Undergraduate Bulletin

Fall 2017

Mechanical Engineering (MEC)

Mechanical engineering is one of the core disciplines of engineering and it encompasses a large number of subdisciplines that are at the heart of both traditional and leading edge technologies. It is a broad profession concerned with activities such as energy conversion, power generation, design, and manufacturing. The theoretical and technical bases of knowledge include the pure sciences, mathematics, and the engineering sciences, especially the mechanics of solids and fluids, thermo­dynamics, and kinematics. Mechanical engineering requires aptitude and interest in the physical sciences and the language of mathematics, and the ability to apply these to societal needs. The Mechanical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

The educational objectives of the undergraduate mechanical engineering program at Stony Brook University recognize that students have a variety of career objectives and a choice of industrial environments in which to pursue them. While the majority of our graduates are immediately employed in industry, a significant percentage pursues graduate study. Most of the students entering graduate schools continue with mechanical engineering studies. However, some go to law, business, and medical schools. The mechanical engineering curriculum provides students with a core education in mathematics and the physical sciences along with a broad sequence of courses covering thermal processes and fluid mechanics, mechanical design, solid mechanics, and the dynamic behavior and control of mechanical systems. Students also take courses that introduce them to the use of advanced computational methods for engineering design and analysis as well as data processing and analysis. A series of laboratory courses introduces them to sensors and electronics, modern instrumentation and experimental techniques used in engineering for tasks ranging from product design, evaluation, and testing to re­search. In addition, students can select electives to provide either higher level academic training in preparation for graduate school or a broader exposure to subjects related to engineering practice to enhance their preparation for a job after graduation.

Program Educational Objectives

1. Graduates will meet the expectations of employers of mechanical engineers.

2. Qualified graduates will pursue advanced studies if they so desire.

3. Graduates will pursue leadership positions in their profession and/or communities.

Student Outcomes

The students will demonstrate the following: 

(d) an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
(f) an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
(g) an ability to communicate effectively
(j) a knowledge of contemporary issues