DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING (ME) AND PROGRAM IN ENGINEERING GRAPHICS (DR)
Professor William H. Sutton. Department Head
Office: 290 Hardaway Hall
Professor Beth A. Todd, Coordinator for Undergraduate Programs
Office: 290 Hardaway Hall
Professor C. Bryan Graham, Coordinator for Engineering Graphics Programs
Office: 290 Hardaway Hall
Mechanical engineering is the most versatile of all engineering programs. Mechanical engineers pursue careers in a wide variety of industries, research laboratories, educational activities, and government agencies. Mechanical engineering graduates can become involved in research, design, and management in industries such as aerospace, automotive, energy conservation, precision engineering, railroad, heavy machinery, manufacturing, food/forest products, textiles, paper, consumer appliances, robotics, power plants, electronics, computer automation, agriculture, heating and air-conditioning, construction, transportation, and mining. A significant number of mechanical engineering graduates use mechanical engineering as the foundation for careers in business administration, law, medicine, and other professions. Many graduates are also accepted for advanced study in mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, medicine, law, business administration, and dentistry.
The engineering graphics program is part of the mechanical engineering department. Engineers use technical drawing to communicate and document their ideas. Students in all the engineering disciplines who want to communicate in the graphical language are encouraged to study engineering graphics. Engineering graphics facilities are on the second floor of Hardaway Hall and include modern facilities for computer-aided drafting and design (CAD) lab.
Taking the Fundamentals of Engineering examination is a departmental requirement for graduation.
Program Objectives
Members of the next generation of mechanical engineers are being equipped to meet the technological challenges of the profession. Out of a commitment to continuously improve the undergraduate curriculum for the mechanical engineering program, the faculty of the Department of Mechanical Engineering has adopted several educational objectives. All mechanical engineering graduates are expected to
- have a fundamental knowledge of mathematics, chemistry, physics, social and behavioral sciences, and the humanities as a foundation for lifelong learning and engineering practice
- be able to design and analyze thermal and mechanical systems appropriate to the professional practice of mechanical engineering, now and in the future
- be able to communicate effectively in written and oral forms both individually and as part of a team
- be prepared to use modern computing and analytical tools in the development of solutions to current and future engineering problems
- be able to design and conduct experiments and other hands-on experiences, as well as statistically analyze and interpret data to connect classroom learning to real-world uncertainty and ambiguity
- be able to apply the design process, knowledge of manufacturing processes, and multidisciplinary teamwork to facilitate the realization of cost-effective and realistic products and processes
Manufacturing engineering certificate program. The manufacturing engineering certificate program is available to undergraduate mechanical engineering students; most certificate program courses are taken concurrently with courses required for the bachelor’s degree. The certificate program restricts elective courses in the BS curriculum and increases the total number of semester hours the student will complete. A student who completes all the requirements of the certificate program receives the BSME degree and a manufacturing engineering certificate indicating that he or she has completed the additional requirements. In addition, the student’s transcript indicates that the student has completed the requirements for the certificate program. The manufacturing engineering certificate program is excellent preparation for the newly developed graduate program in this area. Students interested in the program should see their advisors for specific details and program requirements.
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING CURRICULUM
Interim term courses. Humanities and social science courses taken during the Interim term may be counted toward the requirements for a BS degree in mechanical engineering. However, Interim courses can be used to fulfill mechanical engineering or technical elective requirements only if the specific courses have been approved in advance of registration by the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
| FRESHMAN YEAR | |
| First Semester | Hours |
| CH 101 General Chemistry I (N) | 4 |
| DR 100 Technical Sketching for Engineers | 1 |
| EC 110 Principles of Microeconomics (SB) | 3 |
| EN 101 English Composition I (FC) | 3 |
| GES 131 Foundations of Engineering I | 2 |
| MATH 125 Calculus I (MA) | 4 |
| ___ | |
| 17 | |
| Second Semester | |
| DR 133 2D AutoCAD for Engineers | 2 |
| EN 102 English Composition II (FC) | 3 |
| GES 132 Foundations of Engineering II | 2 |
| MATH 126 Calculus II (MA) | 4 |
| PH 105 Physics with Calculus I (N) | 4 |
| ___ | |
| 15 | |
| SOPHOMORE YEAR | |
| First Semester | |
| AEM 201 Statics | 3 |
| MATH 227 Calculus III (MA) | 4 |
| ME 215 Thermodynamics I | 3 |
| PH 106 Physics with Calculus II (N) | 4 |
| Approved mathematics or science elective | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 17 | |
| Second Semester | |
| AEM 250 Mechanics of Materials I | 3 |
| AEM 251 Mechanics of Materials Laboratory | 1 |
| AEM 264 Dynamics | 3 |
| MATH 238 Applied Differential Equations I (MA) | 3 |
| ME 305 Thermodynamics I | 3 |
| MTE 271 Engineering Materials: Structure and Properties | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 16 | |
| JUNIOR YEAR | |
| First Semester | |
| AEM 311 Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| ECE 320 Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering | 3 |
| ME 283 Modern Manufacturing Laboratory | 1 |
| ME 309 Heat Transfer | 3 |
| ME 383 Modern Manufacturing Practices | 2 |
| ME 349 Engineering Analysis (C) | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 15 | |
| Second Semester | |
| ME 350 Static Machine Components | 3 |
| ME 360 Control and Instrumentation Components (W) | 3 |
| ME 372 Dynamic Systems (C) | 3 |
| Approved mechanical engineering elective1 | 3 |
| Humanities (HU), literature (L), or fine arts (FA) elective or | |
| history (HI) and/or social and behavioral sciences (SB) elective2 | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 15 | |
| SENIOR YEAR | |
| First Semester | |
| ME 415 Energy Systems Design | 2 |
| or ME 407 Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning | 3 |
| ME 450 Dynamic Machine Components | 3 |
| ME 460 Thermal Systems Instrumentation (W) | 3 |
| ME 489 Mechanical Engineering Design I | 3 |
| Humanities (HU), literature (L), or fine arts (FA) elective and/or | |
| history (HI) or social and behavioral sciences (SB) elective2 | 6 |
| ___ | |
| 17 or 18 | |
| Second Semester | |
| ME 490 Mechanical Engineering Design II | 3 |
| Approved mechanical engineering or technical elective3 | 3 |
| Approved mechanical engineering elective1 | 3 |
| Humanities (HU), literature (L), or fine arts (FA) elective and/or | |
| history (HI) or social and behavioral sciences (SB) elective2 | 6 |
| ___ | |
| 15 | |
| Total: 127 or 128 hours | |
2All engineering students are required to take 9 hours of humanities and 9 hours of social and behavioral sciences. At least 6 hours must be from a single program.
3The technical elective requirement may be fulfilled with a mechanical engineering elective course or 300- or 400-level engineering, math, or science course from the approved list or with advance petition to the mechanical engineering department.