Mechanical Engineering is one of the core disciplines in the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science (RCEAS). The department is committed to serving the overall mission of the RCEAS, and of the University, by providing education and training to undergraduate and graduate students, by developing new knowledge and engineering methodology, and by providing service to industry and society at large. To achieve our Educational Mission, the Department of Mechanical Engineering has established a set of Program Educational Objectives, which are to educate engineers who:

• Model, formulate and creatively synthesize (i.e design) realistic and practical systems, products, and environments;
• Naturally incorporate basic sciences and the art of mathematics as part of their thinking and problem-solving processes;
• Design, conduct, and analyze experimental tests of practical systems and products;
• Understand and appreciate the technical diversity required to develop new products/processes, and use this understanding to work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams;
• Develop an appreciation of the contemporary world, and be able to contribute to it in a professional and ethical manner;
• Learn how to learn, so that life-long learning becomes second nature.

In concert with these objectives, the academic program of the department seeks to prepare our students to adapt to the rapid advances and changes in technology, and to serve as agents and leaders in effecting these changes, while being cognizant of the needs and concerns of the society at large. Listed in terms of priority, the constituents who have a significant stake in this process are: the students, parents, employers, graduate and professional programs, alumni, and faculty.

The undergraduate program in mechanical engineering focuses principally on the first five of these objectives, and is configured to prepare our students for employment, and continued professional development and growth.  The program provides students with the basic education they will need to function in an engineering environment, pursue graduate studies, continue their professional development and growth, and develop an awareness of the culture and society in which we live. Because of technological innovations and the long term demands of global competition, the program also seeks to prepare students to adapt to rapid advances and changes in technology, and to provide leadership in effecting these changes, consistent with the sixth educational objective for life-long learning.

Achievement of the six educational objectives is served first through a sound education in mathematics and those physical and engineering sciences that are of greatest relevance to the design and analysis of mechanical systems; second, by exposure to the engineering process (creation, innovation, analysis and judgment) through design courses, projects, laboratories, and a choice of technical electives that permits a degree of specialization; and third, by the development of cultural awareness through courses in humanities and social sciences.  Students may take elective courses that transcend traditional disciplinary lines, while satisfying the basic requirements for mechanical engineering.

Design and engineering practices are integrated with the engineering science aspects of the program. Through a broadening of the design sequence to include hands-on manufacturing and multi-disciplinary collaborations, the program seeks to emphasize the integration of design, manufacturing, business, and aesthetics in modern technological enterprises, and to prepare our students to function in an increasingly interdisciplinary environment. Through a comprehensive set of laboratory courses, which ultimately focus on the design and planning of laboratory experiences by the students (rather than carrying out rote experiments), opportunities are provided for students to learn and employ the processes and skills for solving hands-on engineering problems.