Courses

Click on a course title below to be taken to a course description.

Engineering (ENGR) Courses
156. INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING.
274. MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING.
390. SPECIAL ENGINEERING TOPICS.
402. BUSINESS FOR TECHNICAL PROFESSIONALS.

Engineering (ENGR) Courses

156. INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING.
Introduces students to the engineering profession and the design process. Course lectures and assignments include the design process; problem definition and solution; oral and written communications; group dynamics; public responsibility; current global engineering challenges; and engineering ethics. A group design project is required. For electrical engineering students, this course is taken concurrently with Computer Science 141. For mechanical engineering students, this course is taken concurrently with Mechanical Engineering 120.
Prerequisites: None.
Offered/Length: Semester course, two hours.
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274. MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING.
A course for engineering and science majors covering selected topics in probability and statistics, linear algebra, discrete mathematics, and numerical methods as applied to the solution of problems in engineering and science. Students who receive credit for Mathematics 213, 222, and 331 may not receive credit for Engineering 274.
Prerequisites: Mathematics 261.
Offered/Length: Semester course, three hours.
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390. SPECIAL ENGINEERING TOPICS.
Special topics in the areas of new engineering development based on student demand and faculty interest. Specific subject matter varies each semester with prerequisites and credit hours announced in advance of registration.
Prerequisites: See above.
Offered/Length: Semester course, one, two, three or four hours.
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402. BUSINESS FOR TECHNICAL PROFESSIONALS.
Principles and methods for analyzing the economical feasibility of engineering projects including interest, depreciation, rate-of-return, economic life, replacement costs, and comparison of alternative designs. Key business and financial concepts and how they relate to engineering will also be presented. Topics to be discussed include basic accounting principles, an introduction to common financial statements, cash flow issues, an overview of commonly used business performance measures, a discussion of variable and fixed costs, and management of working capital.
Prerequisites: Mathematics 141 or 161; junior or senior standing.
Offered/Length: Spring semester only, one hour.
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Mechanical Engineering (MECE) Courses

120. NUMERICAL COMPUTING FOR MECHANICAL ENGINEERS.
This course introduces students to applied numerical computation, with an emphasis on solving typical mechanical engineering problems. Sequential logic programming is taught using Matlab. Topics include array and scalar operators, program control elements, graphic and text I/O, internal and user-defined functions. Students are introduced to numerical methods such as root finding, solutions to systems of linear equations, linear regression, and numerical integration and differentiation. Spreadsheet programming is also taught.
Prerequisites: Physics 101, Mathematics 161.
Offered/Length:Spring semester only, three hours.
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201. FUNDAMENTALS OF MATERIAL SCIENCE.
Models of crystalline and molecular structures are presented to explain the diverse properties of metallic; polymeric and ceramic materials; including atomic bonding and crystal structure; elastic and plastic deformation; phase of equilibria and transformation; thermal processing; and corrosion.
Prerequisites: Chemistry 105.
Offered/Length:Fall semester only, three hours.
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208. ENGINEERING GRAPHICS WITH SOLID MODELING.

Introduction to engineering graphics including technical sketches and detail drawings. Introduction to mechanical CAD solid modeling using Pro/Engineer software, including basic and advanced geometry creation, assemblies and drawings.
Prerequisites: None.
Offered/Length:Fall semester only, three hours.
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210. DESIGN FOR MANUFACTURING.
Introduction to manufacturing processes, including part characteristics, economic production quantities, materials, and design recommendations. Emphasis is placed on process and material selection and design for manufacturability. The course includes plant tours.
Prerequisites: Mechanical Engineering 201 and 208.
Offered/Length:Spring semester only, three hours.
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211. MECHANICS I.

Static equilibrium of particles and rigid bodies; analysis of structures, trusses, and cables; friction; centroids and moments of inertia; methods of virtual work; and energy are addressed. Engineering applications are also incorporated.
Prerequisites: Mathematics 162, Mechanical Engineering 120.
Offered/Length:Fall semester only, three hours.
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212. MECHANICS II.
A study of rectilinear and curvilinear motion of particles and rigid bodies; kinetics of particles and rigid bodies; relative motion, work, and energy; impulse and momentum. Engineering applications.
Prerequisites: Mechanical Engineering 211.
Offered/Length:Spring semester only, three hours.
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214. THERMODYNAMICS.
The study of the fundamental principles and some applications of classical thermodynamics. Topics include properties of pure substances; heat, work, and mass transfer; first law of thermodynamics; second law of thermodynamics; entropy; gas power cycles; vapor power cycles; and refrigeration cycles.
Prerequisites: Mathematics 261.
Offered/Length:Spring semester only, three hours.
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251. MECHANICAL SYSTEMS LABORATORY I.
A lab course designed to introduce students to engineering practices including dimensioning, gaging and measuring, machining operations, manufacturing processes, and engineering standards for fasteners, threads, etc. Hands-on application will be taught through fabrication of a model Stirling engine. Mechanical Engineering 251 is designed to fulfill the requirements for an Information Literacy (IL) course in the Mechanical Engineering major.
Prerequisites: sophomore mechanical engineering standing.
Offered/Length:Fall semester only, one hour.
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252. MECHANICAL SYSTEMS LABORATORY II.

A lab course designed to introduce students to engineering experimental techniques, including planning, controls, basic instrumentation, basic data analysis, and report writing. Includes experiments on material science, statics and dynamics.
Prerequisites: sophomore mechanical engineering standing and Mechanical Engineering 251.
Offered/Length:Spring semester only, one hour.
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260. INDEPENDENT STUDY
Individual study of specialized topics in Mechanical Engineering. Sophomore standing and permission of the department chair and a faculty sponsor is required. A combined total of up to three credit hours for independent study, independent research, and honors courses can be applied towards the Mechanical Engineering elective requirements.
Offered/Length: Semester course, one, two or three hours.
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270. INDEPENDENT RESEARCH
An opportunity to conduct supervised research in Mechanical Engineering. Sophomore standing and permission of the department chair and a faculty sponsor is required. A combined total of up to three credit hours for independent study, independent research, and honors courses can be applied towards the Mechanical Engineering elective requirements.
Offered/Length: Semester course, one, two or three hours.
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311. MECHANICS OF MATERIALS.
Fundamentals of mechanics of materials, including stress and strain; axial loading; Hooke's Law and Poisson's ratio; torsion; bending; transverse loading; stress and strain transformations; beam analysis; and buckling.
Prerequisites: Mathematics 262 and Mechanical Engineering 210 and 212.
Offered/Length:Fall semester only, three hours.
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312. STRESS ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF MACHINE COMPONENTS.
Application of stress analysis to static, fatigue, and surface fatigue failures. Design of shafts, including limits and fits and bearing selection. Design and selection of machine elements such as screws, bolted joints, weldments, springs, gears, brakes, etc.
Prerequisites: Mechanical Engineering 311.
Offered/Length:Spring semester only, three hours.
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314. KINEMATICS AND DYNAMICS OF MACHINERY.
Modeling, analysis, and design of linkages, cams, and gear trains, including machine dynamics. Introduction to dynamic systems modeling using computer-aided analysis, including Pro/ENGINEER.
Prerequisites: Mechanical Engineering 311.
Offered/Length:Offered periodically, semester course, three hours.
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316. SYSTEM DYNAMICS.
Modeling and analysis of dynamic systems consisting ofmechanical, electrical, and electromechanical elements. Development of system models using transferfunctions, block diagrams, and state variable methods. System analysis in the time and frequency domains. Includes MATLAB/Simulink simulations.
Prerequisites: Mathematics 262, Mechanical Engineering 212.
Offered/Length:Spring semester only, three hours.
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318. HIGH-TECHNOLOGY VENTURES.
The purpose of this course is three fold: to introduce students to the process of technological innovation within a business; to learn to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team; and, to design and prototype a product working with a local company. Students experience what it takes to bring a product (or prototype) from concept to market. The class is centered on product development and writing a business plan to support the product. Students will spend time in lecture and laboratory, and will make off-site visits to the partner company.
Prerequisites: junior or senior standing and instructor approval.
Offered/Length:Spring semester only, three hours.
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321. ADVANCED THERMODYNAMICS.
Application of thermodynamic principles. Topics include reviewing equations of state, properties, conservation of mass, conservation of energy, second law of thermodynamics, and cycles; exergy; property relationships; gas and gas-vapor mixtures; air conditioning; chemical reactions; chemical and phase equilibrium; and compressible-fluid flow.
Prerequisites: Mechanical Engineering 214.
Offered/Length:Fall semester only, three hours.
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325. FLUID MECHANICS.
The study of steady and unsteady flow of mainly incompressible fluids; the application of the conservation laws of mass, momentum, and energy to fluid systems; the control volume approach to distributed systems; and the application of experimental techniques to problems.
Prerequisites: Mathematics 262; Mechanical Engineering 120; and Mechanical Engineering 211 or Physics 303.
Offered/Length:Fall semester only, three hours.
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326. HEAT TRANSFER.
The fundamentals of heat transfer by conduction, convection, and radiation; application to practical heat transfer devices; engineering analysis of heat exchangers; and design problems solved by analytical, numerical, and computer methods.
Prerequisites: Mechanical Engineering 325.
Offered/Length:Spring semester only, three hours.
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328. BIOMECHANICS.
The course will explore the key topics within the contemporary field of biomechanics—the application of mechanics to biological systems—with the goal of preparing students for further work in cutting-edge fields such as biomedical engineering, novel propulsion systems, and other biologically-inspired engineering. Topics to be covered include biomaterials, mechanical properties of biological structures, biomimetic robotics, terrestrial locomotion, swimming, flying, prosthetics, external and internal fluid flows, efficiency, blood flow, biomedical instrumentation, experimental techniques, strain gauges, flow visualization, and special topics selected by students.
Prerequisites: None.
Offered/Length:Spring semester only, 3 hours.
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351. INSTRUMENTATION LABORATORY.
A lab course that reinforces the lab techniques introduced in Mechanical Engineering 251-252. Experiments chosen from stress analysis, vibration analysis, and control of mechanical systems. Mechanical Engineering 351 is designed to fulfill the requirements for a Writing Intensive (WI) course in the Mechanical Engineering major.
Corequisites: Mechanical Engineering 311.
Offered/Length:Fall semester only, one hour.
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352. THERMAL/FLUIDS LABORATORY.
A lab course that reinforces the lab techniques introduced in Mechanical Engineering 251-252. Experiments chosen from thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer.
Corequisites: Mechanical Engineering 326.
Prerequisites: Mechanical Engineering 351
Offered/Length:Spring semester only, one hour.
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360. INDEPENDENT STUDY
Individual study of specialized topics in Mechanical Engineering. Junior standing and permission of the department chair and a faculty sponsor is required. A combined total of up to three credit hours for independent study, independent research, and honors courses can be applied towards the Mechanical Engineering elective requirements.
Offered/Length: Semester course, one, two or three hours.
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370. INDEPENDENT RESEARCH
An opportunity to conduct supervised research in Mechanical Engineering. Junior standing and permission of the department chair and a faculty sponsor is required. A combined total of up to three credit hours for independent study, independent research, and honors courses can be applied towards the Mechanical Engineering elective requirements.
Offered/Length: Semester course, one, two or three hours.
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390. SPECIAL MECHANICAL ENGINEERING TOPICS.
Special topics in mechanical engineering based on student demand and faculty interest. Specific subject matter varies each semester with prerequisites and credit hours announced in advance of registration. This course can be used to satisfy a portion of the mechanical systems elective requirements in Mechanical Engineering.
Prerequisites: None.
Offered/Length:Semester course, one, two, three or four hours.
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391. SPECIAL MECHANICAL ENGINEERING TOPICS.
Special topics in mechanical engineering based on student demand and faculty interest. Specific subject matter varies each semester with prerequisites and credit hours announced in advance of registration. This course can be used to satisfy a portion of the thermal systems elective requirements in Mechanical Engineering.
Prerequisites: None.
Offered/Length:Semester course, one, two, three or four hours.
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401. CAPSTONE DESIGN I.
Completion of the senior design project. A study of the principles and methods of designing mechanical engineering systems in today’s society, including the design process; decision making in design; engineering economics; analysis and verification of performance; and environmental impact.
Corequisites: Mechanical Engineering 451, prerequisite: senior mechanical engineering standing.
Offered/Length:Fall semester only, three hours.
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402. CAPSTONE DESIGN II.
Completion of the senior design project. A study of the principles and methods of designing mechanical engineering systems in today’s society, including the design process; decision making in design; engineering economics; analysis and verification of performance; and environmental impact.
Corequisites: Mechanical Engineering 452, prerequisite: Mechanical Engineering 401.
Offered/Length:Spring semester only, three hours.
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407. CONTROL SYSTEMS.
A study of the design and analysis of feedback control systems. Topics include: modeling of dynamic systems (mechanical, electro-mechanical, thermal and fluid), a review of Laplace transform techniques, steady-state error, stability, root locus design methods, Bode analysis/stability margins, and Bode compensator design. Introduction to state-space techniques and the digital implementation of controllers. Includes Matlab/Simulink simulations.
Prerequisites: Electrical Engineering 210, Engineering 274, and Mechanical Engineering 316.
Offered/Length:Spring semester only, three hours.
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408. MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS.
A study of the dynamic response of lumped parameter systems with one and two degrees of freedom subjected to periodic and non-periodic excitation; applications to the control of undesirable vibrations in machines; theory of seismic instruments; and an introduction to distributed parameter systems.
Prerequisites: Mechanical Engineering 311 and 316.
Offered/Length:Fall semester only, three hours.
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414. PRINCIPLES OF HEATING, VENTILATING, AND AIR CONDITIONING.
Analysis and design of components and systems used to condition air in buildings. Topics include air-conditioning systems, psychrometrics, conditioning processes, indoor air quality, heat transfer, solar radiation, heating loads, cooling loads, annual energy usage, pumps and piping, fans and ducts, heat exchangers, and refrigeration equipment.
Prerequisites: Mechanical Engineering 326.
Offered/Length:Fall semester only, three hours.
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415. FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS.
A study of the finite element method and its application to mechanical engineering problems. Topics include basic concepts; stiffness matrices; truss structures; flexure elements; method of weighted residuals; interpolation functions; and applications to heat transfer, fluid mechanics, solid mechanics, and structural dynamics.
Prerequisites: Engineering 274, Mechanical Engineering 312 and 326.
Offered/Length:Fall semester only, three hours.
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416. SURVEY OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SYSTEMS.
A survey of the technical andsocial aspects of alternative and renewable energy systems. Topics include hydropower, wind energy,solar power, biomass, fuel cells and hydrogen economy, nuclear power, and geothermal and ocean energy.
Prerequisite: Mechanical Engineering 326
Offered/Length: Spring semester only, three hours.
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417. DESIGN OF OPTIMAL STRUCTURES.
Methods and techniques for designing optimal structures for high-performance applications in which stiffness, strength, and light weight are paramount. Includes load-case analysis, stress visualization and computation, FEM-based structural optimization, and advanced materials and processes.
Prerequisites: senior mechanical engineering standing.
Offered/Length:Offered periodically, semester course, three hours.
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418. HUMAN-POWERED VEHICLE DESIGN.
Computer-aided modeling, analysis, and design of human-powered vehicles for land, water, and air. Includes analysis of vehicle dynamics and handling, performance predictions, and CAD-based design tools integrating dynamic models with Pro/ENGINEER models. Two lectures and one laboratory per week.
Prerequisites: Mechanical Engineering 311 and 325.
Offered/Length:Fall semester only, three hours.
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421. APPLIED FLUID MECHANICS.
Advanced treatment and application of the equations and empirical data that describe fluid phenomena in both internal and external fluid systems. Introduction to techniques important to research and design in fluid applications, specifically computational and experimental fluid dynamics. Topics include superposition of potential flows, added mass, hydrodynamic stability, boundary layer flow, bearings, turbomachinery, turbulence, non-Newtonian fluids, compressible flow, and biofluid dynamics.
Prerequisites: Mechanical Engineering 326.
Offered/Length:Fall semester only, three hours.
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451. CAPSTONE DESIGN LABORATORY I.
An advanced lab course requiring the student to complete the senior group design project. Includes 3-D computer-aided design and manufacturing techniques and experiments related to the senior project. Written reports and oral presentations are required. Mechanical Engineering 451 is designed to fulfill the requirements for a Speaking Intensive (SI) course in the Mechanical Engineering major.
Prerequisites: senior standing in Mechanical Engineering; Mechanical Engineering 351 and 352.
Offered/Length:Fall semester only, one hour.
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452. CAPSTONE DESIGN LABORATORY II.
An advanced lab course requiring the student to complete the senior group design project. Includes 3-D computer-aided design and manufacturing techniques and experiments related to the senior project. Written reports and oral presentations are required. Mechanical Engineering 452 is designed to fulfill the requirements for a Speaking Intensive (SI) course in the Mechanical Engineering major.
Prerequisites: senior standing in Mechanical Engineering; Mechanical Engineering 451.
Offered/Length:Spring semester only, one hour.
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460. INDEPENDENT STUDY
Individual study of specialized topics in Mechanical Engineering. Permission of the department chair and a faculty sponsor is required. A combined total of up to three credit hours for independent study, independent research, and honors courses can be applied towards the Mechanical Engineering elective requirements.
Offered/Length: Semester course, one, two or three hours.
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470. INDEPENDENT RESEARCH
An opportunity to conduct supervised research in Mechanical Engineering. Permission of the department chair and a faculty sponsor is required. A combined total of up to three credit hours for independent study, independent research, and honors courses can be applied towards the Mechanical Engineering elective requirements.
Offered/Length: Semester course, one, two or three hours.
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498. HONORS IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING.
Seniors (and in some instances, juniors) who have shown special aptitude in mechanical engineering may, with consent of the department, undertake special research and design problems. This course may be used to satisfy a portion of the mechanical systems elective requirements in Mechanical Engineering. A combined total of up to three credit hours for independent study, independent research, and honors courses can be applied towards the Mechanical Engineering elective requirements. Cannot be repeated for more than a total of three credit hours.
Prerequisites: See above.
Offered/Length:Semester course, one, two or three hours.
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499. HONORS IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING.
Seniors (and in some instances, juniors) who have shown special aptitude in mechanical engineering may, with consent of the department, undertake special research and design problems. This course may be used to satisfy a portion of the thermal systems elective requirements in Mechanical Engineering. A combined total of up to three credit hours for independent study, independent research, and honors courses can be applied towards the Mechanical Engineering elective requirements. Cannot be repeated for more than a total of three credit hours.
Prerequisites: See above.
Offered/Length:Semester course, one, two or three hours.
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