal Systems, Analysis, and Innovation 
MCEN 4228/5228-002: Practical Electronics
MCEN 4228/5228-004&005: Design of Coffee

MCEN 4228/5228-021: Intro to Nanoscale Transport
MCEN 4238: Design for Community
MCEN 4291/5291: PBL in Rural Schools* (see flyer)
MCEN 4293/5293: Mechanics of Soft Matter
MCEN 5020: Methods of Engineering Analysis
MCEN 5021: Intro to Fluid Dynamics
MCEN 5023: Solid Mechanics
MCEN 5044: Mechanical Behavior of Materials
MCEN 5055: Advanced Product Design (priority goes to MS Design Track students, but students can submit an Intent to Enroll to be considered)
MCEN 5183: Mechanics of Composite Materials
MCEN 5208: Intro to Research
MCEN 5228-001: Regenerative Biology and Tissue Repair
MCEN 5448: Linear Systems

Spring 2023 Course Offerings

Classes indicated with the   symbol are approved for the Biomedical Engineering minor.
Classes indicated with the   symbol are approved for the Energy Engineering minor.

MCEN 4012/5012 Renewable Fuels, Fuel Cells and Internal Combustion Engines   
MCEN 4113/5113 Mechanics of Cancer   
MCEN 4117/5117 Anatomy and Physiology   
MCEN 4131/5131 Air Pollution Control Engineering   
MCEN 4133/5133 Intro to Tissue Biomechanics   
MCEN 4135/5135 Wind Energy and Wind Turbine Design   
MCEN 4138/5138 Feedback Control
MCEN 4173/5173 Finite Element Analysis
MCEN 4195/5195 Bioinspired Robotics   
MCEN 4228/5228-002 Design for Inclusion
MCEN 4228/5228-004 Multiphase Flows
MCEN 4228/5228-006 Industrial Automation
MCEN 4228/5228-011 Mechanics of Snow
MCEN 4228/5228-014 Design of Coffee
MCEN 4231/5231 Computational Fluid Dynamics  

MCEN 4238 Design for Community
MCEN 4279/5279 Aesthetics in Design
MCEN 4291/5291 Project Based Learning in Rural Schools (see flyer)
MCEN 4292/5292 Materials and Devices in Medicine   
MCEN 5022 Classical Thermodynamics
MCEN 5024 Materials Chemistry and Structures
MCEN 5042 Heat Transfer
MCEN 5045 Design for Manufacturability
MCEN 5055 Advanced Product Design (priority goes to MS Design Track students, but students can submit an Intent to Enroll to be considered)
MCEN 5228-001 Mass Transport Phenomena for Materials & Membranes
MCEN 5228-009 Optical Sensing
MCEN 5298 Introduction to Polymers