Bachelor of Science In Mechanical Engineering 129 HRS.
Mechanical engineering is, perhaps, the most diverse and general of all the engineering fields. Mechanical engineers can be found working in almost any company. Manufacturing, transportation, health care, and insurance are some of the types of firms that employ mechanical engineers. No other field of engineering provides a better professional base for interdisciplinary activities.
Mechanical engineers design tools and machines of all types, from paper clips to space shuttles. They plan, design, and direct the manufacture, distribution, and operation of these items. Mechanical engineers also design the power sources needed to operate the machines and provide for the environment in which they function. In fact, mechanical engineering involves all phases of energy production and utilization: engines, power plants, electrical generation, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning.
Those mechanical engineers who choose to specialize in the aerospace area are particularly suited for employment in vehicle design. They may be involved in the design of aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, automobiles, trucks, buses, trains, or ships. Their specialized knowledge of lightweight structures and efficient, low drag design take on added importance as fuel costs increase.
Other mechanical engineers may specialize in the area of metallurgy and focus on the relationships among the structure, properties, processing and performance of metals. These engineers will be involved in product design, process development, and equipment design in addition to material specification, failure analysis, and implementing manufacturing processes.
Due to the diverse nature of the profession, the mechanical engineering education must provide a very broad base of studies. To be successful a mechanical engineer must be able to communicate knowledge and ideas to others; thus communication skills are an important part of the engineer’s preparation. Studies in the social sciences and humanities develop an understanding of the relevance and impact of engineering and technology on society. Mathematics provides the engineer with the tools needed to build on the scientific foundations of chemistry and physics. The engineering sciences, common to all engineering disciplines, provide a broad foundation for the design of both thermal and mechanical systems, which are at the core of mechanical engineering.
Engineering creativity cannot be developed by theory alone; an engineer learns by doing. Thus, the laboratory courses stress hands-on work and the project design courses involve real-world problems. Multidisciplinary teams, involving students from business, technology, and/or other engineering programs in the senior design projects prepare students for the team design approach common in industry. A cooperative education program, incorporating alternating periods of full-time work and full-time school, is available to enhance the education and provide valuable engineering experience. Students are encouraged to participate in this optional program.
Mission
The mission of the mechanical engineering program at Trine University is to enable students to become productive mechanical engineers, to advance to leadership roles in the profession, and to provide service to society.
Program Objectives
The mechanical engineering program meet the needs of students, alumni, employers, and the faculty by assuring that a few years after graduation:
- Our graduates are prepared for the practice of mechanical engineering and related disciplines at the professional level; and
- Our graduates engage in lifelong learning and serve their professions and community.
Outcomes
As specified by ABET, accrediting body for engineering curricula, the mechanical engineering program assures that graduates will be able to:
- Identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and math.
- Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare as well as global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors.
- Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgements which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental and societal contexts.
- Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
- Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgement to draw conclusions.
- Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Purposes
The mission of the Trine University mechanical engineering program is fulfilled through a learning environment comprising the following components:
- curriculum: broad yet appropriately in-depth; rigorous, with a mixture of theory and hands-on experiences;
- faculty: committed to an excellence in teaching;
- classrooms: small and personal;
- laboratories: equipped to provide excellent hands-on experiments with direct oversight of full-time faculty and a skilled laboratory technician;
- peer interaction: encouraged and enhanced by team interaction in classwork and laboratories and membership in student organizations.