MEAE.BSE - BSE in Mechanical Engineering/Aerospace Concentration

Mechanical Engineering Major 

General Information 

Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest and most diverse of the engineering disciplines and affects all aspects of our lives. It involves the application of science and technology essential to industry, government, environment, and society. Mechanical engineers design, analyze, build, test, and control mechanical devices and systems. They are involved in the design and development of automobiles, airplanes, satellites, robots, power plants, machine tools, material handling systems, medical devices and instrumentation, communications equipment, semiconductor devices, heating and air-conditioning systems, consumer products, and alternative energy systems. Mechanical engineers contribute on interdisciplinary teams to work in emerging areas such as advanced manufacturing processes, mechatronics, aerospace, nanotechnology and green engineering technology. Mechanical engineering is generally recognized as the engineering discipline that offers the broadest choice of technical career directions. 

The Mechanical Engineering curriculum provides a thorough background in thermal and mechanical systems and mechanical design. By selecting an appropriate group of technical and design electives, a student can concentrate in either thermal and fluid science or mechanical design. Thermal and fluid science electives include courses related to energy conversion, aerodynamics, introduction to flight, and turbomachinery design. Mechanical design electives include courses in stress analysis and computer-aided design, material selection, and metrology. The coursework is coupled with extensive practical hands-on experience in modern well-equipped laboratories. The use of computers to aid in engineering analysis and design is emphasized throughout the curriculum. 

Students can choose to study either the broad areas of thermal-fluid sciences or mechanical design or select Mechatronics or Aerospace Engineering Concentrations. The Mechatronics Concentration blends mechanical and electrical engineering, while the Aerospace Concentration focusses on aerospace design, testing and validation. A Green Engineering Sequence of elective courses is also available with courses in renewable energy, alternative energy systems, and green engineering.

The BSE in Mechanical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission(s) of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Mechanical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. 

Career Opportunities 

Mechanical engineers are employed in all types of industry and government. They work in research, product development, product design, manufacturing, consulting, and sales. Our graduates are employed at Allston Power, UTC Aerospace Systems, Disney, Goodrich, Northrup Grumman, Pratt and Whitney, United Technologies Research Center, General Dynamics, Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, Otis, Carrier, Hasbro-Bradley, General Motors, NASA, Electric Boat, Andersen Consulting, General Electric, Smith and Wesson, American Saw, Northeast Utilities, Rolls Royce, Areva, Gerber Scientific Research, Spalding Sports Worldwide, Sikorsky, Westinghouse, BAE systems, and many others. Mechanical Engineering graduates have also become physicians and patent attorneys. Mechanical engineers occupy executive positions in many large corporations and others have gone on to become entrepreneurs and founded their own companies. 

Design Experience 

Students are introduced to engineering design in the freshman year; sophomore, junior, and senior courses provide progressively more sophisticated design experiences within the student’s discipline. All programs are culminated by a capstone Senior Design Project course in which a student works on an independent or integrated project under the supervision of a faculty advisor. Integrated projects reflect modern industrial practices, where students work on independent portions of a project which are then integrated to arrive at an overall project solution.  Many projects involve a collaboration with an industry partner, and a student who selects one of these topics has the opportunity to work with the industrial sponsor in an actual engineering experience. 

Electives 

Electives supplement the engineering student’s technical program. These electives must be selected in such a way that all Golden Bear Discovery requirements are satisfied. In addition, technical, design, and general electives provide the opportunity for specialization within a chosen field. The student’s departmental faculty advisor must approve the selection of electives from engineering, mathematics, science, or business. 

Mission  

The mission of the Department of Mechanical Engineering is to educate, prepare, inspire, and mentor students to excel as professionals and to grow throughout their careers in the art, science and responsibilities of engineering.  This is accomplished by: 

• Providing the facilities and environment conducive to a high-quality education, well grounding the students in the fundamental principles of engineering, and preparing them for diverse careers; 
• Engaging in academic and scholarly activities, which strengthen the major’s regional, national, and international reputation. 
  

Vision 

The vision of the Department of Mechanical Engineering is to be regionally, nationally, and internationally recognized in providing mechanical engineering education, leading to well qualified engineers who are innovative, immediate contributors to their profession, and successful in advanced studies. 

Educational Objectives 

The objectives of the Mechanical Engineering Program are to produce graduates whose careers and professional behavior several years after graduation are marked by: 

• A commitment to continuing education and technical competency in solving engineering problems, consistent with the ethics of the profession, and serving the needs of local, national, and multinational communities and enterprises; 

• Advancement in their professional careers, including the attainment of increased technical or managerial capabilities; and 

• Continual improvement in effective technical and non-technical communication and teamwork. 

Student Outcomes 

Accordingly, the program has documented student outcomes that support the program educational objectives. Attainment of these outcomes prepares graduates to enter the professional practice of engineering.  
  
1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics 
2. An ability to 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 
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences 
4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts 
5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives 
6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions 
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies. 
 

Aerospace Concentration 

While the aerospace industry relies on contributions from virtually every corner of the science and engineering world, it continues to rely heavily on mechanical engineers as the backbone of, and primary contributor to, its workforce.  Aerospace is among the foremost applications of mechanical engineering, in that it uses all the disciplines within the mechanical engineering field, not just a subset of them, and in that it tends to push every one of those disciplines up to and beyond the limits of currently-known technology.  Aerospace engineering, then, is an expansion of the mechanical engineering curriculum, rather than a focus on a particular aspect of it.  The goal of an aerospace curriculum is thus 1) to provide awareness and context of how the traditional mechanical engineering coursework is applied and often expanded to meet aerospace needs, and 2) to offer coursework and practical knowledge in areas where a traditional mechanical engineering student may not get an optimal level of exposure for the aerospace industry.

In the junior year, a student may choose to remain in the general Mechanical Engineering course of study or specialize with a concentration in Aerospace .  The concentration requires four aerospace-based courses, along with an aerospace-focused capstone senior design project.  The first three of these courses, Gas Dynamics, Fluid Machinery Design, and Fundamentals of Flight, are required, while the remainder of the requirement would be satisfied by taking either an Aerospace Testing, Validation, and Certification elective course, or an Aerospace Seminar elective course which highlights the latest topics in the field of Aerospace as presented by industry experts.

Degree Requirements 

Freshman Year - Fall Semester 

Subtotal: 16 cr.

Freshman Year - Spring Semester 

Subtotal: 16 cr.

Sophomore Year - Fall Semester 

Subtotal: 17 cr.

Sophomore Year - Spring Semester 

Subtotal: 17 cr.

Junior Year - Fall Semester 

Subtotal: 17 cr.

Junior Year - Spring Semester

Subtotal: 12 cr.

Total Credit Hours: 128

1. General Education courses must be selected in such a way to ensure that all Golden Bear Discovery requirements have been satisfied.

2. Select a Senior Design Project topic that contains an aerospace related component approved by the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

3. Select an Aerospace Elective published by the Department of Mechanical Engineering

The 2.000 required minimum grade point average in the major is based on all ME and Aerospace major courses pursued in the student’s degree program.