MECH Undergraduate Program FAQs

What is the difference between the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree and the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in MECH?
The B.S. degree (ABET accredited) is for students who want to be a practicing engineer while the B.A. degree is for students who do not want to be a practicing engineer (e.g., will go to medical, law or business school, etc.).

Is it possible to double major with MECH?
Yes, double majoring with MECH is possible. However, this will require careful and advanced planning with your major advisors. For more information, refer to the Office of Academic Advising’s website:
https://oaa.rice.edu/academic-planning/majors-and-minors/double-major-and-dual-degree

How do I declare my major to MECH?
Refer the MECH website for instructions on declaring your major:
https://mech.rice.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/advising (to be updated)

What is Catalog (or GA) Year?
Students enrolled in bachelor’s programs may choose to follow the graduation general and program requirements in effect for any academic year between their matriculation and graduation. This is known as the GA Year, or Catalog Year in the university's degree audit system, Degree Works.

How do I change my Catalog Year?
Send an email to registrar@rice.edu. You should not make this request without first discussing this option with a major (or minor or university certificate) advisor. The What-If Analysis in Degree Works can assist with this decision.

What are open electives?
Open electives are any courses outside of your MECH required courses and distributive elective courses, including AP credits, courses counting toward a minor and research for credit.

How do I transfer credits for a MECH course?
You first need to obtain permission from the instructor of the MECH-equivalent course and complete a Transfer Credit Pre-Approval Form prior to registering in the non-Rice course. Only courses offered by ABET-accredited Mechanical Engineering programs in the U.S. or ABET-equivalent-accredited engineering programs outside the U.S. are eligible for transfer credit. Refer to the MECH website to download the Transfer Credit Pre-Approval Form:
URL (to be created)

Why can’t I register for MECH 200, MECH 371, MECH 407 or MECH 408?
Students wanting to register for these courses must first complete the MECH Advising Session in Canvas to obtain a special registration form. If you are not already enrolled, contact mech@rice.edu to request to be enrolled in the Canvas course and include your class standing. You must complete all your assigned modules in sequence and finish the quiz at the end. You have unlimited tries and time, but you must score 100% on the quiz to obtain a completion certificate. Email your name, student ID, requested course (MECH 200/371/407/408) and completion certificate to mech@rice.edu. A MECH staff member will email you back a signed Undergraduate Request for Registration Restriction Override or Special Registration form, which you will need to complete and submit to the Office of the Registrar.

Can I register for a course that is full or has a time conflict with another course?
Generally, no. However, you are welcome to contact the instructor to request special permission to register for the course due to extraordinary circumstances. If the course has a wait-list, you can sign up for the wait-list in ESTHER (you must meet the prerequisites and restrictions associated with the course).

Can I change my Area of Specialization?
Yes, you can change your Area of Specialization at any time, even after initially declaring the major. To do so, send an email to registrar@rice.edu from your official Rice email address. Approval from the department (i.e., the signature of the advisor and/or department chair) is not required to change your specialization.

Can I register for a course without having taken all of the prerequisites?
No, all prerequisites must be completed prior to registering for a course due to ABET guidelines.

Can I register for a prerequisite course concurrently with the primary course that I want to enroll in?
Only prerequisite courses indicated as “(may be taken concurrently)” in the General Announcements (GA) can be taken concurrently with the primary course.

Can I take MECH 343/341, MECH 350 or MECH 481 concurrently with MECH 407?
No, in order to take MECH 407, you need to have already completed MECH 343/341, MECH 350 and MECH 481. It is possible to take MECH 342 concurrently with MECH 407.

Who is my assigned MECH advisor?
Refer to the MECH website for current MECH advisors:
https://mech.rice.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/advising

When is the best time to study abroad for MECH?
The second semester of junior year (or summer) often works best for studying abroad. With sufficient AP/transfer credit, the first semester of sophomore year is the second best option.

How can I transfer credit for courses taken during study abroad?
Courses must be pre-approved by the study abroad advisor at Rice in order to have the course count toward a degree requirement (Dr. Trevas, dat7@rice.edu, for MECH courses).

Does MECH offer a fifth-year master's degree option?
Yes, current MECH undergraduate students have an option to pursue a Master of Mechanical Engineering (MME) degree by adding an additional fifth year to their four years of undergraduate studies. For more information, refer to the General Announcements and MECH websites:
https://ga.rice.edu/programs-study/departments-programs/engineering/mechanical-engineering/mechanical-engineering-mme/#opportunitiestext
https://mech.rice.edu/academics/graduate-programs/professional-masters-program/about-mme

What scholarship/fellowship opportunities are available for undergraduate students?
Scholarship/fellowship opportunities are advertised in the MECH UG listserv. Refer to the Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry, School of Engineering and Computing, and Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies websites for more information:
https://ouri.rice.edu/research-programs
https://engineering.rice.edu/academics/student-awards-scholarships
https://graduate.rice.edu/resources/search-fellowships

What is the procedure for Curricular Practical Training (CPT)?
Please refer to the Office of International Students and Scholars’s website for more information about CPT:
https://oiss.rice.edu/cpt

I am a rising senior and would like to propose a Capstone Project. How should I go about doing so?
Please contact Dr. Trevas, dat7@rice.edu.