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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 2008 Enrollment
646 Undergraduate (BS) Students
123
Dual Degree (BS+Masters) Students
64 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
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.
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