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Mechanical engineers are responsible for the design, manufacture, and proper maintenance of machines and mechanical systems. A machine is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “any device that transmits a force or directs its application,” but a less technical definition is that machines are simply anything that moves or has moving parts. When you consider just how much of our fast-moving world is dependent on these machines, broadly defined, it’s no wonder that this subfield of engineering has been critically important to society since the dawn of the Industrial Age.
Technology has come a long way since the earliest steam engines, of course. Today, mechanical engineers are creating incredibly complex machines to do work across a growing and diverse range of fields, from perennially important industries such as automotive and manufacturing to emerging high-tech areas like aeronautics, biotechnology, and robotics. Mechanical engineering is also shrinking in scale, designing microelectromechanical and even nanoelectromechanical devices and systems that may be invisible to us but are increasingly important to the latest technologies.
Regardless of the scale of the machines in question, the field of mechanical engineering requires core skills across several areas, including calculus, physics, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and more. This background, along with much more specialized knowledge in subject-specific areas, enables mechanical engineers to analyze the physical and environmental forces a machine will encounter during operation and then create designs to enable it to perform its function reliably.
If you are fascinated by how things work and want to build the useful machines of the future yourself, a background in mechanical engineering can be a gateway to an interesting and rewarding career. It also allows you to work in a wide range of industries, as technology creates possibilities for new and innovative solutions to problems in a growing range of areas.
For example, mechanical engineers may work in building services, designing elevator and escalator systems for residential and commercial spaces, conveyor belts and other materials transportation systems for factories, or environmental control systems in more specialized roles as heating and cooling systems engineers. Auto research engineers study ways to improve the fuel efficiency and performance of cars, through new types of suspensions and transmissions, more aerodynamic designs, and new fuels such as biofuels blends, electricity, and hydrogen. And the growing field of biomedical engineering is producing novel devices to address health issues, including nanoscale devices small enough to travel through blood vessels.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, mechanical engineering jobs typically require a bachelor’s degree, and mechanical engineers that sell services to the public must be licensed accordingly. These roles also generally pay well, with a median annual wage of $87,370. However, this median wage can vary significantly depending on what type of work you do; machinery manufacturing roles have a median annual wage of $80,310, while, at the high end, roles in scientific research and development services have a median annual wage of $99,870.
While mechanical engineering may sound like a field that requires hands-on learning, in practice it requires a deep background in theoretical foundations like calculus, physics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and material science. Online courses are available on Coursera to help you build your background in the prerequisites of mechanical engineering as well as in more specialized subjects such as robotics, manufacturing, system design, and quantum mechanics.
The Coursera platform offers students the opportunity to learn mechanical engineering from top-ranked institutions like the Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Minnesota. And the ability to learn on a flexible schedule and at a lower cost than on-campus alternatives can help you fit online learning courses into your schedule as well as your budget - all without sacrificing the quality of your education.
Mechanical engineering courses on Coursera cover a broad array of topics essential to the discipline:
Mechanical engineering courses on Coursera are designed to accommodate learners at different stages of their education and career:
Coursera offers a variety of educational credentials in partnership with accredited institutions:
These credentials are intended to support your career development by helping provide evidence of your knowledge and skills.
Skills gained through mechanical engineering courses on Coursera can lead to diverse and dynamic career opportunities across industries:
Online Mechanical Engineering courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your existing knowledge or learn new Mechanical Engineering skills. With a wide range of Mechanical Engineering classes, you can conveniently learn at your own pace to advance your Mechanical Engineering career.
When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Mechanical Engineering, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here.
Learning program | Description |
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Guided Project | Learn a job-relevant skill that you can use today in under 2 hours through an interactive experience guided by a subject matter expert. Access everything you need right in your browser and complete your project confidently with step-by-step instructions. |
Project | Learn a new tool or skill in an interactive, hands-on environment. |
Course | Take courses from the world's best instructors and universities. Courses include recorded auto-graded and peer-reviewed assignments, video lectures, and community discussion forums. When you complete a course, you’ll be eligible to receive a shareable electronic Course Certificate for a small fee. |
Specialization | Enroll in a Specialization to master a specific career skill. You’ll complete a series of rigorous courses, tackle hands-on projects, and earn a Specialization Certificate to share with your professional network and potential employers. |
Professional Certificate | Whether you’re looking to start a new career or change your current one, Professional Certificates on Coursera help you become job ready. Learn at your own pace from top companies and universities, apply your new skills to hands-on projects that showcase your expertise to potential employers, and earn a career credential to kickstart your new career. |
MasterTrack® Certificate | With MasterTrack® Certificates, portions of Master’s programs have been split into online modules, so you can earn a high quality university-issued career credential at a breakthrough price in a flexible, interactive format. Benefit from a deeply engaging learning experience with real-world projects and live, expert instruction. If you are accepted to the full Master's program, your MasterTrack coursework counts towards your degree. |
Degree | Transform your resume with a degree from a top university for a breakthrough price. Our modular degree learning experience gives you the ability to study online anytime and earn credit as you complete your course assignments. You'll receive the same credential as students who attend class on campus. Coursera degrees cost much less than comparable on-campus programs. |
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