Mechanical Engineering, B.S.

Major Code: 7131	Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science
Delivery Mode(s): Classroom	Admission Status: Undergraduate
Location(s): Main campus - Melbourne

Mechanical engineers are deeply involved in activities that are essential to our modern civilization. These activities include the research, development, design and testing of materials, structures and machines for the generation of power, transportation and the production of electricity by the conversion of energy from various sources including chemical, nuclear, solar and geothermal; conception and design of all types of machines that serve humans and their many needs; construction and operation of production machinery for the manufacture of materials and consumer products; robotics and biomedical devices; and instrumentation, control and regulation of these and other types of mechanical systems.

The undergraduate curriculum of the mechanical engineering major at Florida Tech presents the fundamentals underlying modern mechanical engineering and prepares the student for a lifetime of continued learning. During the freshman and sophomore years, the emphasis is placed on mathematics and physics. An introduction to engineering in the freshman year previews the field and gives the students their first experience in engineering design. The sophomore and junior years direct the student toward the engineering sciences, including mechanics of solids, thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics. During the junior and senior years, the study becomes progressively centered on the specific issues facing practicing mechanical engineers. Students will be provided with an option to select an area of emphasis (or specialization) in one of the three engineering fields: 

• Design and Manufacturing: Delivers concentrated instruction in the fundamentals and practical applications, tools, and methods of product and process design, manufacturing, rapid prototyping and digital tools for design and manufacturing automation while developing an awareness of product life cycles and digital engineering. 
• Energy Systems: Prepares students to become skilled and knowledgeable mechanical engineers who will be able to address the pressing challenges related to the rapidly changing energy sector, environmental sustainability and the design of thermal systems for various applications.
• Robotics and Control: Equips students with critical engineering skills needed to develop, analyze and integrate robotic and mechatronic systems, providing a foundation for future specialization in various areas of dynamic systems, including automatic control, sensors and actuators, machine learning and artificial intelligence for robotics.

Mechanical engineering majors are encouraged to define career objectives early in the program so that in consultation with faculty advisors, the area of emphasis and elective courses can be selected that are best suited to achieving specific goals. Lists of elective courses pertaining to each area of emphasis are available from the department office or website. Alternatively, students may opt to take coursework across multiple areas of emphasis.

Laboratory experiences are essential to the education of engineers, and these are provided in chemistry, physics, computer-aided design, materials science, fluid mechanics and heat transfer. The capstone of the educational process is the senior mechanical engineering design project, which synthesizes and focuses elements from the various disciplines into a design activity of current mechanical engineering interest. The faculty serve jointly in the supervision of and consultation for these projects.

Upon completing their degree, graduates in mechanical engineering are equipped to embark on careers in either the private sector or governmental roles as professional engineers. Alternatively, they can pursue advanced studies in engineering, applied mechanics or mathematics. Mechanical engineers are found across numerous technical fields and are hired by a diverse range of industries and institutions. This includes rapidly growing sectors like high-performance vehicles, robotics, space exploration, biomechanical systems and sustainable energy solutions.

Educational Objectives

The educational objectives of the mechanical engineering program are to produce graduates who will be able to:

1. successfully apply and integrate their knowledge of fundamental principles into their chosen careers;
2. engage in lifelong learning by being involved in professional practice and continuing education and training as licensed engineers and/or pursuing advanced studies;
3. design technical systems incorporating decisions related to technical, environmental and social issues; and
4. exhibit ethics, leadership, social responsibility and effective communication skills in their careers.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering must complete the minimum course requirements as outlined in the following curriculum.

For definitions of electives for engineering programs, see Undergraduate Academic Information . A list of recommended technical electives and HU/SS electives is available from the department office or website.