The mechanical engineering department offers the following areas of emphasis:

Design & Manufacturing:

Mechanical design places great demands upon the imagination, ingenuity and judgment of an engineer because it requires the conversion of ideas into physical reality. Manufacturing engineers are involved with the planning and selection of manufacturing methods, with designing and developing manufacturing equipment, and with creating and increasing the efficiency and productivity of current manufacturing technologies.

Dynamics & Controls:

Dynamic models change continually as they incorporate information feedback. They are used in automated systems that run space vehicles, automobiles and factories. The study of controls uses technology to create sensors that provide data feedback to dynamic models. The technology is useful in artificial intelligence ("smart machines"), robotics and other systems that operate automatically.

Mechanics & Materials:

The study of mechanics and materials is necessary to ensure safe design and performance of engineering components and systems. Mechanical engineers use mathematical studies, computer simulations, and experiments to study the effects of forces, vibrations, and shock on various kinds of equipment. In this way, engineers can check the safe performance levels of component parts and integrated assemblies.

Thermo-Fluids:

Knowledge of thermo-fluids is essential in designing equipment for internal combustion engines, heating and cooling of buildings, electric power generation, food processing, and other industrial processes. Thermo-fluids includes the study of thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, heat transfer and combustion. Electives deal with applications such as gasoline and diesel engines, solar energy, gas turbines, refrigeration, heating and air conditioning, power plants, and pollution control.

Laboratory Experiences:

ME lab experiences cover manufacturing processes, computer aided design, instrumentation and data acquisition, and energy conversion equipment. Students apply the principles learned in classes through hands-on experiments in welding and casting, machining and forming, and polymer processing. They take measurements using sensors and transducers, and use equipment such as air compressors, steam and gas turbines, and internal combustion engines.

Communications & Professional Practice:

Communication skills are integrated throughout the curriculum. Starting with the freshman engineering design course, laboratory courses, and the senior capstone design course, students work in teams and produce written and verbal reports. A technical presentations course is also required. In order to gain real-world experience, many students participate in team projects such as the hybrid electric vehicle competition. More than a third of students gain valuable experience working for a semester as interns with an engineering-related company.