A year-long senior design project is their capstone design experience. Seniors may also do independent study or honors thesis research work that includes completing a project and defending it in an oral examination. Students often publish the results of their work in professional journals or give presentations on the topic at national meetings. Mechanical engineering students at Lafayette may seek election into the student chapters of Pi Tau Sigma, the national mechanical engineering honor society, and Tau Beta Pi, the national engineering honor society. Lafayette's mechanical engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.
Space is also available for student and faculty research projects.
After Graduation Recent mechanical engineering graduates have pursued advanced study in engineering, engineering management, and business at California Institute of Technology, Case Western Reserve University, Duke University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Lehigh University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Pennsylvania State University, Purdue University, University of Michigan, University of Texas, University of Wisconsin, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Graduates have found jobs in research, design engineering, experimental engineering, industrial management, maintenance engineering, mechanical design engineering, and product engineering. Faculty and Staff Leonard A. Van Gulick , Professor. Michael A. Paolino , Matthew Baird Professor. Terry A. DeRossett , Director of Mechanical Engineering Laboratories.