Certificate of Undergraduate Studies

For ME CUGS, students must complete at least four (4) courses (12 sch), of which no more than two (2) courses (6 sch) may be counted towards a degree, certificate, or another Rowan credential.

Courses and Substitute Courses for CUGS

Mechanical Engineering students interested in the Certificate of Undergraduate Studies can sign up at the beginning of the fall semester via a link that Prof. Amadoro sends out in an email. Students should be in their Senior year of the program when they sign up. The Certificate of Undergraduate Studies will then be added to the student's profile. Students who are not Mechanical Engineering majors can email Prof. Amadoro at amadoro@rowan.edu. The Mechanical Engineering Department offers CUGS in the following areas:

• Advanced Engineering Materials
• Advanced Manufacturing
• Aerospace Engineering
• Automotive Engineering
• Mechatronics
• Soft Robotics

Students who wish to receive a paper certificate should complete the Certificate of Completion Processing Form and submit to the registrar after grades are posted.  Those that were already approved for the CUGS do not need to obtain the signature in Part IV.  

CUGS in Advanced Engineering Materials

The CUGS in Advanced Engineering Materials will allow students to increase the depth and breadth of knowledge in materials for engineering, especially mechanical engineering, applications. The CUGS will offer students an opportunity to learn critical material properties, processes, characterization, and applications in engineering materials. It will allow students to learn in-depth knowledge of a wide variety of materials such as composites, nanomaterials, energy materials, and the latest materials used in additive manufacturing. 

Students must complete two courses (6 cr) from the following list:

• ENGR 01.283 Materials Science and Manufacturing (3 cr)
• ENGR 10.412 Introduction to Nanotechnology (3 cr)
• ME 10.460 Introduction to Composite Materials (3 cr)

Students must complete two courses (6 cr) from the following list:

• ENGR 10.413 Introduction to Renewable Energy (3 cr)
• ME 10.440 Introduction to Advanced Manufacturing (3 cr)
• ChE 06.466 Polymer Processing (3 cr)
• MSE 00.510 Structure, Symmetry and Properties of Materials (3 cr)
• Other approved engineering materials-related courses by the advisor

The CUGS requires two courses that are not being counted towards another degree, minor, CUGS, or certification (i.e. two stand alone courses counting only for that CUGS).

Faculty contact for CUGS in Advanced Engineering Materials: Dr. Wei Xue

CUGS in Advanced Manufacturing

• ENGR 01.283 Materials Science and Manufacturing (3 cr)
• ME 10.342 Quality and Reliability (3 cr)
• ME 10.440 Introduction to Advanced Manufacturing (3 cr)

• ME 10.474 Introduction to Additive Manufacturing and Characterization (3 cr)
• ME 10466 Introduction to Soft Robotics (3 cr)
• ME10.442 Mechatronics (3 cr)
• ME10.401 Introduction to Computer Integrated Manufacturing and Automation (3 cr)
• ME 10.460 Introduction to Composite Materials (3 cr)

Faculty contact for CUGS in Advanced Manufacturing: Dr. Anu Osta

CUGS in Aerospace Engineering

The total number of credits for this CUGS is 12 credits consisting of four (4) courses from the list below. These courses currently serve as Senior Electives in the Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Departments. Students pursuing the CUGS must take at least two of the approved courses (6 credits) in addition to their normal Senior Elective requirement. A list of courses may be updated in the future. Administrating program faculty may approve or add courses to the list.

The current list of approved courses includes:

ME Courses:

• ME 10.482 Intro to Flight Dynamics (3 cr)
• ME 10.481 Intro to Aerodynamics (3 cr)
• ME 10.480 Intro to Aerospace Vehicles (3 cr)
• ME 10.462 Intro to FEA with ANSYS (3 cr)
• ME 10.453 Intro to Analytical Dynamics (3 cr)
• ME 10.446 Auto Engineering – Vehicle Dynamics (3 cr)
• ME 10.422 Intro to Computational Fluid Dynamics (3 cr)
• ME 10.412 Intro to Gas Dynamics
• ME 10.411 Intro to Combustion (3 cr)

ECE Courses:

• ECE 09.473 Smart Sensors (3 cr)
• ECE 09.456 Embedded Software Design (3 cr)
• ECE 09.427 Intro to Model-Based Systems Engineering (3 cr)
• ECE 09.426 Intro to Weapons Systems (3 cr)
• ECE 09.425 Intro to Command and Control (3 cr)
• ECE 09.423 Intro to Radar Systems (3 cr)
• ECE 09.422 Systems and Control II (3 cr)
• ECE 09.421 Intro to Systems Engineering (3 cr)
• ECE 09.409 Intro to Virtual Reality (3 cr)
• ECE 09.402 Special Topics: Rocketronics (3 cr)

The CUGS requires two courses that are not being counted towards another degree, minor, CUGS, or certification (i.e., two stand-alone courses counting only for that CUGS).

Faculty contact for CUGS in Aerospace Engineering: Dr. Francis Haas

CUGS in Automotive Engineering

This CUGS will offer students the chance to increase their knowledge in the rapidly growing fields of automotive engine design, alternative vehicle powertrains, vehicle dynamics, and vehicle manufacturing. The program is particularly relevant with recent advancements in gasoline, diesel, hybrid electric, and battery electric powertrains, as well as in active suspensions, active vehicle dynamics/safety systems, and autonomous vehicles. This CUGS will be attractive to students who already have fundamental knowledge in Mechanical Engineering. Program entry requires PHYS 00.220.

Students must complete three required courses (9 cr):

• ME10.444 Automotive Engineering 1 - Internal Combustion Engines* (3 cr)
• ME10.445 Automotive Engineering 2 - Powertrains* (3 cr)
• ME10.446 Automotive Engineering 3 – Vehicle Dynamics* (3 cr)

Students must complete one course (3 cr) from the following list:

• ME10.401 Introduction to Computer Integrated Manufacturing and Automation
• ME10.411 Introduction to Combustion
• ME10.422 Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics
• ME10.440 Introduction to Advanced Manufacturing
• ME10.442 Mechatronics
• ME10.462 Intro to FEA with ANSYS
• ME10.443 Design for X
• ENGR10.413 Introduction to Renewable Energy 

*Pre-requisites for required courses:

• ME 10.444 Internal Combustion Engines – ENGR 01.291, ME 10.301
• ME 10.445 Powertrains – ME 10.301
• ME 10.446 Vehicle Dynamics – ENGR 01.291

The CUGS requires two courses that are not being counted towards another degree, minor, CUGS, or certification (i.e. two stand alone courses counting only for that CUGS).

Faculty contact for CUGS in Automotive Engineering: Dr. Krishan Bhatia

CUGS in Mechatronics

This CUGS in Mechatronics will offer the students an opportunity to increase their breadth and depth of knowledge on Mechatronics, a fast-evolving field that has wide applications on all disciplines of engineering. This CUGS will be attractive to students who may have fundamental knowledge in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Computer Science/Engineering, but may need additional skills and formal education in the field of Mechatronics.

Students must complete one course (3-4 cr) from the following list:

• ME 10.345 Dynamic Systems & Control (4 cr)
• ECE 09.205 Principles and Applications of ECE for Nonmajors* (3 cr)
• ECE 09.321 Systems & Control I** (3 cr)

Students must complete one course (3 cr) from the following list:

• ME 10.442 Mechatronics (3 cr)

Students must complete two courses (6 cr) from the following list:

• ME 10.456 Introduction to Special Topics in Mechatronics
• ME 10.401 Introduction To Computer Integrated Manufacturing And Automation
• ME 10466 Introduction to Soft Robotics
• CS 07.310 Robotics*
• CS 06.420 Embedded Systems Programming*
• ECE 09.342 Introduction to Embedded Systems**
• ECE 09.404 Principles of Biomedical Systems and Devices**
• ECE 09.473 Smart Sensors**

* These courses are primarily for students pursuing the CS major. Students may need to take additional courses to satisfy pre-requisite requirements of these courses.

** These courses are primarily for students pursuing the ECE major. Students may need to take additional courses to satisfy pre-requisite requirements of these courses.

The CUGS requires two courses that are not being counted towards another degree, minor, CUGS, or certification (i.e. two stand alone courses counting only for that CUGS).

Faculty contact for CUGS in Mechatronics: Dr. Hong Zhang

CUGS in Soft Robotics

The CUGS in Soft Robotics will offer students an opportunity to learn the concepts, principles, systems, and applications of soft robotics. Soft robotics, a fast-growing subfield under robotics, focuses on robots made of soft materials. Many innovations in soft robotics have been inspired by elements and systems in nature, especially animals’ soft structures. In comparison to the traditional rigid-body robots, soft robots can better adapt to unpredictable environments to perform challenging tasks due to their inherent flexibility.

Students will be required to complete one required course (3 cr):

• ME10.466 Introduction to Soft Robotics

Students must complete two courses (6-7 cr) from the following list:

• ME10.345 Dynamic Systems & Control (4 cr)
• ME10.442 Mechatronics (3 cr)
• ECE09.321 Systems and Control I* (3 cr)
• ECE09.342 Introduction to Embedded System* (3 cr)

Students must complete one course (3 cr) from the following list:

• ME10.456 Introduction to Special Topics in Mechatronics (3 cr)
• ME10.470 Introduction to Biomechanics (3 cr)
• CS07.310 Robotics (3 cr)
• ECE09.455 Machine Learning* (3 cr)
• ECE09.456 Embedded Software Design* (3 cr)
• ECE09.473 Smart Sensors* (3 cr)
• ECE09.486 Introduction to Portable Platform Development* (3 cr)
• These courses are primarily for students pursuing the ECE major. Students may need to take additional courses to satisfy pre-requisite requirements of these courses.

The CUGS requires two courses that are not being counted towards another degree, minor, CUGS, or certification (i.e. two stand alone courses counting only for that CUGS).

Faculty contact for CUGS in Soft Robotics: Dr. Mitja Trkov