The Mechanical Engineering Program offers a comprehensive course of study in which the fundamentals of engineering are taught and a broad foundation is established for the pursuit of specialized areas in this field. Students may orient their programs toward the thermal sciences, machine design, or manufacturing engineering. In this current era, when efficient and economical means of energy production are an international concern, the mechanical engineer is in the forefront to meet this challenge.
Mechanical engineers are concerned with the production, transmission and use of energy.
They design and develop machines that produce power, such as internal combustion engines, steam and gas turbines, jet and rocket engines and nuclear reactors. Their task may also include the design and development of machines that use power, such as refrigeration systems, air-conditioning, equipment and machine tools. Various specialized areas of work have been developed within this field, and since mechanical engineers are employed in nearly all industries, their work varies with the industry and functions performed. Among these specialties are vehicle, marine equipment, robots, steam power, heating, air-conditioning, instrumentation and machines for specialized industries such as petroleum, rubber and plastics, and construction. Mechanical engineers are involved in the whole industrial spectrum from research, development, testing and design work to administrative and management activities.