Courses Mehanical Engineers should take

Core Mechanical Engineering Subjects

These courses deal directly with the analysis, design, and manufacturing of mechanical systems:

Engineering Mechanics (Statics and Dynamics):
- Statics: Focuses on the analysis of forces on non-moving bodies or systems in equilibrium.
- Dynamics: Focuses on the study of motion and the forces that cause that motion (kinematics and kinetics).
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Thermodynamics: The study of energy, heat, and work, and the relationships between them. This is crucial for understanding engines, power plants, and HVAC systems.
Fluid Mechanics: Studies the behavior of fluids (liquids and gases) at rest (statics) and in motion (dynamics). It's essential for designing pumps, pipelines, and airfoils.
Materials Science and Engineering (or Mechanics of Materials): Focuses on the structure, properties, and processing of engineering materials (like metals, polymers, and composites) and how they deform or fail under stress and strain.
Heat Transfer: Studies the mechanisms by which thermal energy is exchanged between physical systems: conduction, convection, and radiation.
Machine Design: Involves the application of mechanics and materials science to design and analyze individual machine components (like shafts, gears, bearings, and joints) for strength and reliability.
Manufacturing Processes: Covers the techniques used to transform raw materials into final products, including processes like machining, casting, welding, and forming.

In addition to the core mechanical topics, an engineer needs strong foundational skills:

Engineering Mathematics: Includes calculus (differential and integral), linear algebra, differential equations, and probability/statistics, all essential for solving complex engineering problems.
Engineering Graphics/Design: Teaches the principles of technical drawing and the use of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software to create 2D and 3D models of components and assemblies.
Physics and Chemistry: These sciences provide the underlying principles for all engineering disciplines.

As you progress, courses that build immediately on these basics often include:

Kinematics and Dynamics of Machines: A deeper dive into the motion and forces in complex mechanisms.
Vibration and Control Systems: Analyzing and mitigating unwanted vibrations and designing systems to control machine behavior.

Here is a video from YouTube that gives an introductory overview of the field: Mechanical Engineering Explained.