Mechanical Engineering Curriculum Overview
Professor R. Danner Friend (Chair); Associate Professor Karen Supan; Assistant Professors Brian Bradke, Carolina Payares-Asprino, and Charles White; Lecturer Martin Rolland
Mechanical engineering, the broadest of the engineering professions, provides an opportunity for a wide range and variety of services, work, and interests. The mechanical engineer deals with the conversion of energy, the design of machines, the instrumentation and control of processes, and the control of machines and the environment. Conventional fields of interest are transportation (automobiles, aircraft, urban and mass transit); machines and systems for electrical power production from coal, oil, and gas; heating and air conditioning of buildings; and the complex machinery and methods of making steel, plastics, paper products, etc.
Mission:
The Mission of the Mechanical Engineering Program is to:
- Prepare students to excel in mechanical engineering and related fields.
- Provide modern, fundamental, practice-oriented education in the mechanical engineering field.
- Foster creativity and critical thinking in problem solving and motivate students to consider the societal consequences of their work.
- Enable students to be leaders in their profession, community, and the nation.
Goals:
Graduates of the Mechanical Engineering program:
- Apply engineering principles and modern tools to conceive, analyze and implement engineering solutions.
- Hold positions of progressive responsibility leading teams in a variety of mechanical engineering fields including: energy conversion and transfer, materials and manufacturing, and mechanical systems design.
- Work as professionals in industrial, military, government, and academic settings while maintaining a high awareness and responsibility regarding ethical, safety, environmental, social, economic, and global issues.
- Work effectively as a team member and lead multidisciplinary teams.
- Design components, systems or processes in the mechanical engineering field and effectively communicate those designs through verbal and written means.
- Have a positive outlook on the engineering profession and maintain an ongoing intellectual curiosity while actively engaged in continuing education throughout life.
Outcomes:
Students in the Mechanical Engineering Program will demonstrate an ability to:
- Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
- Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
- Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
- Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
- Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Careers for this Major:
- Computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM)
- Artificial body organs and devices (bioengineering)
- Nuclear power generation
- Applications of electronics to the control of machines and to laboratory instruments
- Aerospace (spacecraft and rockets)
- Control of environmental pollution for automobiles and industry
- Graduate school.
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME International) is the largest professional organization devoted specifically to Mechanical Engineering; serving the general Mechanical Engineering profession and a variety of associated fields. To learn more about employment opportunities in Mechanical Engineering, please visit http://jobboard.asme.org.
Accreditation:
The Mechanical Engineering Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET, http://www.abet.org, 415 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, Telephone (410) 347-7700.