[EricH]

Take a statics and dynamics course (combines both of those into one term), and a basic mechanics of materials course. That's the bare minimum, IMO. B.S.M.E.s at SDSM&T go through, in order, Statics, Intro to Solid Mechanics, Solid Mechanics (which also has Dynamics as a prerequisite--the Statics and Dynamics course is more for the engineers that need less depth).

It also wouldn't hurt to take a thermodynamics course, but that should be somewhat of a lower priority.