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2016-2017 University Catalog
Mechanical Engineering, BS
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Banner Code: VS-BS-ME
School: Volgenau School of Engineering
Department: Mechanical Engineering
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.
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Degree Requirements
Degree requirements include 121 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 121 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 121 credits, including all of the following:
Mathematics and Science Credits: 32
Computer Science Credits: 4
Communication and Economics Credits: 6
Additional Mason Core Credits: 18
- Arts Credits: 3
- Global Understanding Credits: 3
- Literature Credits: 3
- Western Civilization/World History Credits: 3
- Written Communication (lower level) Credits: 3
- Written Communication (upper level) Credits:3
Capstone Experience Requirement
Mason’s synthesis requirement for mechanical engineering majors is satisfied by ME 444 - Mechanical Design II Credits: 3.
Change of Major
Students who are considering mechanical engineering as their major must meet with the Volgenau School of Engineering Coordinator of Undergraduate Advising, 2500 Nguyen Engineering Building.
Termination from the Major
No math, science or Volgenau School of Engineering course that is 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 .
Once a student has attempted one of these courses twice unsuccessfully, the third attempt must be no later than the next semester of enrollment, excluding summers. Failure to take the course at that time will result in termination from the major. If the student is unable to take the course when required, the student may request an extension to a future semester; extensions require approval of the student’s advisor, their department, and the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs. The deadline for extension requests is the add deadline for the semester in which the course is required.
A student may not declare any major in the Volgenau School of Engineering if the student has previously met the termination criteria for that major at any time, regardless of what the student’s major was at the time the courses were taken.
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 104 and STAT 250 .
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