Course 2-A: Customized Curriculum
To borrow the tagline from a famous computer maker's advertising campaign, some of our undergraduate students "think different". In fact, many of them do, and for them MechE offers Course 2-A: SB in Engineering as recommended by the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
This accredited program allows students with unique interests to create their own course of study by supplementing core requirements with 60 units of concentration subjects chosen either to connect MechE with another discipline or to develop a deeper focus in a particular area of MechE. Approximately one-fourth of the MechE student body - some 100 students - are currently enrolled in Course 2-A, and interest in the offering has been growing steadily.
According to Professor John H. Lienhard, MechE's undergraduate officer, "Course 2-A addresses the fast-growing trends in research and technologies at the interface of mechanical engineering and other disciplines such as biomedicine, nanotechnology, electromechanical systems, and neuroscience." Flexibility is the key element - providing undergraduates with the ability to customize a curriculum around their specific research interests - yet MechE helps to facilitate the elective selection process by recommending a variety of tracks that mirror several important areas within MechE. While students are not limited to these tracks, they are designed to help students focus their area of special interest. The tracks include:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Energy Conversion Engineering
- Engineering Management
- Nano/Micro Engineering
- Sustainable Development
- Precision Engineering
- Product Development
- Control, Instrumentation, and Robotics
- Mechanics
Frontiers of learning
"A program like 2-A allows for a curriculum that evolves as technology evolves," says Lienhard. "It takes a complex skills set to solve the complex problems of today. 
For some students, Course 2-A is a strong preparation for graduate study in a focused area. For others, it's an entrée to a professional program, such as medicine, law, or an MBA."
Frequently, and unsurprisingly, some students come up with a curriculum plan that focuses on disciplines for which no formal structure exists, such as building technology, computational engineering, or environmentally sustainable engineering. In such cases, MechE faculty advisors are always available to help students structure their program. Regardless of the form, format, and focus of their studies, each program must include a capstone subject that brings it all together in the application of solving a real-world design problem.
The best way, of course, to understand the reasons and rewards of choosing Course 2-A is to hear it from the mouths and minds of the students themselves.
Laura Martini '08
"I'm doing Course 2-A with a focus in Product Design. My course of study will include classes from the architecture school, aero/astro, computer science, electrical engineering, architecture, higher-level MechE classes, and maybe management. I like 2-A because it allows me to have a greater breadth of knowledge. I don't aspire to be the type of engineer who builds bridges or skyscrapers, so I don't feel that it's necessary for me to take the entire MechE core curriculum. 
I also have very eclectic interests, so I like the fact that 2-A allows me the flexibility to take classes from a wide range of disciplines, while still giving me a solid mechanical engineering foundation.
"Another reason why I chose to pursue product design via MechE rather than another course like architecture is because I like the systematic way that the course teaches you to approach problem-solving. I'm also very hands-on, and I like that you get to go beyond the theoretical level in mechanical engineering."
Michal Ruchelsman '07
"I elected to major in 2-A with a focus on Premed/Biomedical Engineering. I've always had an appreciation for engineering and been interested in biological systems and medicine, particularly the areas of biomechanics, orthopedics, and implant design. I've considered pursuing an M.D., an M.S./Ph.D. in engineering, or even a combination of the two. I knew, therefore, that I wanted to graduate with a strong engineering background but also not limit myself to a specific engineering discipline. The 2-A program seemed like the logical choice. It would equip me with a strong mechanical engineering background, yet also allow me the schedule flexibility necessary to take the classes I'd need to matriculate into medical school.
"In addition to Course 2 classes, my curriculum includes 20.310 [Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Biomechanics], 20.110 [Statistical Thermodynamics of Biomolecular Systems], 3.051 [Materials for Biomedical Applications], 7.05 [Biochemistry], 7.02 [Experimental Biology], 5.12/5.13 [Organic Chemistry I & II], and 5.310 [Laboratory Chemistry]. I hope to also take two graduate classes as a senior: 20.441 [Biomaterials-Tissue Interactions] and 20.451 [Design of Medical Devices and Implants]."
