Program Director

Dr. Christopher Damm
Office: S-144
Phone: (414) 277-7543
Email: damm@msoe.edu

Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. It involves the design, development, analysis and control of devices, machines and systems. A degree in mechanical engineering prepares students for careers in industries such as energy, environmental, manufacturing, biotechnology, medical, transportation, aerospace and more. The degree also forms a solid foundation for further graduate studies. Electives in MSOE’s mechanical engineering program allow for specialization including mechanical design (solid mechanics, machine dynamics and medical applications), energy systems (renewable energy, aerodynamics, thermal systems and fluid power) and materials/manufacturing (metals, polymers, composites and processing).

Program Goals

The goals of the mechanical engineering program are:

• to produce mechanical engineering graduates with a strong theoretical and applications background, whose analytical, design and laboratory experiences make them attractive to industry and capable of advanced study in engineering.
• produce well-rounded engineers who view engineering as a profession with social and ethical responsibilities.
• to provide an intimate learning environment, with personal involvement of faculty with significant industrial experience.

Program Educational Objectives

Based on these goals, the educational objectives of the mechanical engineering program are to produce engineering graduates who, during their professional careers, will:

• use their educations to become productive, contributing professionals in their chosen field.
• demonstrate initiative in their professional activities.
• show continued professional development.
• understand the impact of their professional activities on society.

Student Outcomes

In accordance with the stated program educational objectives, the student outcomes of the program are to produce graduates who have:

• an ability to apply knowledge of math, engineering, and science.
• an ability to design and conduct experiments, and to analyze and interpret data.
• an ability to design a system, component or process to meet needs within realistic constraints.
• an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams.
• an ability to identify, formulate and solve mechanical engineering problems.
• an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
• an ability to communicate effectively.
• the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context.
• the recognition of need for, and an ability to engage in, life long learning.
• a knowledge of contemporary issues.
• the ability to use techniques, skills, and tools in engineering practice.
• the ability to work professionally in both thermal and mechanical systems areas.

The mechanical engineering curriculum has been designed to achieve these objectives and outcomes. The components of the curriculum are:

• the freshman year, consisting of a broad-based education focused on the mathematics, basic sciences, the humanities and an introductory sequence in mechanical engineering applications.
• the sophomore year, which serves as a transition from broad-based general education to the highly focused mechanical engineering courses through advanced studies in mathematics and science, and a course sequence in engineering mechanics and systems.
• the junior year, in which the student focuses in-depth in each of the three branches of technical specialization through the use of the energy sequence, the materials/manufacturing sequence and the mechanics sequence.
• the senior year, in which the focus is on application of the knowledge acquired in the first three years of the curriculum to the design of mechanical and thermal systems, with special emphasis on technical electives and the senior design project.

View Annual Student Enrollment and Graduation Data