2014-2015 University Catalog 
  
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2014-2015 University Catalog

Mechanical Engineering, BS (pending SCHEV approval)

Banner Code:  VS-BS-ME

School: Volgenau School of Engineering 

Department: Interdisciplinary Programs (VS) 

Note: as of catalog publication in April, the program described below has been approved by the Board of Visitors and sent to the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia for consideration as a new degree program. The university cannot accept applications or enroll students in this program until SCHEV approval has been granted. Check the college/school website for current program status.

Today, the role of mechanical engineer is ever expanding in order to find innovative solutions for contemporary problems, and to address problems yet to be identified.  To meet the growing demands of worldwide energy needs spurred by population growth and dwindling supplies of fossil fuels, for instance, mechanical engineers seek innovations in nuclear energy, bio-fuels, wind, and tidal energies to build an energy portfolio that exploits these seemingly limitless resources.  From product design, which spans from biomedical devices to turbo-machinery, to manufacturing, which develops machines and systems needed to process raw materials into these products, an awareness of the benefits of advanced materials for sensing and monitoring the health of these systems and an awareness of the stealth threats to manufacturing brought on by an ever present cyber threat are in the minds of the mechanical engineers.  Now more mechanical engineers oversee the operations and management of large systems along with the fiscal and human resources needed to run them.  

James Michener once said, “Scientists dream about doing great things. Engineers do them.” Mechanical engineers use science to advance technologies and to develop products for the benefit of society, in a discipline which dates back to the earliest of times in civilization. The major in mechanical engineering has three program education objectives, namely:

  • Graduates have demonstrated success as a mechanical engineer or their chosen career field;
  • Graduates have advanced their educational pursuits through graduate education, professional registration, or similar means;
  • Graduates have advanced their careers by engaging in professional society participation and community service outreach.

 

Degree Requirements

Degree requirements include 124 credits distributed in three main areas: mechanical engineering, mathematics and basic science, and humanities and social sciences.  Students must complete all math, science and Volgenau School of Engineering courses presented as part of the required 124 credits for the degree with a grade of C or better.  

Students are required to see their faculty advisor at least once each year to plan their curriculum.  For the BS ME degree, students must complete 124 credits, including all of the following:  

Engineering Credits: 64

Mathematics and Science Credits: 32

Computer Science Credits: 4

English, Communication and Economics Credits: 9

Additional Mason Core Credits: 15

  • Written Communication (lower level)  Credits:3
  • Literature  Credits: 3
  • Arts  Credits: 3
  • Western Civilization/World History  Credits: 3
  • Global Understanding  Credits: 3

Writing Intensive Requirement

Mason’s writing-intensive requirement is satisfied by ME 453 - Senior Seminar  (pending approval).

Synthesis Requirement

Mason’s synthesis requirement for mechanical engineering majors is satisfied by ME 443 - Mechanical Design I  and ME 444 - Mechanical Engineering Design II  (pending approval).

Total: 124 credits

Termination from the Major

No math, science or Volgenau School of Engineering course, required for the major, may be attempted more than three times.  Those students who do not successfully complete such a course within three attempts will be terminated from the major. Undeclared students in the Volgenau School who do not successfully complete a course required for a Volgenau School major within three attempts will also be terminated.  For more information, see the “Termination from the Major” section under AP.5 Undergraduate Policies .

Students who have been terminated from a Volgenau School of Engineering major may not register for a Volgenau School course without permission of the department offering the course. This applies to all undergraduate courses offered by the Volgenau School except IT 103 and STAT 250.