formerly University of Missouri-Rolla
Missouri S&T






Mechanical & Aerospace
Engineering
210 Mechanical Engineering
400 W. 13th St.
Rolla, MO 65409
(573) 341-4661
mae@mst.edu

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Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

What will I be studying?

Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines you can enter. A mechanical engineer is involved in the creation of almost anything manmade that you encounter; whether it be the car you drive to work, the potato chips you eat at lunch, or the heating and air-conditioning system that keeps you comfortable at home, a mechanical engineer helped create it. Thus with an ME degree you can work in a wide spectrum of industries: the aerospace, automotive, bioengineering, communications, food processing, petroleum and product manufacturing industries are just a few.

Diversity in work environments goes hand-in-hand with the scope of industries from which you can choose. You might find employment in a small, local company doing highly design-oriented office work, or on the plant floor of a large international firm, working closely with a manufacturing operation. If you become a project manager, you'll take projects from initial conceptualization all the way to production, integrating your technical knowledge with management skills. Whatever your interests may be, you'll have the opportunity to seek the type of work environment in which you're most comfortable.

Mechanical engineers work on diverse, challenging problems requiring the integration of science, engineering, and socio-economic knowledge. The courses you'll take cover a purposefully broad scope of topics to prepare you to deal with the "big picture."

 

What You'll StudyWhat You Learn
Basic SciencesYou'll start by building a solid foundation in the tools of the trade-the basic sciences of math, physics, and chemistry. These provide the basis from which you'll come to understand, model, and solve complex problems.
Computer Modeling and ProgrammingAlong the way you'll gain computer-aided skills like 3-D graphical modeling, mathematical manipulation, and programming. These provide the means to carry the theory you learn into practical applications of enormous scale.
Materials and MechanicsMaterials are an important consideration in the design of both products and machines. You'll take several fundamental engineering science classes to gain an essential understanding of materials and how they behave when subjected to motion and forces.
Machine DesignOne of the hallmarks of mechanical engineering is the area of machine design-the fascinating world of gears, cams, bearings, and linkages. With a combination of creativity and methodology, mechanical engineers mold design specifications into an operating device. Your design experience will begin your freshman year with a "design and build" challenge and continue throughout your studies in the form of hands-on design projects that correspond to the theory you're learning. As a senior, this practical experience will culminate in your capstone design project. Combining your technical skills with knowledge you've gained in engineering management and economics, you'll work on a team to solve an industrial level problem from the ground up-designing, budgeting, constructing, testing, and presenting your solution.
Modeling and ControlsModeling and Controls courses will take away the guesswork and teach you to represent mechanical systems with mathematical equations. You'll learn to predict and control the behavior of complex systems, such as the automatic control of a jet aircraft to maintain stable flight in a constantly changing environment.
EnergyEnergy is a primary topic in mechanical engineering-particularly storing and converting energy from one form to another. The concepts you'll study in thermodynamics and heat transfer are necessary for engine design, development of building heating and cooling systems, product manufacturing, and power plant design.
ManufacturingEfficient methods of manufacturing are essential to the viability of any design. The courses you'll take are designed to give you a practical understanding of the issues of manufacturing-from hands-on machine shop experience to programming a robot. Through technical electives, you'll have the opportunity to broaden or specialize your degree with coursework in areas like automation, robotics, rapid prototyping, virtual reality manufacturing, and laser manufacturing.
Communication and TeamworkEngineering is not just about technical things; it is about problem solving. Generally, engineering problems are too complex to handle alone, so engineers must be both effective communicators and team players. You'll gain experience in communication-oral, written, and graphic-as well as teamwork throughout your education at Missouri S&T.

 

Curriculum

 

Student Organizations

Student Design Teams
As an ME student you can get involved in a variety of student design teams that work on competition projects like the Missouri S&T Solar Car, Human-Powered Vehicle, and SAE Formula Car. Team members of these student-run organizations handle everything from design and production to fundraising, publicity, and competition driving. You can join most teams as early as your freshman year, learning what you need as you go.

Professional and Honor Societies
Other leadership, service, and social opportunities are available in various professional and honor societies. These groups plan and host plant trips, industry speakers, and departmental social gatherings. Members also regularly help out the department by providing tours to visiting high school students and representing Missouri S&T at recruitment events.

Facilities and Technology

  • Virtual Reality Lab
  • Rapid Prototyping Lab
  • Robotics Lab
  • Computer Numerically Controlled Manufacturing Lab
  • PLC Lab
  • Engine Lab
  • PACE lab
  • 3 Computer Learning Centers

 

Financial Assistance