Mechanical Engineering
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
The range and scope of mechanical engineering has undergone radical changes over the past decade, while retaining and expanding traditional areas of endeavor. Some of the changes have been due to the improvements in auxiliary fields, such as materials, or the introduction of new fields, such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), information technology, nanotechnology, and bioengineering.
Traditionally, the design and production of machines have been major concerns of the mechanical engineer, working to the basic criteria of cost, efficiency, and delivery date. Safety and environmental considerations have added new dimensions to the mechanical engineer's problem. This is most apparent for example, in the design of new automobiles, where improved mileage and cleaner engines have been coupled with a reduction in weight and size, and greater emphasis on highway safety.
In all areas, increasing emphasis has been placed on synthesis, looking to the performance of complete systems as opposed to that of single components. Career opportunities are traditionally found in such diverse areas as power generation, design of machinery, manufacturing, research and development, guidance systems, product design and development, robotics, propulsion engineering, system analysis and design, and many others. Our graduates wishing to further their education have been successful in gaining admission to the graduate schools of their choice.
Reflecting the wide diversity of subject matter to be found in the present-day practice of mechanical engineering, the department offers a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Major areas of interest include: energy conversion, design and manufacturing, HVAC, solid mechanics, automatic controls, dynamics, fluid mechanics, machine design, heat transfer, turbomachinery, combustion, robotics, and noise control. If you have particular interests or highly-specific objectives, we can generally satisfy your individual goals through elective courses and appropriate project work. Furthermore, the available pool of electives allows the student to specialize in one of the following concentration areas:
- Aerospace Engineering
- Automotive Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Mechatronics (Electro-mechanical Systems)
- Nuclear Power Engineering
- Power Generation
- Product Design and Manufacturing
- Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
- Robotics and Automation
- Sustainable Energy
- Product Engineering Architecture
Program Mission, Program Educational Objectives, and Student Outcomes
The mission of the mechanical engineering program is to produce graduates with a broad-based foundation in fundamental engineering principles and liberal arts, together with the depth of disciplinary knowledge needed to succeed in a career in mechanical engineering or a related field, including a wide variety of advanced technological and management careers.
To achieve its mission, the Department of Mechanical Engineering, with input from its constituents, has established the following Program Educational Objectives:
- Graduates identify and solve problems in mechanical engineering and related fields using their broad-based knowledge of fundamental engineering concepts and state-of-the-art tools and techniques.
- Graduates develop mechanical and thermal devices and systems to meet the needs of society.
- Graduates excel in working within and leading multi-disciplinary teams.
- Graduates conduct themselves in a socially responsible manner and adapt to technological change.
Student Outcomes - By the time of graduation, mechanical engineering students will have:
1. (Scientific Foundations) the ability to use applied scientific knowledge to solve problems in mechanical engineering and related fields (ABET Criterion 3a).
2. (Engineering Foundations) the ability to use fundamental engineering knowledge to solve problems in mechanical engineering and related fields (ABET Criterion 3a).
3. (Experimentation) the ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret experimental data for mechanical engineering and related applications (ABET Criterion 3b).
4. (Technical Design) the technical ability to design mechanical and thermal engineering devices or systems to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability (ABET Criterion 3c).
- (Design Assessment) the ability to develop and assess alternative designs of both mechanical and thermal engineering systems based on technical and non-technical criteria including their impact in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context (ABET Criterion 3h).
6. (Tools) the ability to use the relevant tools necessary for practice in mechanical engineering and related fields (ABET Criterion 3k).
7. (Professionalism) the ability to recognize and achieve high levels of professionalism in their work (ABET Criterion 3f).
8. (Leadership) the ability to assume leadership roles (ABET Criterion 3d).
9. (Teamwork) the ability to function on multidisciplinary teams (ABET Criterion 3d).
10. (Communication) the ability to communicate effectively and persuasively (ABET Criterion 3g).
11. (Ethics) a critical understanding of ethical responsibility (ABET Criterion 3f).
12. (Contemporary Issues) a knowledge of contemporary issues (ABET Criterion 3j)
13. (Lifelong Learning) a recognition of the need for an ability to engage in lifelong learning and development (ABET Criterion 3i).
14. (Entrepreneurship) fundamental knowledge and an appreciation of the technology and business processes necessary to nurture new technologies from concept to commercialization.
Graduation Requirements
The following are requirements for graduation of all engineering students and are not included for academic credit. They will appear on the student record as pass/fail.
Physical Education (P.E.) Requirements
- All students must complete a minimum of four semester credits of physical education (P.E.). A large number of activities are offered in lifetime, team, and wellness areas.
- All PE courses must be completed by the end of the sixth semester. Students can enroll in more than the minimum required P.E. for graduation and are encouraged to do so.
- Participation in varsity sports can be used to satisfy up to three credits of the P.E. requirement.
- Participation in supervised, competitive club sports can be used to satisfy up to two credits of the P.E. requirement, with approval from the P.E. coordinator.
Areas of Concentration
Mechanical engineering students can select their elective courses among two ME technical electives and three general electives in various ways. Some of them may wish to cluster those electives in ways that would help them gain expertise in an area of specialization within mechanical engineering. The following groupings are possible specialty (concentration) areas that students can select from within the mechanical engineering program:
Aerospace Engineering
- ME 545 Introduction to Aerospace Engineering
And two courses from the following:- ME 423 and ME 424 Senior Design Project
- ME 453 Advanced Fluid Mechanics
- ME 520 Analysis and Design of Composites
- ME 546 Introduction to Turbomachinery
Automotive Engineering
- ME 423 and ME 424 Senior Design Project
- ME 515 Automotive Engineering
- ME 529 Modern and Advanced Combustion Engines
Biomedical Engineering
Choose any three courses from the following:
- ME 525 Biomechanics
- ME 526 Biofluid Mechanics
- ME 527 Mechanics of Human Movement
- ME 580 Medical Device Design and Technology
- ME587 Human Factors Engineering
Mechatronics (Electro-mechanical Systems)
- ME 522 Mechatronics I
- ME 523 Mechatronics II
- ME 573 Introduction to Micro-Elecromechanical Systems
Nuclear Power Engineering
- ME 513 Introduction to Nuclear Engineering
- ME 517 Nuclear Power Plant Design & Operations
- ME 512 Nuclear Reactor, Safety & Waste Disposal
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
- ME 530 Introduction to Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
- ME 535 Good Manufacturing Practice in Pharmaceutical Facilities Design
- ME 540 Validation and Regulatory Affairs in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Power Generation
- ME 510 Power Plant Engineering
- ME 529 Modern & Advanced Combustion Engines
And one course from the following:- ME 546 Intro. to Turbomachinery
- ME 595 Heat Exchanger Design
Product Design and Manufacturing
- ME 554 Introduction to Computer-Aided Design
- ME 564 Principles of Optimum Design and Manufacture
- ME 566 Design for Manufacturability
Product Engineering Architecture
- PAE 610 The Creative Form and the Digital Environment
- PAE 630 Introduction to Interactive digital Media
- PAE 640 Performative Environments
Robotics and Automation
- ME 522 Mechatronics I
- ME 551 Microprocessor Applications in Mechanical Engineering
- ME 598 Introduction to Robotics
Sustainable Energy
Choose from any three courses from the following:
- ME511 Wind Energy - Theory & Applications
- ME513 Introduction to Nuclear Engineering
- E580/ME514 Sustainable Energy
- ME518 Solar Energy - Theory & Application
- ME519 Solar Energy - System Designs
Minors
Students from other engineering programs may pursue a minor in mechatronics by taking the required courses indicated below. Enrollment in a minor program means that you must also meet Stevens School of Engineering and Science requirements for minor programs. Only courses completed with a grade of "C" or better are accepted towards the minor.
Requirements for a Minor in Mechatronics:
- ME 225 Dynamics
- ME 358 Machine Dynamics and Mechanics
- ME 483 Control Systems
- ME 522 Mechatronics I
- ME 551 Microprocessor Applications in ME or ME 523 Mechatronics II or ME 573 Introduction to Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS)