• What is Mechanical Engineering?
• What do Mechanical Engineers do?
• Where do Mechanical Engineers work?
• How do you become a Mechanical Engineer?
• What are the Mechanical Engineers' Career Advantages?

• What is Mechanical Engineering?
  Mechanical Engineering is a very diverse field and provides a wide range of career opportunity. It is the branch of engineering concerned with mechanical systems and their use to control and transform energy. This includes the generation, transmission and utilization of thermal and mechanical (fluid and solid) energy, and the design, production and application of devices and systems to perform these tasks.

• What do Mechanical Engineers do?
  Mechanical engineers design and build the systems that we utilize in our everyday lives. They are responsible for the conceptualization of the design, for the detailed analysis required to create the system specifications, for the testing required to prove the concepts, and for the production techniques needed to bring the design to reality to meet the needs of society. The following are several examples of the types of systems for which mechanical engineers are responsible:

  Heating and Air-conditioning
  Public Utilities
  Automotive
  Hydraulics and Fluid Power
  Aerospace Vehicles
  Automation
  Heavy Ground Equipment
  Robotics
  Computers
  Systems Control
  Medical Equipment
  Propulsion
  Solar Power
  Energy Conservation and Production

  Computers play an extensive role in the work of mechanical engineers. Computer-aided design has replaced mechanical drafting as the way to lay out the design dimensions. Software packages allow the engineer to analyze and model the systems and perform simulations to test the ideas before actual parts are produced. Computers are used to control the mechanical and fluid systems to obtain more precise results and to troubleshoot the systems as they operate. The interdisciplinary nature of design requires the mechanical engineer to extend his/her knowledge to other areas of engineering such as electrical, computer, materials and manufacturing. The complexity of modern systems necessitates the cooperation and expertise of engineers from all fields to successfully meet the design objectives.

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• Where do Mechanical Engineers work?
  Mechanical engineers are found in every engineering organization, from large companies such as Pratt and Whitney and Motorola to small engineering firms specializing in consulting services. Every company that designs and produces a product requires the services of a mechanical engineer. This provides extensive opportunities for employment both nationally and internationally. Many mechanical engineers also work in education at the university level. This generally requires additional advanced education beyond the bachelors degree.

• How do you become a Mechanical Engineer?
  The student can earn the bachelors degree in mechanical engineering in a four to five year time period as a full time student. Many students work part time and/or full time to cover their expenses. This generally increases the time necessary to meet the degree requirements. If the experience gained through work is in an engineering related field, this can greatly help the student in obtaining employment after graduation. Although a bachelors degree is required to be employed as a mechanical engineer, an advanced education to the masters degree level may be necessary if the student's interests are in the areas of design or research work. This can be accomplished on a part time basis with many employers supporting some of the cost. Many times the student can study full time for the masters degree with part time employment provided by the university on a research project.

• What are the Mechanical Engineers' Career Advantages?
  Graduates can look forward to a wide range of exciting job opportunities. A mechanical engineering degree provides the students with the fundamental knowledge in the thermal and fluid sciences, along with solid body mechanics and design. This allows the graduate flexibility in career choices, not only in the first job opportunity, but throughout the employment history. Mechanical engineering graduates enjoy one of the top starting salaries of any degree program offered at the University. Employment opportunities for graduates are excellent at this time.

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