Mechanical Engineering
Professor R. Danner Friend (Chair); Associate Professor Karen Supan; Assistant Professors Carolina Payares-Asprino, Scott Smith, and Charles White; Lecturer Martin Rolland; Donald Wallace Visiting Assistant Professor Shazali Osman
Mechanical engineering, the broadest of the engineering professions, provides an opportunity for a wide range and variety of services, work, and interests. The major branches of mechanical engineering include structural/solid mechanical systems and thermal/fluid systems. 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 their impact on the environment. Conventional fields of interest are transportation (automobiles, aircraft, urban and mass transit); machines and systems for electrical power production from wind, water, 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:
The Program Educational Objectives of the Mechanical Engineering Program are to produce graduates who, within two to four years after graduation, are able to:
- 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.
- Work as professionals in industrial, military, government, public works, and academic settings while maintaining a high awareness and responsibility regarding ethical, safety, environmental, social, economic, and global issues.
- Apply effective communication skills to interact and collaborate with teams comprised of diverse individuals, technical disciplines and management levels.
- Maintain an ongoing intellectual curiosity while actively engaged in continuing education and professional development throughout life.
Outcomes:
At the time of graduation, students in the Mechanical Engineering Program are expected to have developed and demonstrated 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:
- Product Design
- Automotive engineering
- Bio-engineering (artificial body organs and medical devices)
- Aerospace (spacecraft and rockets)
- Applications of electronics to the control of machines and to laboratory instruments
- Robotics
- Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
- Manufacturing
- Energy and power including renewable energy (wind, solar, etc.)
- Control of environmental pollution for automobiles and industry
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.