Mechanical Engineering (ME) is the analysis and design of devices and systems that convert energy from one form to another and that perform useful work.  It is an engineering specialty that includes such diverse topics as materials science, thermodynamics, solid and fluid mechanics, heat transfer, manufacturing processes, control theory, vibration analysis, and project management.  Mechanical engineers enjoy employment in a wide variety of areas including research, design, manufacturing, sales, education, and management.





      The ME Department at Grove City College offers a program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) degree. The program is accredited by the

      Mechanical engineers must be proficient at both oral and written communications to communicate their solutions and designs with other engineers and society in general. Toward that end, the ME curriculum incorporates Writing Intensive (WI), Speaking Intensive (SI), and Information Literacy (IL) instruction within the core course requirements.




     
      The mission of our program is to produce graduates who can pursue leadership roles in the mechanical engineering profession. The following program educational objectives enable GCC mechanical engineers to meet this mission in the years following graduation:

1. Graduates will be successfully employed in the mechanical engineering profession or in an alternative field. Many of our graduates will assume leadership roles in these positions and be recognized as effective communicators and team members.
2. Graduates will engage in life-long learning through self-study, employer sponsored continuing education courses or workshops, or through formal graduate level education leading to an advanced degree.
3. Graduates will demonstrate ethical behavior in the workplace and will carry out their professional duties in a manner that is consistent with a Christian worldview.

      Our graduates possess the following program outcomes upon graduation:

a)   An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering.

b)   An ability to design and conduct experiments as well as to analyze and interpret data.

c)   An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.

d)   An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams.

e)   An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.

f)    An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility in a Christian context including recognition of the fundamental worth of individuals as creations of God, resulting in a consistent commitment to the safety and health of individuals, honesty, and impartiality in all affairs and faithfulness in serving both employers and clients.

g)   An ability to communicate effectively. This outcome includes the ability to write clearly and cohesively about technical subjects, communicate mathematical analyses in a comprehensible form, and orally communicate on technical subjects with people at different levels of technical ability.

h)   The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context. The following liberal arts areas are considered important in giving the Christian student a background for making judgments concerning engineering solutions: history of civilization, Biblical revelation, philosophy, literature, visual art, music, and modern civilization in international perspective.

i)    Recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning.

j)    Knowledge of contemporary issues from a Christian perspective.

k)   An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

      These outcomes are met over a 4-year curriculum that starts with an exposure to the fundamentals of science and engineering and culminates in our senior capstone design experience.

      Freshman Year – Introduction to the fundamentals of chemistry, physics, calculus, engineering computations, the profession of engineering, and the design process.

      Sophomore Year – Emphasis on the analysis of problems in statics/dynamics, materials science, and thermodynamics, and on the design and manufacturing process; students are exposed to modern machine shop practice through the fabrication of their own Stirling engines.  They also learn to use Pro/Engineer, a state-of-the-art CAD tool.

      Junior Year – Analysis skills are honed in engineering math, circuit analysis, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and mechanics of materials.  Sound experimental and design techniques are reinforced in the required laboratory sequence.  Students receive a solid grounding in dynamic systems analysis and simulation, machine design, and stress analysis.  Opportunities for international study and travel are offered through our partnership with the engineering school at the University of Nantes, in Nantes, France.

      Senior Year – A major, year long capstone design experience includes the design and realization of an engineering product.  Extensive computer-aided design and manufacturing includes the use of Pro/Engineer to document, analyze and fabricate designs.  Advanced manufacturing techniques covered include conventional and investment casting, injection molding, CNC machining, and TIG/MIG welding.  To assure the ability to work professionally in both the thermal and mechanical systems areas, seniors choose a minimum of two electives from each area. At least three of the electives must be 400-level courses.