About the Department

Mission

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 related field including a wide variety of advanced technological and management careers.

Programs of Study

The department offers programs leading to the degrees of Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering, Engineer in Mechanical Engineering, and Doctor of Philosophy in mechanical engineering. A graduate degree program in concurrent engineering, dealing with all aspects of integrated product and process development, is also offered. These programs provide graduate training in broad areas of design, fluid mechanics, solid mechanics, and thermodynamics. Areas of specialization include acoustics, combustion and air pollution, computational fluid dynamics and heat transfer, computer-aided design and manufacturing, continuum mechanics, control theory, energy conservation, fracture mechanics, heat transfer, kinematics, lubrication theory, machine design, mechanisms, multiphase flow, noise control, robotics, solar energy, stress analysis, system dynamics, turbomachinery, and vehicle dynamics.

Master of Engineering

The Master of Engineering program is intended to extend and broaden the undergraduate training. The Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering degree requires 30 credits of approved course work with or without a thesis. The program may be completed in one year of full-time study or in longer periods of part-time study. The Engineer degree requires an additional 30 credits of course work beyond that required for the master's degree, including an in-depth design project.

Ph.D.

The Ph.D. program is for students who are primarily interested in a research or teaching career. The Ph.D. in mechanical engineering is granted in recognition of superior academic preparation and creative scholarly research. A Ph.D. student must pass a qualifying examination at the beginning of the program and is formally admitted to candidacy after passing a comprehensive examination in a major field. The Ph.D. degree requires 60 credits beyond the master's (including 30 thesis credits), and a candidate for the degree must complete and defend an acceptable dissertation.

Master of Science

In addition, a Master of Science in concurrent design management and a Master of Science in design and production management are offered. The primary focus of these programs is to expose managers to the essential engineering fundamentals and provide engineers with adequate management skills to effectively lead product design and production teams. To meet this goal, the program is tailored toward providing both management and engineering education related to development of products from marketing to design and production.

History

The Stevens family were pioneer engineers, inventors and entrepreneurs whose achievements molded American society and mechanical engineering. Stevens Institute of Technology was founded in 1870 by a bequest in the will of Edwin A. Stevens, son of Colonel John Stevens III. The original trustees determined that Stevens should have a single, rigorous engineering curriculum leading to a baccalaureate degree they designated "Mechanical Engineer." The undergraduate program encompassed most of the then existing and emerging engineering disciplines and was firmly grounded in scientific principles.

ASME

Stevens first president, Henry Morton, was the founding president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and held the group's first meeting on campus in 1880.

Undergraduate Program Objectives

The educational objectives of the Mechanical Engineering Program are related to the expected accomplishments of graduates few years after graduation. The objectives were developed by the Department faculty, in coordination with and feedback from the School of Engineering Education and Assessment Committee, the External Advisory Board, and the alumni. These objectives address the ABET EC2000 Criterion 2 while directly supporting the mission and objectives of the School of Engineering and the overall mission of the Institute.

The following educational objectives have been established for the Mechanical Engineering Program:

1. Graduates identify and solve problems in mechanical engineering and related fields using their broad-based knowledge of fundamental engineering principles and state-of-the-art tools and techniques.
2. Graduates develop mechanical and thermal devices and systems to meet the needs of society.
3. Graduates excel in working within and leading multi-disciplinary teams.
4. Graduates conduct themselves in a socially responsible manner and adapt to technological change.

Objective 1 is related to technical breadth found in the curriculum within the program. Objective 2 covers technical depth as it relates to technical expertise in mechanical engineering. Objective 3 is related to professional advancement and communication, and Objective 4 relates to world-view and personal development.

The program objectives are clearly consistent with the educational objectives of the Charles V. Schaefer Jr. School of Engineering (SoE).