DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL & AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
Undergraduate Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
FAMU-FSU COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Website
Chair: Rajan Kumar; Professors: Alvi, Clark, De, Gibson, Guo, Hellstrom, Kalu, Krick, Kumar, Larbalestier, Moore, Oates, J. Ordóñez, Shih; Associate Professors: Balachandran, Chen, Gosse, Hollis, Hruda, Hubicki, Kametani, Nair, Shoele, Wu, Yaghoobian; Assistant Professors: Berger, Cai, Higgins; Teaching Faculty: Ali, Campbell, Capeheart (Panama City), Chagas (Panama City), Larson, McConomy, C. Ordóñez, Traynham (Panama City); Affiliated Faculty: Hussaini, Kopriva, Tam; Research Faculty: Gustavsson, Tuna; Professors Emeriti: Buzyna, Cartes, Krothapalli, Luongo, Van Dommelen, Van Sciver
The Bachelor of Science (BS) program in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering is designed to provide background for a wide variety of careers. The discipline of mechanical engineering is very broad, but generally emphasizes an appropriate mix of thermal science, mechanics and materials, dynamic systems, and design. Graduates typically enter various energy, aerospace, automotive, and product manufacturing industries, or government laboratories.
The undergraduate program is designed to impart a broad knowledge in basic and engineering sciences and to provide a solid understanding of contemporary engineering practices. The program also seeks to provide students with a foundation in communications skills, principles of economics, and other fundamentals upon which they will draw in their professional careers. Special emphasis is placed on communications skills by requiring extensive written laboratory reports and design project presentations. Computer literacy is bolstered by a variety of course assignments throughout the program and especially in the design courses, wherein students are exposed to several design software programs widely used in the engineering industry.
Beyond the basic core curriculum, the Mechanical Engineering courses are grouped into five major area streams: thermal and fluid systems, mechanical systems, mechanics and materials, dynamic systems, and engineering design. The courses in each of these areas give students a foundation in the relevant engineering sciences with a strong orientation in design and laboratory experience. The design curriculum culminates with a one-year (two-term) capstone design course in which the students design and implement a full system or product, usually under industrial sponsorship.
Several undergraduate teaching laboratories provide extensive experimental apparatus for laboratory courses. The fluid mechanics laboratory, heat transfer laboratory, solid mechanics laboratory, dynamic systems laboratory, and mechatronics laboratory are all well equipped with the latest tools and equipment for experimentation, data acquisition, post processing, and analysis. The College of Engineering provides several computer labs running a variety of leading design and analysis software packages.
Program Educational Objectives
Consistent with the missions of Florida State University, Florida A&M University, and the College of Engineering, and in accordance with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) criteria, the department has developed the following program educational objectives. We expect our graduates in the first five years upon graduation from our program to:
Make career progress in industrial, research, or graduate work in mechanical engineering or allied fields.
Design and analyze devices, products, or processes that meet the needs of an employer, organization, or customer, based on sound scientific knowledge and engineering practices.
Become engineering professionals by engaging in professional activities and continuous self-development.
Function in multicultural and multidisciplinary environments across regional and national borders.
Program Outcomes
After completing the mechanical engineering program, graduates should have the following attributes:
An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and social contexts.
An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Digital Literacy Requirement
Students must complete at least one course designated as meeting the Digital Literacy Requirement with a grade of “C–” or higher. Courses fulfilling the Digital Literacy Requirement must accomplish at least three of the following outcomes:
Evaluate and interpret the accuracy, credibility, and relevance of digital information.
Evaluate and interpret digital data and their implications.
Discuss the ways in which society and/or culture interact with digital technology.
Discuss digital technology trends and their professional implications.
Demonstrate the ability to use digital technology effectively.
Demonstrate the knowledge to use digital technology safely and ethically.
Each academic major has determined the courses that fulfill the Digital Literacy requirement for that major. Students should contact their major department(s) to determine which courses will fulfill their Digital Literacy requirement. Undergraduate majors in mechanical engineering satisfy this requirement by earning a grade of “C” or higher in EML 4550 Engineering Design Methods.
Upper Division Writing (UDW)
Undergraduate majors in mechanical engineering satisfy the Upper Division Writing (UDW) requirement by earning a grade of “C–” or higher in EML 3012L.
Scholarship in Practice (SIP), Formative Experiences (FE), and Oral Communication Competency Requirement (OCCR)
Undergraduate majors in mechanical engineering satisfy both the Scholarship in Practice (SIP) and Oral Communication Competency requirements by earning a grade of “C” or higher in both EML 4551C and EML 4552C.
State of Florida Common Program Prerequisites for Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
The Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC) houses the statewide, internet-based catalog of distance learning courses, degree programs, and resources offered by Florida's public colleges and universities, and they have developed operational procedures and technical guidelines for the catalog that all institutions must follow. The statute governing this policy can be reviewed by visiting the Florida Postsecondary Academic Library Network page.
FLVC has identified common program prerequisites for the degree program in Mechanical Engineering. To obtain the most up-to-date, state-approved prerequisites for this degree, visit the Mechanical Engineering General Requirements page of the Common Prerequisites Manual.
Specific prerequisites are required for admission into the upper-division program and must be completed by the student at either a community college or a state university prior to being admitted to this program. Students may be admitted into the University without completing the prerequisites but may not be admitted into the program.
Core Program
A candidate for the Bachelor of Science (BS) in mechanical engineering is required to successfully complete the following engineering core courses (in addition to the mechanical engineering curriculum):
CHM 1045 General Chemistry I (3)
CHM 1045L General Chemistry I Laboratory (1)
COP 3014 Programming I (3)
EGN 1004L First Year Engineering Laboratory (1)
MAC 2311 Calculus with Analytical Geometry I (4)
MAC 2312 Calculus with Analytical Geometry II (4)
MAC 2313 Calculus with Analytical Geometry III (5)
MAP 2302 Ordinary Differential Equations (3)
PHY 2048C General Physics A (5)
PHY 2049C General Physics B (5)
Students must earn a minimum grade in the “C” range in each of the college core courses, as well as the required and technical elective courses below. Students must meet the minimum overall grade point average (GPA) under the general requirements of the University. Students also must meet the prerequisite requirements specified by the College of Engineering. Please refer to the “College of Engineering” chapter in this General Bulletin for the specific college-level requirements.
Students are urged to obtain the most current information on the mechanical engineering requirements from their advisors or from the student affairs coordinator.
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Curriculum
Key features of the curriculum in mechanical engineering include the integration of relevant topical material, integration of engineering design with engineering science, the introduction to engineering design at an early stage in the curriculum, and the use of cooperative learning methodologies. The curriculum reflects current trends in engineering education, industry expectations and needs, and the ABET accreditation guidelines.
The following core courses comprise the mechanical engineering curriculum:
EML 3002L Mechanical Engineering Tools Lab (3)
EML 3004 Engineering Statics (3)
EGN 3454 Numerical Methods for Engineers (3)
EML 3011 Mechanics of Materials (3)
EML 3012 Intermediate Mechanics and Materials (3)
EML 3012L Mechanics and Materials Lab (1)
EML 3013 Dynamics (3)
EML 3014C System Dynamics & Vibrations (3)
EML 3015C Thermal-Fluids I: Fluid Mechanics (4)
EML 3016 Thermal-Fluids II: Heat Transfer (3)
EML 3017C Mechanical Systems I (4)
EML 3018C Mechanical Systems II (4)
EML 3102 Engineering Thermodynamics (3)
EML 3234 Materials Science and Engineering (3)
EML 3811 Introduction to Mechatronics (1)
EML 3811L Mechatronics Lab (2)
EML 4304 Experiments in Thermal and Fluid Sciences (2)
EML 4304L Experiments in Thermal and Fluid Sciences L ab (1)
EML 4550 Engineering Design Methods (3)
EML 4551C Senior Design Project I (3)
EML 4552C Senior Design Project II (3)
XXX XXXX Math Option (3)
XXX XXXX Technical Electives (12)
Technical electives are generally intended to develop depth in an area of interest and should form a coherent area of concentration or multidisciplinary focus. A minimum of three technical electives (nine credit hours) must be in Mechanical Engineering. All technical elective courses must be selected from the approved list of suitable technical elective courses posted on the Departmental Website. A total of four Technical Electives are required.
The math option is intended to provide additional math expertise oriented toward various areas of engineering. Students must choose from the following list of approved classes: MAS 3105 or STA 3032, Alternates: MAP 3306, MAD 3401, MAD 3703, or MAP 4341.
EML 3004 includes a math/physics test based on the material covered in Calculus I, Calculus II, and Physics I.
Honors in the Major
The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers a program in honors in mechanical engineering to encourage talented juniors and seniors to undertake independent and original research as a part of the undergraduate experience. For requirements and other information, see the “University Honors Office and Honor Societies” chapter of this General Bulletin.
Combined BS/MS Pathway
The department offers a five-year combined bachelor's/master's pathway leading to the Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Science (MS) degrees. The objective of this pathway is to produce, in five years of full-time study, an engineer who is fully qualified to enter into professional practice in industry. Students begin taking core graduate courses in their fourth year. Successful completion of the fourth year of the five-year curriculum will give the student enough credit and breadth of subject matter to satisfy university requirements for the BS degree, should individual circumstances arise that preclude a student from taking the fifth year. This pathway also includes a Summer internship in industry between the fourth and fifth years.
Admission to the combined BS/MS pathway is open to juniors who have attained a GPA of 3.2 in the mechanical engineering curriculum and whose applications are reviewed by a faculty committee. Applicants are normally invited in the Spring, during the second term of the students' junior year, for Fall entry. Details on the curriculum may be obtained from the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department Office.
Definition of Prefixes
EAS—Aerospace Engineering
EGM—Engineering Science
EGN—Engineering: General
EMA—Materials Engineering
EML—Engineering: Mechanical