Engineering design concepts are integrated into the Mechanics of Materials course. EMA 304 includes laboratory demonstrations on basic strength of materials. This course contributes primarily to the students' knowledge of engineering topics, and does provide design experience. EMA 303 and 304 focus on the structural response of structural members under load, and there is a strong component of design presented in lectures, homework problems, and a group design project. The open-ended design project gives the students a better understand how the course material applies to engineering practice.
Students work in teams to design a structure or device which meets specified failure criterion.
In this sense, there is an underlying emphasis on health and safety. Students are also presented with a case study in which they consider the ethical implications of engineering decisions. Relationship of course to undergraduate degree program objectives This course serves students in a variety of engineering majors. The information below describes how the course contributes to the college's educational objectives. It also provides design experience and requires students to present their results in the form of a written design report and oral design presentation.