Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering Basics

[Benny]

Hi, I'm wondering if mechanical engineering requires a fairly extensive knowledge of the basics of electrical engineering eg. circuit theory and the practical side of it.

 

[Pseudo Statistic]

It looks like it..
The university I want to go to lists it as one of the first-year courses:
http://www.uq.edu.au/study/plan.html?acad_plan=MECSPX2001

 

[FredGarvin]

Any ME program will have a good 3 or so classes minimum in EE. In today's market you have to know the basics because everything is intermeshing. It's not like you'll sit down and anylize circuit diagrams or anything like that, but there is a lot of theory and knowledge that is just plain day to day language and understanding. For example, in my area, R&D, I work closely with EE's in our data syatems and our engine control systems. I have to know how sensors are implemented and work, PLC's, and basic industrial control schemes for heaters, coolers and such. It is mandatory to know how these things operate for the inevitable breakdowns and troubleshooting of systems. It's not super high end digital stuff, but it's all in an area that is not considered pure ME. Without a basic understanding of electrical engineering, you can be at a real disadvantage depending on where you end up career wise.

Don't be afraid of braanching out and learning something new.

 

[Benny]

Thanks for the responses.

 

[Cyrus]

Im required to take 3 simesters of EE work. Phyiscs 2, and two courses called "electonics and instrumentation", but I would recommend more if possible.

 

[brewnog]

There's so much integration in engineered products these days that it's really useful (as a clanky) to be able to at least converse on the same terms as a sparky. My degree was pure mechanical, but I had 2 compulsory E&E modules, as well as the obligatory computing stuff, and then did a load of control systems, which was more electrical than mechanical. It's not absolutely necessary, but it's bloody useful. I'd feel embarassed at work if I had to approach our sparky just to ask how to calculate the power coming from my genset.