The mechanical engineering curriculum is designed to prepare students for productive careers in industry, government, education and private consulting as well as for graduate study. Thus, it is based on the fundamental principles of science and engineering. These provide a strong foundation that enables students to apply what they have learned to the complex technological problems of today and to teach themselves the new technologies of tomorrow. Since mechanical engineering is a broad field of endeavor, the curriculum offers a strong technical elective program to allow each student to craft a broad educational experience and to develop the flexibility to pursue diverse career goals.
   No less than any professional, the mechanical engineering graduate must work within the social and environmental context of our world. To be effective and successful, he or she must be aware of the roles of engineering and science in solving complex technological and social problems as well as of the impacts of social and environmental factors on engineering activities such as design. To foster this awareness, the curriculum allows the student an unusually wide choice of social science and humanities electives and emphasizes the links between society and engineering through courses such as Engineering Systems Design.
   The strength of any department is its faculty. The mechanical engineering faculty are committed to providing a dynamic and innovative learning environment and to maintaining and increasing their technical competence in a rapidly changing world. Stereotypes not withstanding, they understand that people are more important than things. Thus, they encourage each student to seek them out when he or she has academic problems or needs guidance in career planning.
   The freshman year of the mechanical engineering program includes courses in mathematics, physics, humanities and social science as well as introductory courses in engineering and design. The sophomore year features courses in mathematics, chemistry and the engineering sciences. The final two years of the program stress the design and analysis of systems, machines and their components, and the transfer and transformation of energy. The required courses provide the basic mathematical and scientific fundamentals underlying the practice of mechanical engineering, while 12 cr. hrs. of technical elective courses and 8 cr. hrs. of free elective courses allow flexibility in adapting the program to the interests and abilities of the individual student. The student is not encouraged to specialize in a particular area but rather to seek a broad background in basic engineering principles. For the student who wishes to pursue a career in the field of aerospace engineering, however, extensive sequences of courses are available as elective offerings.
   The mechanical engineering program is designed to encourage the best students to continue their education at the graduate level. For those who choose to study at Rose-Hulman, graduate work leading to a Master of Science degree is offered by the Mechanical Engineering Department. Options in the general areas of Thermal/Fluids Systems and Solid Systems Design are available. These options are devoted to developing a deeper understanding of engineering and are not intended to constrain the student to a high degree of specialization.

Program Vision, Mission and Educational Objectives

Vision
To graduate the best baccalaureate mechanical engineers.

Mission Statement
To provide the curriculum, the educational environment, and the individual support necessary to graduate mechanical engineers who are technically competent, effective in practice, creative, ethical and mindful of their responsibility to society.

Educational Objectives
Five years after they graduate, our Mechanical Engineering graduates should be able to:

1. Apply engineering fundamentals to problem solving processes in an iterative manner.
2. Design effectively.
3. Continue to learn and educate themselves.
4. Communicate effectively.
5. Work responsibly.
6. Work effectively.

Areas of Concentration

Aerospace Engineering Area of Concentration
   The aerospace industry provides job opportunities each year for many mechanical engineering graduates. The aerospace engineering area of concentration is intended to provide specialty courses which focus the application of basic mechanical engineering skills on aerospace systems.
   The courses that comprise this area of concentration are:

   Any student who completes five of these recommended courses may receive, upon request, a letter from the Department Head attesting to the fact that the student has completed the requirements in the aerospace engineering area of concentration in the Mechanical Engineering Department. With proper planning, students should be able to take at least five of these course offerings without overload

* Select only one, either ME 405 or MA 330 will count toward the Aerospace concentration.

Manufacturing and Production Engineering Area of Concentration
   Many mechanical engineering graduates will work in tasks related to the manufacture of various products. The manufacturing and production engineering area of concentration is intended to bridge the gap between the analytical and design courses which are the heart of the professional program and the practical problems of producing acceptable hardware, on time, at a profit.
   The courses that comprise this area of concentration are:

Solid Mechanics Area of Concentration
   The broad field of solid mechanics prepares the mechanical engineering graduate with many career opportunities in areas such as stress analysis, dynamics, vibrations, materials, and the design of mechanical components and systems.
   The courses that comprise this area of concentration are:

   With proper planning, students should be able to take five elective courses in the area without overload. Any student who completes five of these recommended courses may request a letter from the Department Head attesting to the fact that the student has completed the requirements in the solid mechanics area of concentration within the Mechanical Engineering Department.

Thermal Fluid Area of Concentration
Many Mechanical Engineering graduates will work with engineering systems that are based on the principles of thermodynamics, heat transfer and fluid mechanics. The Mechanical Engineering curriculum offers an opportunity for the student to concentrate his studies on the analysis and design of these systems. The courses that comprise the thermal fluid area of concentration may be classified according to whether the main emphasis is on the system or on the thermal or fluid concepts which underpin its design and operation.

   In order to complete the requirements in the thermal fluid area of concentration a student must select five elective from the lists such that at least one course is taken from the “Thermal Fluid Systems” list and at least two courses are taken from the “Thermal Fluid Sciences” list.
   With proper planning, students should be able to take five elective courses in the area without overload. Any student who completes five of these recommended courses may request a letter from the Department Head attesting to the fact that the student has completed the requirements in the thermal fluid area of concentration within the Mechanical Engineering Department.