About the Department

Mission  |  Vision  |  Educational Objectives  |  Learning Outcomes

Mission

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.

Vision

To graduate the best baccalaureate mechanical engineers.

Educational Objectives

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.  Thus, we expect our graduates to attain the educational objectives listed below within a few years of graduation.  Our educational objectives are based on the needs of our constituencies.

1. Our graduates will be successful in their careers.
2. Our graduates set and meet their own goals for career fulfillment.
3. Our graduates will continue professional development.
4. Our graduates will engage the international dimensions of their profession.

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes describe what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation.  These relate to the skills, knowledge, and behaviors that students acquire as they progress through the program.

1. an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
2. an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
   
   1. Identify the problem and develop an appropriate experimental approach.
   2. Select measurement techniques to collect appropriate data and justify that selection.
   3. Estimate experimental uncertainties.
   4. Collect and present data in an accurate and orderly way.
   5. Use appropriate statistical procedures to analyze and evaluate the information contained in a data set.
   6. Analyze the data and draw supportable conclusions from the result.
3. an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
   
   1. Understand the problem.
   2. Develop a design specification that addresses customer/client needs and constraints.
   3. Carry out a conceptual design by generating multiple solutions that address the issues above, evaluating the feasibility of the solutions, and choosing the appropriate solution.
   4. Carry out a detail-level design using appropriate design tools and methodologies.
   5. Test and refine the implementation until the product or process design specifications are met or exceeded.
   6. Document the finished product or process as appropriate for the discipline according to standard practice.
4. an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams
   
   1. Demonstrate how you reached a decision as a team.
   2. Describe the team role you filled and how that contributed to the final project.
   3. Listen openly, actively and critically.
5. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
   
   1. Inspect and define the problem.
   2. Identify the basic principles and concepts that apply to the situation.
   3. Build appropriate model(s).
   4. Solve the problem by choosing appropriate tools (analytical, experimental, and computational).
   5. Check a solution using appropriate criteria.
6. an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
   
   1. Apply a systematic ethical framework to an ethical issue or situation in a disciplinary context.
7. an ability to communicate effectively
   
   1. Provide a substantive critique that includes recommendations for improvements.
   2. Describe an interaction that required you to clarify your understanding of another's message.
   3. Present information visually using drawings, graphs and sketches.
   4. Deliver oral presentations with clarity and professionalism.
8. the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
   
   1. Engage in the arts (music, theater, art, dance, creative writing, etc.)
   2. Analyze patterns, dynamics, or values of human interaction in social or cultural systems.
   3. Analyze beliefs, backgrounds, cultures, or societies different from your own.
   4. Interpret cultural artifacts and/or ideas in philosophy, the arts, or the sciences.
9. a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
   
   1. Students will identify an important attribute/ability that needs further development.
   2. Students will identify how failure to develop the attribute/ability could negatively impact their project.
   3. Students will identify steps taken to develop the attribute/ability.
   4. Students will outline additional steps that are necessary for desired progress.
   5. Students will state evidence that demonstrates improvement of the attribute/ability.
   6. Students will outline future development.
10. a knowledge of contemporary issues
    
    1. Demonstrate an awareness of how the current technical issue is affected by social concerns and trends.
    2. Demonstrate an awareness of how the proposed solution(s) will affect culture and/or the environment.
11. an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.