ME 101Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Practice 2
- Units
- 0.75
- Faculty
- Engineering
- Subject
- Mechanical Engineering
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 4 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
This course is a continuation of ME 100 and is aimed at reinforcing the concepts related to technical communications, professionalism, and professional development, with emphasis on mechanical engineering concepts and practical examples. The fundamentals of programming are a significant component of this course, focusing on digital computing, and basic programming and algorithm writing. Programming examples are drawn from mechanical engineering.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Must have completed the following:
- ME100 - Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Practice 1 (0.75)
- Students must be in level 1B or higher
- Enrolled in H-Mechanical Engineering
- Must have completed the following:
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 4646 | 0 / 140 | MWF 09:30–10:20 MWF 09:30–10:20 Jan 19 13:30–14:20 Feb 9 13:30–14:20 Mar 23 13:30–14:20 Feb 24 08:30–10:20 |
| LEC 701 | 1874 | 0 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| LAB 201 | 4648 | 0 / 70 | Th 09:30–11:20 Th 09:30–11:20 Th 13:30–16:50 Th 13:30–16:50 |
| LAB 202 | 4649 | 0 / 70 | T 09:30–11:20 T 09:30–11:20 Th 13:30–16:50 Th 13:30–16:50 |
| TUT 101 | 4647 | 0 / 140 | M 13:00–14:20 M 13:00–14:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
83% liked it68% easy80% useful
From 100 ratings and 19 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
This class teaches the basics. If you know how to code its kinda boring but if not its well paced and it gives a good fondation.
Jul 2023 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
If you're good at programming then this class will probably be a breeze for you. If you're not then you'll be able to catch on quickly for the most part as it doesn't go too far in depth. Spend lots of time on your group project to get a good grade. RobotC sucks, for the love of god please change it to arduino. Btw the languages were RobotC, C++, and MATLAB.
May 2023 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
The course is divided into Programming and Design. The design part, unlike ME 100's DCAP, is genuinely useful. However, the programming part might seem unnecessary if you have prior programming experience. Being paired for assignments with someone who knows nothing about coding really sucks. Furthermore, C++ is not a great beginner language; Python would have been a better choice. ROBOTC is a useless skill for your resume and MATLAB's inclusion for just two weeks feels inadequate. Restructuring the course with Python by delving into OOP and Front-End stuff would be better.
May 2023 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
The sequel to ME100 is significantly better, but still flawed in many ways. This time the course is split up into design and analysis and programming. Programming is actually pretty decent. The only real downside is that you'll often be marked exceedingly hard and docked marks over ridiculous things. The assignments are quite long and challenging, but can be quite rewarding once completed. However, the same could not be said about design and analysis. It seems cool at first to build a project with a team. However, most of the time spent quickly goes towards writing really long reports every week. It basically turns into ME100 again. You may have to vastly approximate calculations just to…
Aug 2016 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Overall reasonable course. Split between mechanical design and programming, programming is definitely the focus and what's more difficult. Learned c++ and programming for VEX robots, the former being more useful. The semester long project is a combination of design and programming with the VEX robot. This means VEX programming is necessary. The midterm was crazy difficult, the final was more reasonable, just very long. Overall this course was a significant time commitment, taught basic programming, and had an interesting project.
Apr 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
35 posts and comments in 26 threads mention ME 101, March 2015 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Winter 2024
programming in eng 6 points, 11 comments
“i'm assuming that all eng students need to take an intro to programming course. can someone tell me what language is taught? …”
u/vincentt456: “In Mech, you learn C++ in ME101. It's extremely easy though, and ChatGPT wasn't even a thing back when I took it.”
u/i-cant-cantaloupe: “In ME 101 it’s mostly C++ but you also do RobotC to program the Lego EV3 robots. And there’s also a very brief portion on MATLAB but that only 1-2 weeks”
Spring 2023
MECH ENG Waterloo stream 4 co op 1 point, 4 comments
“Hi! Im an incoming first year going into mechanical engineering. What can i do now/during the fall term to increase my chances of getting a co op in winter? …”
u/ThisTookSomeTime: “Learn CAD software, either solidworks, fusion, or inventor. AutoCAD can be helpful too but not exclusively. Learn how to make a dimensioned drawing. A bit of arduino and python knowledge is helpful too. That’ll also help you in ME 100/101”
Winter 2023
How do Antirequisites Work? 4 points, 9 comments
“Suppose it says under course As description that course B is an antirequisite, but under course Bs description it doesn't say that course A is an antirequisite. …”
u/Muted-Goose-5011: “If you take course B first, you cannot take course A. But if you take A first you can take B”
u/Longjumping_Shoe7072: “… Also, how is something like ME 101 an antirequisite to CS 135 and not the other way around when the CS course literally covers everything in the ME course but with more theoretical depth and one doing CS first then ME would probably ace the ME course if they manage to override …”
Spring 2022
For Strem 4 Mech eng people (and others if they have MATH 118 , ME 105 or ME 101) 0 points, 5 comments
u/ForceBetter8972: “… Can someone please tell me how do ME 115, MATH 118 and ME 101 work? like can I manage without going to campus for a month? Are the assignments and quizzes are online for these courses? …”
u/loryk_zarr: “Why don't you just ask your profs/read the syllabuses?”
u/ForceBetter8972: “ok i just found math 118's outline here. Do you know anyone enrolled in ME 101 and ME 115?”
Winter 2022
For people who took ME 100 and ME 101 3 points, 8 comments
u/ForceBetter8972: “I got permission to take ME 101 without taking ME 100 first and the prof told me that I should at least self teach myself AutoCAD and Solidworks. I don't know where to start or how far m I supposed to go with it or tbh even where to learn it from. …”
Spring 2021
Mechanical engineering undergrad retrospective 201 points, 42 comments
u/doAbr00talroll: “… • ME101: If you have any prior programming experience you will do well. The main project is really fun and was a highlight of the program for me. …”
Winter 2020
MECH ENG ALUMUS/ALUMNI/UPPER-YEARS 1 point, 0 comments
u/Nvidia950m: “What are some coding/programming course we can take in mechanical engineering other than the ME 101!!! Thanks in advance”
Fall 2019
First Year ME, what Programming Language to Learn 3 points, 10 comments
“I am a first year mechanical engineering student, not yet sure what area I want to specialize in. Looking to sharpen my programming skills with my spare time. …”
u/User6332: “Doesn't gene121 still teach c++?”
u/Severaxe: “We "learn" C++ in ME 101- how to print stuff, use IF/ELSE statements, make loops, and write data to and from arrays/files. Not much else”
u/LPFR52: “They have taught c++ in ME101 for as far back as our old finals go. Some years they also teach you MATLAB but our year the professor had pretty bad time management and didn’t even cover it. …”
u/crono760: “If you've never programmed before then I strongly recommend starting with c++, only because you're going into ME101 and that is the language you'll learn. It will give you a huge leg up on that course. Practically I have to agree with VBA through Excel. …”
Spring 2019
Mechanical Eng. Students, what was your first year like? 8 points, 14 comments
“If you couldn’t guess from the title, I’m a grade 12 student who has an offer from UW for an undergrad in Mechanical Engineering. …”
u/PimpingLlama: “It wasn't too bad. The ME 101 Lego project was a bitch tho. Lin alg was hard for some people but a lot was grade 12 vectors. The Calc 2 and GENE 123 exam were fucky but doable”
Spring 2018
Acceptances Megathread [Fall 2018 Incoming Students] 142 points, 1,897 comments
“Hi all, This thread is specifically for those who got accepted to UW to discuss different issues (residences, courses, student life, etc.) and celebrate the hard work and efforts of those who have …”
u/Beautiful_Psychology: “Mech Eng here, What kind of specific/particular software or file etc would I have to download on my laptop for my courses ahead.”
u/Beautiful_Psychology: “First\-year courses September to December ME 100 \- Mechanical Engineering Practice 1CHE 102 \- Chemistry for EngineersMATH 115 \- Linear Algebra for EngineeringMATH 116 \- Calculus 1 for EngineeringPHYS 115 \- Mechanics January to April or May to August ME 100B \- SeminarME 101 …”
u/HoodJamm: “DELL xps or MacBook Pro for Mech eng??”
u/BnWHair: “… ME 100, design courses ME 380 & fourth year design project), as well as programming C++ (ME 101). …”
Calculator restriction for mech. eng 0 points, 16 comments
“Hi, does anyone know what the calculator restrictions for mechanical engineering are (if any)? I've been using a TI 36X Pro for the past 5 years and recently purchased a Casio 991ES Plus C. …”
u/Mr-Rando: “For most of our courses, they simply stated non programmable non graphing calculators. For ME101 programming they made us use pink tie approved calculators, so it depends how they will run it this year”
How much programming is involved in mechanical engineering? 2 points, 1 comment
u/DoubIeIift: “… From this page: http://www.ucalendar.uwaterloo.ca/1819/COURSE/course-ME.html I see that the classes with programming are ME 101 LAB, ME262 LAB, ME 547 LAB, and ME 548 LAB, but overall the majority of classes are your standard engineering/physics/calculus courses for mechanical …”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them