UNM's faculty members and graduate students form a group of scholars with an interest in innovation, creativity, and advanced study. The mechanical engineering programs provide excellent prospects for investigation and for close association among people whose common goal is to broaden the boundaries of their profession.

The graduate programs offered in the department are designed to prepare graduates for professional engineering work in private industry or governmental laboratories or for teaching/research positions. The focus is on the fundamental concepts in the selected research area, with elective and supporting work to complete the study program.