Mechanical Engineering
Undergraduate Degree Available: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Undergraduate Programs
Mechanical engineers design, analyze, and improve mechanical systems using physics, math, materials science, and computer applications. They work across industries like automotive, aerospace, and energy, contributing at every stage of a product's lifecycle, from design to maintenance. Using CAD and simulation tools, they ensure designs are functional, efficient, and reliable. Mechanical engineers also collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to solve challenges in mechanics, thermodynamics, and fluid dynamics, aiming to create safer, sustainable, and advanced products.
Why Choose this Degree
Students in this department develop real world skills, using both traditional mechanical engineering approaches as well as the latest computational design and advanced manufacturing techniques.
- In our capstone senior design course, some students work with nearly 20 business sponsors, both national and local, to craft solutions to industrial challenges, while others participate national design competitions, focused on aerospace, robotics, and automotives
- These skills provide our students with the education and experience they need to work in the manufacturing and business worlds, to pursue careers in industry, consulting, government and military or to start their own businesses
- Undergraduate students also have the opportunity to work directly with faculty in their labs to gain research experience and valuable analytical skills.
Courses
Program Educational Objectives
The BSME Program Educational Objectives are to produce graduates who, within a few years of graduation, are expected to:
- Contribute to the economic development of Arkansas and the world through the practice of Mechanical Engineering;
- Meet or exceed the needs and expectations of mechanical engineering employers in industry, government, and private practice;
- Engage in professional activities that promote the mechanical engineering profession and provide continuing self-development, and develop leadership potential;
- Succeed in graduate study and research, if pursued; and
- Become licensed professional engineers, if pursued.
Student Outcomes
Completion of the degree requirements provides graduates with the following learning outcomes and ability to:
- Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics;
- 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 judgments, 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 judgment to draw conclusions; and Student Graduation; and,
- Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
ABET Accreditation
The BS degree in Mechanical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET; https://www.abet.org.
When you graduate, you will have the opportunity to become a registered Professional Engineer. Three steps are required to become registered, a requirement for private practice.
- Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Examination (also called the Engineering Intern Exam)
- Four to seven years of professional practice
- Passing the National Professional Engineering (PE) Examination. This allows one to become registered in most states and eligible for reciprocal registration in most states.
The FE examination is given every fall and spring on this campus. The exam should
be taken during one's senior year in the semester immediately prior to graduation,
when you will have the best command over the widest range of fundamentals. Additional
information about professional registration and applications to take the exam are
available online at the Arkansas State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors website. Applications are also available in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Office every fall and spring. You are strongly recommended to take the examination.