Traditionally, the design and production of machines have been major concerns of the mechanical engineer, working to the basic criteria of price, efficiency and delivery date. Safety and environmental considerations have added new dimensions to the mechanical engineer’s problem. This is most apparent in the design of new automobiles, where improved mileage and cleaner engines have been coupled with a reduction in weight and size, and greater emphasis on highway safety.

    In all areas, increasing emphasis has been placed on synthesis, looking to the performance of complete systems as opposed to that of single components. Career opportunities are traditionally found in such diverse areas as power generation, design of machinery, manufacturing, research and development, guidance systems, product design and development, robotics, propulsion engineering, system analysis and design, and many others. Our graduates wishing to further their education have been successful in gaining admission to the schools of their choice.

    Reflecting the wide diversity of subject matter to be found in the present-day practice of mechanical engineering, the department offers a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Major areas of interest include energy conversion, design and manufacturing, HVAC, solid mechanics, automatic controls, dynamics, fluid mechanics, machine design, heat transfer, turbomachinery, combustion, robotics and noise control. If you have particular interests or highly-specific objectives, we can generally satisfy your individual goals by elective courses and appropriate project work.

Mission and Objectives
    The mission of the Mechanical Engineering Department is to produce graduates with a broad-based foundation in fundamental engineering principles and liberal arts, together with the depth of disciplinary knowledge needed to succeed in a career in mechanical engineering or a related field including a wide variety of advanced technological and management careers.

    To achieve its mission, the Department of Mechanical Engineering, with input from its constituents, has established the following Program Educational Objectives:

• Graduates identify and solve problems in mechanical engineering and related fields using their broad-based knowledge of fundamental engineering concepts and state-of-the art tools and techniques.

• Graduates develop mechanical and thermal devices and systems to meet the needs of society.

• Graduates excel in working within and leading multi-disciplinary teams.

• Graduates conduct themselves in a socially responsible manner and engage in technological change.

Course Sequence
    The course sequence for mechanical engineering is as follows: