BS in Mechanical Engineering
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Program Overview
Lift off
Every fall, first-year engineering students devise and launch water bottle rockets for the mechanical portion of their World of Engineering class. This is a full semester class that provides an introduction to the engineering disciplines to assist students in declaring a major.
Join society’s designers, builders and problem solvers
Companies all over the world rely on mechanical engineers to design, build, test and improve their most important mechanical systems and devices. In our program, you’ll develop the design and analytical skills necessary for careers in many diverse fields, from aerospace, robotics and automotive, to power and energy, manufacturing, and biomedical.
Teaching is our faculty’s top priority, and our professors are committed to developing every student into strong mechanical engineers ready for their careers and on the path to licensure. Passionate scholars and accomplished in their fields, they’ll bring the principles of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, control theory and engineering design to life for you in a supportive environment characterized by small class sizes and a close-knit community.
Our labs and classrooms are designed to provide you with a hands-on, collaborative and multidisciplinary learning experience. From the lathes and mills in the machine shop, to the air conditioning system trainer in our thermal heat and transfer lab, our teaching equipment emphasizes dynamic mechanical engineering principles in action. A large portion of our curriculum focuses on design and fabrication, giving you ample opportunities to bring prototypes and models of your own design to life with powerful software tools, 3D printers and more.
Courses and lab work also provide early opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, giving you an edge as you begin internships and, later, your career. You'll have the chance to participate in interdepartmental projects, not just with your peers in other engineering programs, but with students from a wide range of backgrounds, from health sciences to entrepreneurship.
Building a Sustainable World
Eco-bricks made simpler
Mechanical engineering alumnus Christopher Monferrato ’17 could honestly say that his senior capstone project will one day help build eco-friendly schools for rural communities in Guatemala.
Called “bottle schools,” the structures eschew the use of cinder blocks for plastic bottles filled with non-organic trash called “eco bricks.” Eco-bricks are cheap to make and help solve Guatemala’s garbage problem, but take a long time to produce. Monferrato’s purpose was clear: build a machine capable of filling multiple bottles at once that is time-efficient, durable and cost-effective.
Monferrato and his peers successfully designed and built a prototype that could load, pack and compress up to five bottles in five minutes. They hope the final device will be simple enough to be operated by both children and adults.
“In order for this to work, the entire community has to get involved,” said Monferrato. “It’s very empowering for them.”
Read the full story
Community service
Christopher Monferrato works on a machine prototype that will assist workers in Guatemala who use bottles filled with shredded trash to make eco-bricks, which are used to build schools and houses. He worked in the machine shop at the Center for Communications and Engineering on March 24, 2017.
Faculty Spotlight
Renowned leader
Grant Crawford, a mechanical engineering professor at Quinnipiac since 2014, served in the U.S. Army and leads teams all over the world.
Leadership through example
When Grant Crawford joined Quinnipiac in 2014 as a professor of mechanical engineering, he brought with him nearly 30 years of practical leadership experience. As a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, Crawford had led teams of diverse individuals all over the world, from Germany to Iraq to South Korea, and later mentored in the engineering facility at the National Military Academy of Afghanistan, in Kabul.
Given his achievements as a leader, practicing engineer and educator, his nomination for president-elect of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) came as no surprise to peers and students.
"Engagement with the ASEE perfectly aligns with my two passions; teaching engineering and serving others," he said.
Crawford is no stranger to the ASEE. In his sixth year on the board of directors, he founded the organization's Military and Veteran's Division. He also has led the Innovation Strategic Doing Team and serves on the Diversity, Public Policy and Long Range Planning committees. Crawford remains guided by the same sense of duty that was drilled into him long ago as a student at West Point, which he tries to instill in his students at Quinnipiac.
"As we continue to engage in national and global challenges, it is even more critical as engineering educators to promote our ability to make positive impacts in the lives and communities of those we serve," Crawford said.
Hard Hat Ceremony Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery
Students receive their hard hats and awards at our annual Hard Hat Ceremony
In it together
Lauren Atkinson '22 and Amanda Etienne '21 celebrate the moment.
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Faculty
Faculty dedicated to student success
Quinnipiac’s School of Engineering professors are committed to the personal and professional success of every student. While passionate scholars and accomplished in their own fields, teaching is their number one priority. Small class sizes, accessible professors and a close-knit community create the kind of supporting, enriching environment that is rare. We are personally invested in seeking ways to help our students develop into strong, certified, leading professionals.
Facilities
The tools to create, collaborate and succeed
From the lathes and mills found in the machine shop, to the laser cutter workshop's high-powered Vytek 200W CO2 laser, our program's teaching equipment is immaculate and state of the art. Each piece of technology emphasizes principles in action — such as the air conditioning system trainer in our Thermal Heat and Transfer Lab, which illustrates the inner-workings of a large A/C unit and what it takes to overload it.
Beyond metals, machinery and energy transfer, a large part of our curriculum focuses on design, fabrication and precision. Our 3D Printing Room is equipped with FDM and PolyJet printers necessary to bring your ideas to life. In our Circuits Lab, you'll cover more of the finer skills required of mechanical engineers. Here, you will work with the same detailed circuitry that powers a range of everyday consumer items, from motors and computers to guitar amplifiers and electric toothbrushes.
Mechanical Engineering Facilities Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery
Mechanical engineering facilities
Bringing lessons to life
Within the Machine Shop, students engage in guided fabrication activities that build manufacturing knowledge and skills.
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Curriculum and Requirements
BS in Mechanical Engineering Curriculum
The Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering program requires 127 credits.
Within the policies of the School of Engineering, the Mechanical Engineering program enforces credit limits during the academic terms. Exceeding 18 credits in the Fall or Spring semester, 4 credits in the January term, or 10 credits in each Summer term requires the approval of the Dean's Office.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Curriculum | ||
| Foundations of Inquiry: | ||
| FYS 101 | First-Year Seminar | 3 |
| EN 101 | Introduction to Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
| EN 102 | Academic Writing and Research | 3 |
| Quantitative Literacy: | ||
| MA 285 | Applied Statistics | 3 |
| Disciplinary Inquiry: | ||
| CHE 110 & 110L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| EC 111 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| Humanities | 3 | |
| Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Personal Inquiry 1: | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 4 | |
BIO 101 & 101L | General Biology I and General Biology I Lab | |
CHE 111 & 111L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab | |
| Humanities, Social Science, Fine Arts (2 classes; must be from two different areas) | 6 | |
| Personal Inquiry 2: | ||
| ENR 110 | The World of an Engineer | 3 |
| MA 151 | Calculus I | 4 |
| PHY 121 | University Physics | 4 |
| Integrative Capstone: | ||
| University Capstone | 3 | |
| In addition to the University Curriculum, students majoring in Mechanical Engineering must complete the following requirements: | ||
| Foundational Courses for Mechanical Engineering | ||
| CSC 106 | Introduction to Programming for Engineers | 3 |
| MA 153 | Calculus II: Part A | 2 |
| MA 154 | Calculus II: Part B | 2 |
| MA 251 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MA 265 | Linear Algebra and Differential Equations | 4 |
| PHY 122 | University Physics II | 4 |
| Common Engineering Curriculum | ||
| ENR 210 | Engineering Economics and Project Management | 3 |
| ENR 395 | Professional Development Seminar | 1 |
| Mechanical Engineering Courses | ||
| MER 210 | Fundamentals of Engineering Mechanics and Design | 3 |
| MER 240 | Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Design | 1 |
| MER 220 & 220L | Mechanics of Materials and Mechanics of Materials Lab | 4 |
| MER 221 | Dynamics | 3 |
| MER 230 & 230L | Engineering Materials and Engineering Materials Lab | 4 |
| MER 250 | Computer Aided Design | 3 |
| MER 310 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| MER 320 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| MER 330 & 330L | Introduction to Circuits and Introduction to Circuits Lab | 4 |
| MER 340 & 340L | Manufacturing/Machine Component Design and Manufacturing/Machine Component Design Lab | 4 |
| MER 350 | Mechanical Engineering Design | 3 |
| MER 360 | Heat Transfer | 3 |
| MER 470 & 470L | Dynamic Modeling and Control and Dynamic Modeling and Controls Lab | 4 |
MER 490 | Engineering Professional Experience | |
| MER 498 | ME Major Design Experience | 3 |
| Mechanical Engineering Electives | ||
| Select two MER technical electives: | 6 | |
| Technical elective | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
One additional MER technical elective from above | ||
Other 200-level or higher CER, IER or SER course with program director approval | ||
| Total Credits | 126 | |
Additional course details
Explore descriptions, schedule and instructor information using the Course Finder tool.
Program Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes
Program educational objectives
Within four to seven years after graduation, mechanical engineering majors are expected to attain:
- Position(s) of responsibility in which they:
- work effectively in teams
- manage resources
- solve complex problems
- communicate information
- influence decisions
- act ethically
- balance constraints
- Self-development through formal and informal learning opportunities.
- Sustained employment and/or further education in a technical/professional field.
- Capacity to engage independently in meaningful creative endeavors.
Student outcomes
Upon completion of the mechanical engineering program students will have acquired:
- an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
- an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
- an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
- an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
- an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
Enrollment and Graduation Data
Student enrollment:
- 2018-19: 117
- 2017-18: 104
- 2016-17: 101
- 2015-16: 82
- 2014-15: 59
- 2013-14: 34
- 2012-13: 8
Number of mechanical engineering program graduates:
- 2017-18: 20
- 2016-17: 9
- 2015-16: 12 (inaugural class)
