Department Overview Mechanical engineering is a broad discipline, covering such diverse topics as aerodynamics, medical devices, energy systems, system control,  robotics, new product development, materials development, structural integrity, manufacturing, automotive systems, and space vehicle systems. The mechanical engineering department at RIT offers a solid foundation in ME fundamentals as well as the opportunity for students to concentrate their studies in one of several specific areas of engineering. Fall Enrollment  636  Undergraduate (BS) Students  109 Dual Degree (BS+Masters) Students    56 Graduate (Masters) Students Areas of Focus Our students and faculty are engaged in a wide range of socially responsible engineering projects and application fields. Innovative product development, fostering personal leadership skills, and a systems approach to engineering are evident in our primary focus areas. Vehicle Systems Aerospace Systems      Unmanned Aircraft Design, Fabrication, and Testing Automotive Systems      High Performance Vehicle Engineering      Fuel Cell Technology      High Performance Vehicle Systems Bioengineering Systems      Assistive Device Technologies      Artificial Organ Engineering      Biomedical Device Engineering      Respiratory Biomechanics      Cardiovascular assist devices      Inflammation Response of Neutrophils Sustainable Energy Systems Microscale Heat and Mass Transfer      Thermoelectric Energy      Hybrid Distributed Energy Systems      Energy Systems for Developing Countries      UV Water Disinfection Systems      Self-Regenerating Particulate Trap Systems For Emissions Career Outlook Placement and career opportunities for mechanical engineers remain strong, and are expected to remain strong in the coming decades. While certain segments of the economy may not be very strong at the moment, we are still seeing excellent demand for our graduates in other market segments. Mechanical engineering career opportunities look bright for many years to come, particularly as the baby-boomer generation of engineers leaves the workforce, and companies need to replace that lost talent pool. The mechanical engineer's career opportunities encompass the design of such diverse systems as medical devices, energy services and power plants, automobiles, robots, airplanes, defense technology and machine tools. The spectrum of professional activity for the mechanical engineering graduate runs from research through design and development to manufacturing and sales. Because of their comprehensive training and education, mechanical engineers are often called upon to assume management positions. Undergraduate Study Students will be exposed to a balance of theory, hands-on experiment and design in ME classes. Our laboratory facilities are primarily intended for student use, although most professors also participate in ongoing research projects in these same labs. Undergraduate students can become involved with these projects through class, co-op experience, or through participation in the BS/MEng and BS/MS degree programs, which allow students to earn both bachelor's and master's degrees in a five-year period. Undergraduate education is our strength, and students have an opportunity to customize their program of study through one of our four options, or to pursue minors or double majors. Our department is an important contributor to the number of BS graduates on national level. Graduate Study The RIT ME Department has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in engineering education as evidence by the fact that several of our faculty have received awards for outstanding teaching.  With an over-arching theme of socially responsible engineering, our faculty and students engage in research to enhance the quality of life through assistive device technologies, provide innovative solutions to some of our society's most pressing needs such as sustainable energy systems, advance vehicles systems technology through fundamental and applied fuel cell research, and develop leaders to shape tomorrow's economy through innovate product development and leadership training. Perspective on the Department The ME Department is a relatively young program, although the roots of our program go back to the founding of the institution over 180 years ago. Our department was first accredited in 1968, and has been in a state of constant change ever since.  We have a dynamic group of students, staff, and faculty who work together to make our department better every day. While many of our research programs are not yet generally recognized at the national level, we are starting to be a significant producer of Master's degrees. Nearly 25% of our second year students applied for the dual degree BS/Masters program last year, and our graduate programs are increasingly cited as a major decision factor for students choosing to come to RIT. RIT Mechanical Engineering - We Design the Future! The Kate Gleason College of Engineering | E-mail: meche@rit.edu Copyright © Rochester Institute of Technology. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer | Copyright Infringement