Plan ahead for courses where students have earned lower grades.
Lowest historical GPA first. At least 100 letter grades over the five years through the selected term. Grades reflect past outcomes, not workload or a guaranteed result.
Historical grades cover up to five years through the selected term. Only courses with at least 100 letter grades are ranked.
ME 363 Fluid Dynamics covers mechanics and thermodynamics applied to fluid statics and dynamics, including potential, viscous, pipe, boundary-layer, and compressible flow analysis.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Workload emphasizes careful homework completion, as exams mirror assignments, though some find tests significantly harder than homework and grading harsh.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ME 340 covers mathematical modeling and analysis of dynamic systems with mechanical, thermal, and fluid elements.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Thelen's homework is straightforward, but Xu's assignments require independent practice because exams often feature in-depth questions not covered in lecture.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Elementary Heat Transfer covers fundamental concepts of conduction, convection, and radiation, along with heat-exchanger principles.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Students report spending considerable time on homework, which involves specific formatting requirements and debugging EES software rather than just conceptual application.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ME 342 teaches the analysis and design of machine elements, covering loads, stresses, fatigue, and power transmission components.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Reviewers describe exams as incredibly long, super hard, or unclear, with one noting sample exams are useless. The group project is reported as time-consuming, and the course relies heavily on a textbook that students find bad.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ME 370 is the Energy Systems Laboratory focusing on experimental evaluation and analysis of energy conversion systems like turbines, compressors, and engines.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The labs require significant work, though it is reported to be difficult to receive a bad grade on them.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ME 361 covers the first and second laws of thermodynamics, properties of gases and vapors, and energy-systems analysis for power and refrigeration cycles.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The course is described as challenging and homework-heavy, with some reviewers noting that exams can be difficult despite the instructor's preparation efforts.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to artificial neural networks and their applications in control, pattern recognition, and prediction.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Kangwook Lee, Pedro Morgado, Yu Hen Hu: The course is consistently described as difficult with a heavy workload, including extensive homework, group projects, and dense theoretical content requiring strong math backgrounds.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026CBE/ME 567 covers radiant energy transfer, solar exchanger energy balances, and the theory, economics, and practice of solar energy applications.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Sanford Klein: Homeworks are described as extremely long, tedious, and time-consuming due to debugging EES software, while exams are fast-paced with insufficient time.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025Introduction to polymer processing and engineering, covering material properties, manufacturing methods, design, performance, recycling, ethics, and modeling techniques.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Tim Osswald: Reviewers report that exams are surprisingly difficult and studying is hard because labs differ significantly from lecture material.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026MATRIX METHODS IN MACHINE LEARNING covers linear algebraic foundations and matrix methods for machine learning applications like classification, clustering, and data analysis.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Reviewers describe the workload as excessive, with heavy weekly homework and four exams. The course is considered difficult, featuring hard proofs and exams that are hard to finish.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ME 446 introduces linear feedback control analysis and design techniques for mechanical systems.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Michael Zinn: The course material is reported as tedious and outdated, with a desire for more state-space methods. The techniques seem very old to some students.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025Introduction to computer-aided engineering, covering mathematical and programmable methods for modeling mechanical shapes, shape processing for manufacturing, and computer-aided analysis of physical properties.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Homework is described as easy, but labs require attention to NX software, and the final exam is noted as tough despite being open book.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to Robotics provides a hands-on overview of key concepts and tools for understanding and developing robotic systems.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
One reviewer states that learning the topic requires significant effort outside of class because the classwork does not provide a good feel for the code.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2025Covers theory of modern instrumentation, experimental design, and data analysis for hypothesis testing and control systems.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Danny Aerts, Scott Sanders: Labs constitute a large portion of the grade and require substantial time for troubleshooting and reports. Reviewers report varying difficulty levels and occasional lack of feedback.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to mechatronics covering DC/AC circuit analysis, linear circuit design for signal processing, and digital logic/programming for embedded systems in mechanical engineering.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Students report high difficulty due to mandatory readings three times a week, tedious labs, and significant time spent outside class preparing for exams.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2023–Spring 2026Examines the solid mechanics of musculoskeletal and cardiovascular tissues, including their normal and pathological behaviors under physiologic loading.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025Covers inspection data, quality control sampling plans, process control charts, and reliability models.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Hantang Qin: Reviewers report varying difficulty levels, with ratings ranging from 1 to 5. The primary concern is the instructor's competence rather than specific workload details.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Covers fundamental principles of internal combustion engine operation, cycle analysis, and the impact of design on air pollution.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Homework is described as easy and not tedious, while exams are considered fair, though assignments help ensure understanding of the material.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025ME 201 introduces mechanical engineering fundamentals including modeling, analysis, design, ethics, and safety.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Gregory Nellis, Kristofer Dressler: The trolley project is the primary workload burden, requiring substantial time and early start dates. While lectures and quizzes are described as easy and collaborative, the group project can be challenging even for teaching staff.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ME 561 covers intermediate thermodynamics, focusing on phase and chemical equilibria, availability, and thermodynamic relationships.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of John Pfotenhauer: Lectures may be derailed by math errors in notes, and grading is described as tough on homework but lenient on exams.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025ME 231 introduces geometric modeling and computer-aided design for mechanical design and manufacturing.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The class is graded on completion with a final group project. Students report needing to learn SolidWorks independently through YouTube or self-study, as lectures do not provide sufficient guidance for the CAD modeling portions.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ME 964 covers special advanced topics in mechanical engineering, including design, manufacturing, and energy.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Allison Mahvi: Homework was challenging but not relentless. The course structure included two exams and a final project with presentations.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Fall 2025Mechanics of Materials Lab covers data processing and experimental testing of tension/compression, creep, fatigue, fracture, composites, combined stress, beam flexure, dynamic loads, and buckling.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The course is rated as low difficulty by one student, but specific workload details or preparation requirements are not described in the available evidence.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ME 549 is a project-oriented, interdisciplinary course focused on the product design process, covering problem identification, detail design, and evaluation of competitive products.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025ME 311 introduces metal manufacturing processes, design for manufacturability, automation, metrology, and engineering economics.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Interdisciplinary experiential design project focusing on detailed design, fabrication, testing, and modification of systems.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ME 601 covers advanced special topics in Mechanical Engineering including vibrations, manufacturing, and energy systems.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Xiaobin Xiong: The syllabus is dense and math-intensive, with exams that can be impossibly hard and homework that may not align with lecture content.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ME 351 is the first course in a sequence where students design and fabricate interdisciplinary systems, focusing on planning, team dynamics, and conceptual design.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Covers the design process for orthopaedic implants, including joint anatomy, loading, materials, and preclinical testing.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025Covers hardware and software solutions for advanced computing in engineering, with hands-on parallel programming assignments.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Dan Negrut: Reviewers note the class involves significant work, particularly weekly programming assignments, but consider them doable with effort.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026