Bachelor of Science (BS) / Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Mechanical Engineering is offered at many universities in the United States, and similar programs are offered at universities in most industrialized nations. In the U.S., Japan, Germany, Canada, Taiwan, South Korea, South Africa and many others, Mechanical Engineering programs typically take 4 to 5 years and result in a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or BSc (Mech Eng), but some countries like Singapore, Malaysia, India, and Nigeria offer a 4 year Bachelor of Science (BSc) / Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degree with Honors (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering. In Australia and New Zealand, requirements are typically a 4 years Bachelor of Engineering (BE or BEng) degree, equivalent to the British MEng level. A BEng degree differ from a BSc degree in that the students obtain a broader education consisting of information relevant to various engineering disciplines.
Most Mechanical Engineering programs in the U.S. are accredited by Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) to ensure similar course requirements and standards between universities. The ABET web site lists 276 accredited Mechanical Engineering programs as of June 19, 2006.[1] Mechanical Engineering programs in Canada are accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB).[2]
Some Mechanical Engineers go on to pursue a postgraduate degree such as a Master of Engineering/Master of Science, a Master of Engineering Management (MEng.Mgt), a Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering (DEng) or an Engineer's degree. The Master and Engineer's degree may consist of either research, coursework or a mixture of the two. The Doctor of Philosophy consists of a significant research component and is often viewed as the entry point to academia. [3]
[edit] Mechanical engineering coursework
Mechanical engineering programs generally cover the same fundamental subjects. Universities in the United States offering accredited programs in mechanical engineering are required to offer several major subjects of study, as determined by ABET. This is to ensure a minimum level of competence among graduating engineers and to inspire confidence in the engineering profession as a whole. The specific courses required to graduate, however, may differ from program to program. Universities will often combine multiple subjects into a single class or split a subject into multiple classes, depending on the faculty available and the University's major area(s) of research. Fundamental subjects of mechanical engineering include:
statics & dynamics
strength of materials & solid mechanics,
instrumentation and measurement,
thermodynamics, heat transfer, energy conversion, and refrigeration / air conditioning,
fluid mechanics/fluid dynamics,
mechanism design (including kinematics and dynamics),
manufacturing technology or processes,
hydraulics & pneumatics,
engineering design,
mechatronics and/or control theory,
drafting, CAD (usually including Solid modeling), and CAM.[4][5]
Mechanical engineers are also expected to understand and be able to apply basic concepts from chemistry, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, and physics. Most mechanical engineering programs include several semesters of calculus, as well as advanced mathematical concepts which may include differential equations and partial differential equations, linear and modern algebra, and differential geometry, among others.
In addition to the core mechanical engineering curriculum, many mechanical engineering programs offer more specialized programs and classes, such as mechatronics / robotics, transport and logistics, cryogenics, fuel technology, automotive engineering, biomechanics, vibration, optics and others, if a separate department does not exist for these subjects.[6]
Most mechanical engineering programs also require varying amounts of research or community projects to gain practical problem-solving experience. Mechanical engineering students usually hold one or more internships while studying, though this is not typically mandated by the university.
[edit] Licensure
After being awarded a degree, Engineers may seek licensure by a state or national government. The purpose of this process is to ensure that engineers possess the necessary technical knowledge and real-world experience to engineer safely. Once certified, the engineer is given the title of Professional Engineer (in the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea and South Africa), Chartered Engineer (in the UK, Ireland, India and Zimbabwe), Chartered Professional Engineer (in Australia and New Zealand) or European Engineer (much of the European Union). Not all mechanical engineers choose to become licensed; those that do can be distinguished as Chartered/Professional Engineers by the post-nominal title PE or CEng, as in: Ryan Jones, PE.
In the U.S., to become a licensed Professional Engineer, an Engineer must
pass the comprehensive FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam,
work a given number of years as an Engineering Intern (EI) or Engineer-in-Training (EIT),
pass the Principles and Practice or PE (Practicing Engineer or Professional Engineer) exam.
In the United States, the requirements and steps of this process are set forth by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), website, a national non-profit representing all states. In the UK, current graduates require a MSc, MEng or BEng (Hons) in order to become chartered through the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
"In most modern countries, certain engineering tasks, such as the design of bridges, electric power plants, and chemical plants, must be approved by a Professional Engineer or a Chartered Engineer."[7] In the USA and Canada, only a licensed engineer may seal engineering work for public and private clients.".[8] This requirement is written into state and provincial legislation, such as Quebec's Engineer Act.[9] In other countries, such as Australia, no such legislation exists; however, practically all certifying bodies maintain a code of ethics independent of legislation that they expect all members to abide by or risk expulsion.[10]
Most Mechanical Engineering programs in the U.S. are accredited by Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) to ensure similar course requirements and standards between universities. The ABET web site lists 276 accredited Mechanical Engineering programs as of June 19, 2006.[1] Mechanical Engineering programs in Canada are accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB).[2]
Some Mechanical Engineers go on to pursue a postgraduate degree such as a Master of Engineering/Master of Science, a Master of Engineering Management (MEng.Mgt), a Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering (DEng) or an Engineer's degree. The Master and Engineer's degree may consist of either research, coursework or a mixture of the two. The Doctor of Philosophy consists of a significant research component and is often viewed as the entry point to academia. [3]
[edit] Mechanical engineering coursework
Mechanical engineering programs generally cover the same fundamental subjects. Universities in the United States offering accredited programs in mechanical engineering are required to offer several major subjects of study, as determined by ABET. This is to ensure a minimum level of competence among graduating engineers and to inspire confidence in the engineering profession as a whole. The specific courses required to graduate, however, may differ from program to program. Universities will often combine multiple subjects into a single class or split a subject into multiple classes, depending on the faculty available and the University's major area(s) of research. Fundamental subjects of mechanical engineering include:
statics & dynamics
strength of materials & solid mechanics,
instrumentation and measurement,
thermodynamics, heat transfer, energy conversion, and refrigeration / air conditioning,
fluid mechanics/fluid dynamics,
mechanism design (including kinematics and dynamics),
manufacturing technology or processes,
hydraulics & pneumatics,
engineering design,
mechatronics and/or control theory,
drafting, CAD (usually including Solid modeling), and CAM.[4][5]
Mechanical engineers are also expected to understand and be able to apply basic concepts from chemistry, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, and physics. Most mechanical engineering programs include several semesters of calculus, as well as advanced mathematical concepts which may include differential equations and partial differential equations, linear and modern algebra, and differential geometry, among others.
In addition to the core mechanical engineering curriculum, many mechanical engineering programs offer more specialized programs and classes, such as mechatronics / robotics, transport and logistics, cryogenics, fuel technology, automotive engineering, biomechanics, vibration, optics and others, if a separate department does not exist for these subjects.[6]
Most mechanical engineering programs also require varying amounts of research or community projects to gain practical problem-solving experience. Mechanical engineering students usually hold one or more internships while studying, though this is not typically mandated by the university.
[edit] Licensure
After being awarded a degree, Engineers may seek licensure by a state or national government. The purpose of this process is to ensure that engineers possess the necessary technical knowledge and real-world experience to engineer safely. Once certified, the engineer is given the title of Professional Engineer (in the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea and South Africa), Chartered Engineer (in the UK, Ireland, India and Zimbabwe), Chartered Professional Engineer (in Australia and New Zealand) or European Engineer (much of the European Union). Not all mechanical engineers choose to become licensed; those that do can be distinguished as Chartered/Professional Engineers by the post-nominal title PE or CEng, as in: Ryan Jones, PE.
In the U.S., to become a licensed Professional Engineer, an Engineer must
pass the comprehensive FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam,
work a given number of years as an Engineering Intern (EI) or Engineer-in-Training (EIT),
pass the Principles and Practice or PE (Practicing Engineer or Professional Engineer) exam.
In the United States, the requirements and steps of this process are set forth by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), website, a national non-profit representing all states. In the UK, current graduates require a MSc, MEng or BEng (Hons) in order to become chartered through the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
"In most modern countries, certain engineering tasks, such as the design of bridges, electric power plants, and chemical plants, must be approved by a Professional Engineer or a Chartered Engineer."[7] In the USA and Canada, only a licensed engineer may seal engineering work for public and private clients.".[8] This requirement is written into state and provincial legislation, such as Quebec's Engineer Act.[9] In other countries, such as Australia, no such legislation exists; however, practically all certifying bodies maintain a code of ethics independent of legislation that they expect all members to abide by or risk expulsion.[10]
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