About our Department

Mechanical Engineering is a creative profession, the broadest and most versatile of the engineering professions. Mechanical engineers typically work in such areas as robotics, bio-engineering, microprocessor control, energy conversion, energy management, fluid dynamics, power production, manufacturing, computer-aided design, machine design, and material science. Collectively, the faculty has practical experience solving real world problems in all of these areas and they bring this experience to the classroom.

At Bradley, class sizes are small and faculty and students become closely associated during the educational process. Accordingly, professional guidance and mentoring is assured and lasting friendships develop. Standards are high, the atmosphere is intimate, and students are challenged to achieve their full potential as engineers and citizens. Through this hands-on experience they can develop into engineers able to enjoy and contribute to the enhancement of the quality of life.

The department supports an array of Mechanical Engineering laboratories including dedicated laboratories for robotics, material science, microprocessors, fluid dynamics, thermal sciences, solar energy, and the Burke's Design Center. These labs are well equipped with modern instrumentation, data acquisition systems, and computing facilities. Specialized equipment in the labs supports students and faculty in the classroom and with out-of-class projects. Lab equipment includes subsonic and supersonic wind tunnels, a water table, an air conditioner trainer, a heat exchanger trainer, robots, lasers, rapid prototyping machines, and microprocessor prototyping boards.

The curriculum develops the two main branches of mechanical engineering: thermal sciences and mechanical systems. It provides sufficient flexibility to develop specialization in concentrations of personal interest. The program will develop engineers with skills that can lead to successful professional careers in industries tied to aerospace, automation, automobiles, energy, medicine, health care, law, machine design, manufacturing, computer aided engineering, robotics, or even public service. It also provides the depth and breadth required for successful advancement into graduate studies.