Undergraduate Students | Graduate Students | Alumni
Mechanical Engineering Program
Educational Objectives
The educational objectives of the Mechanical Engineering undergraduate program are to produce graduates who:
1. have a strong foundation of mathematical, scientific and mechanical engineering knowledge and are equipped with problem solving and design, teamwork, and communication skills that will serve them throughout their careers;
2. have the ability to successfully pursue careers as practicing mechanical engineers in manufacturing industries, energy and utility companies, and engineering consulting firms;
3. have the ability to successfully pursue advanced studies in mechanical engineering; in related technical areas such as physics, applied mathematics, and other engineering disciplines; and in other professional fields; and
4. have the ability to assume professional leadership roles.
The following methods and strategies are used in the Mechanical Engineering undergraduate program to achieve these program educational objectives:
i. Foster a personalized, supportive environment for all students by taking advantage of the unique combination of a small college atmosphere in a major research university;
ii. Enrich the undergraduate experience through experiential learning and international study opportunities;
iii. Provide a solid foundation and understanding of the fundamental principles of both the thermal-fluids and mechanical systems aspects of mechanical engineering for all students;
iv. Enable a flexible, liberal curriculum by offering students the opportunity to take a 21 s.h. elective focus area either in any of a set of pre-developed interdisciplinary offerings or in an individualized elective focus area that is tailored to the student’s career goals;
v. Provide students with opportunities to participate in multi-disciplinary design teams and to develop and practice written and oral communication skills, both within the team and with a broader audience;
vi. Equip students for professional practice by providing courses that instruct students on how to design, conduct and interpret analysis, experiments and simulations in thermal-fluids and mechanical systems engineering;
vii. Provide students with opportunities to design mechanical engineering systems, components, and processes to meet specific needs and constraints in select courses throughout the educational program;
viii. Provide a contemporary grounding in professional responsibility, including ethics, the global and societal impact of engineering decisions, and the need for lifelong learning.