Is it possible to pass a Mechanical Engineering Degree without doing A Level maths?

Question

I am doing physics, chemistry and biology and got A's in them at AS and am applying to Do mechanical engineering, how difficult could it be?

Answer 1

If you passed a good rigorous physics sequence and can do likewise in a good rigorous calculus sequence, then you have what it takes to get the degree.

Answer 2

You do not need A's in college math to become a mechanical engineer, all you need to do is pass the math courses that you are required to take.

You may never even have to use calculus as a practicing mechanical engineer after you get out of school.
I know very many very successful Engineers who have not ever had to use any of the advanced mathematics that they were required to learn in school, and they all started out as design engineers.

Answer 3

Who would want to employ a mechanical engineer who couldn't do maths? This would seem to be the reason that all mechanical calculations use maths to resolve them. Can you imagine and engineer not being able to calculate the stress and strain in a structure without maths? Would any engineer be able to estimate how many nuts and bolts he would need in a structure if he/she could not add up the number of holes and divide by two to get the number of fixings needed. I would like to know what part you intend that your study of biology will take in youe career as a mechanical engineer.

Answer 4

If you wish to do a Mechanical Engineering degree you'll definitely need to have a good foundation in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry (Thermodynamics), and some Electrical knowledge.

In this course you'll learn a hell of alot in Maths, Physics and Thermo... these 3 modules will get harder each year and more in depth... you'll also take a module starting in your second year called "Control & Instrumentation" with this module finishing in your final year (the year after your placement -- if you decide to do a sandwich course)...

My advice is to pay attention in class - especially in Control as this subject is very mathematically and graphically based. I personally found this module very tough. By your 2nd year you'll realise how every module is linked in a way.

Answer 5

Well, if you got A's in Physics and Chemistry,
you shouldn't have any problems with the
math parts of ME.
The harder part of modern ME is integrated systems.
Where you have to understand traditional ME and
in addition, a lot of modern EE systems, Computer Theory,
and at aleast be compentent with Lasers, Fiber Optics,
and some of the basics at a minimum in Robotics.

Answer 6

BORROWMAN-maybe he/she wants to study bio-mechanical engineering...might want to know a little bit about the human body. I met a few engineering students almost a year ago. They were talking about biology classes I've never heard of. They were bio-mechanical eng. students.

Answer 7

I guess you don't necessarily need A's in math but a good understanding of math is key to a degree in ME. All higher level ME classes involve some form of calculus or differential equations and if you don't have a good understanding of those subjects then you won't have an understanding of the subjects being taught using it.

Answer 8

i would like to ask if it is possible to do engineering as a course at A level

Answer 9

upper division math and science is hard. You'll have to learn calculus and differential equations. You'll spend your last two years in college beating these subjects to death.

Answer 10

Math is the key. You don't necessarily need 'A's but you do need to understand the material; 'B's and 'C's should be okay.