Mechanical Engineering applies the principles of science and mathematics to many kinds of machinery and equipment, especially those used in transportation, manufacturing and energy conversion. Mechanical engineers are involved in the design and development of aircraft, automobiles, trucks and other vehicles, power generation plants, manufacturing equipment, computer systems and components, biomedical devices, robots, and the climate control systems of buildings. The field is changing rapidly and many products currently being designed and built by mechanical engineers were not in existence a few years ago. Graduates enter a variety of careers with both public agencies and private companies.
Many graduates continue their education by completing advanced degrees in engineering or management.
Building on a base of mathematics, science, and engineering fundamentals, the Mechanical Engineering program features a four semester core of studies of modern design and manufacturing methods. In the senior year the students, individually or in small groups, design, build, and test a variety of practical devices, including laboratory equipment and competition vehicles, as well as devices for local industry. Along with this design core, there are courses on energy conversion, manufacturing, properties of materials, and the application of computers in the practice of mechanical engineering, as well as a variety of elective courses. The curriculum maintains a balance among fundamental principles, analytical methods, and design applications of current knowledge, thus preparing the graduate for both an entry into the engineering profession and a long-term career. With most classes having enrollments of 35 or less, there is opportunity for active participation in class discussion and for a real exchange of ideas between students and faculty.