2000-2001 Undergraduate Catalog College of Engineering - Mechanical Engineering

Professor Bahram Nassersharif, department head

Associate Professor Ronald J. Pederson^†, associate department head

Professors Colbaugh, Genin^†, Hardee*^†, Hensel*, Hills, Mulholland* (emeritus), Smith*; Associate Professors Choo, Conley^†, Leslie, Reynolds, Willem (emeritus); Assistant Professor Garcia; College Professors Hill, Donaldson*, Schoenmackers; College Associate Professor Aukland*; Adjunct Professor Mohaghegh; Adjunct Assistant Professors Omori, McClenahan

(505) 646-3501

*Registered Professional Engineer (NM)

^†Registered Professional Engineer (State other than NM)

DEGREE: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

The mechanical engineering program prepares students for a wide range of professional engineering careers in such areas as research and development, design, facilities operation and maintenance, management, and production. Graduates of the program will be prepared to apply engineering sciences, mathematics, computational methods, modern experimental methods, and effective communication skills to problems of interest in industry and government or scholarly topics. Employment opportunities for graduates are extensive. These include energy and utility, manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, defense and space, research and development, and many others. The emphasis in the curriculum is on engineering sciences (solid mechanics, thermal sciences, fluid mechanics, and materials science), mathematics, engineering analysis, engineering design, general sciences, and communication balanced with general education topics and electives. Graduates of the program will also be prepared for graduate studies (subject to grade-point and standardized test qualifications). Students will be prepared to take the fundamentals of engineering examination (and are encouraged to do so) as a step towards professional registration.

Mechanical Engineering Educational Goals and Objectives

The goals of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, as set forth in our 1998 Strategic Plan, are

* to educate those who will advance knowledge and become the future leaders of industry and academia;

* to conduct both basic and applied research in mechanical engineering and related interdisciplinary areas; and

* to provide service to the profession, to the State of New Mexico, to the country, and to the future development of engineering world wide.

A critical focus within the department is to afford undergraduates of varying backgrounds and abilities every opportunity for achieving success in the mechanical engineering profession. To address this focus, the faculty of the mechanical engineering department, with input from other constituents, have established the following educational objectives for the undergraduate program:

* to prepare students for successful careers and lifelong learning;

* to educate students thoroughly in engineering science and methods of analysis, including the mathematical and computational methods appropriate for engineers to use when solving problems;

* to develop the skills pertinent to the design process, including the students' ability to formulate problems, to think creatively, to communicate effectively, to synthesize information, and to work collaboratively;

* to teach students to use modern experimental and data analysis techniques; and

* to instill in our students an understanding of their professional and ethical responsibilities.

Graduation Requirements

In addition to the NMSU requirements for graduation, a student must obtain a minimum grade of C in mechanical engineering courses.

Requirements (Total credits 130)

Freshman Year (33 credits)

Basic science option: CHEM 114, General Chemistry for Engineers, and basic science elective, or CHEM 111, General Chemistry I, and CHEM 112, Chemistry II	8
COMM 265G, Principles of Human Communication	3
ENGR 101, Introduction to Engineering	1
ENGL 111G, Rhetoric and Composition	4
ENGL 218G, Technical and Scientific Communication	3
I E 217/217L, Manufacturing Processes/Laboratory	3
MATH 191, 192, Calculus and Analytic Geometry I, II	6
M E 159, Graphical Communication and Design	2
M E 166, Introduction to Design	3
Approved General Education Literature and Fine Arts elective	3

Sophomore Year (33 credits)

C E 233, Mechanics-Statics	3
E E 201, Networks I	3
MATH 291, Calculus and Analytic Geometry III	3
MATH 392, Differential Equations	3
M E 234, Mechanics-Dynamics	3
M E 240, Thermodynamics	3
M E 256, Design of Mechanisms	3
M E 260, Mechanical Engineering Problem Solving	3
PHYS 215, Engineering Physics I	3
PHYS 216, Engineering Physics II	3

Junior Year (33 credits)

C E 235, Mechanics of Materials	3
CH E 361, Engineering Materials	3
ECON 251G, Principles of Macroeconomics, or ECON 252G, Principles of Microeconomics	3
M E 328, Engineering Analysis I	3
M E 338, Fluid Mechanics	3
M E 340, Applied Thermodynamics	3
M E 345, Experimental Methods I	3
M E 329, Engineering Analysis II	3
M E 326, Mechanical Design	3
M E 341, Heat Transfer	3
Approved General Education History elective	3

Senior Year (31 credits)

M E 425, Design of Machine Elements	3
M E 426, Design Project Laboratory I	3
M E 427, Design Project Laboratory II	3
M E 445, Experimental Methods II	3
M E 449, Mechanical Engineering Senior Seminar	1
Approved General Education Human Thought and Behavior elective	3
Approved General Education Viewing a Wider World elective	3
Approved General Education Viewing a Wider World ECON elective	3
Mathematics elective*	3
Mechanical engineering electives**	6

*Mathematics electives must be taken from MATH 280, 391, 471, 472, 473, 480, STAT 371, E ST 465, or I E 310.
**Students in their senior year choose 6 credits of M E electives. Of the 6 credits of M E electives, at least 2 credits must be engineering science credits.