http://www.rit.edu/cast/mmetps/mech.php

Program overview

Understanding how products and machinery work and how to design, make, or use them is the focus of the mechanical engineering technology program. From consumer products to high-performance automobiles, air-conditioned environments and jet aircraft, mechanical engineering technology has an enormous influence on our society.

Students study the foundations of mechanics, materials, and energy; acquire technical skills such as computer-aided design and computer-aided engineering; and learn how to test materials and make parts. Through lab work and design projects students apply these principles and skills to the various fields (product and machine design, power generation, utilities, manufacturing) of mechanical engineering technology. The required cooperative education requirement gives students valuable, hands-on industrial experience.

Goals

The program prepares students for professional careers in machine design; manufacturing; test engineering; field service engineering; technical sales; thermal design; product design; utilities operations; heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning design; or plant operations. Reinforced by project-oriented assignments, the program emphasizes the development of a design methodology.

Accreditation

The BS in mechanical engineering technology program is accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

Curriculum

Students first develop skills in courses that explore the fundamentals of mechanics, mathematics, materials technology, and computer-aided design. Later, course work focuses on both mechanical design and applied thermofluid engineering. The program includes five technical electives and three free electives. These courses can be used to create a specialization in such areas as product design, air conditioning, thermal power, plastics processing, or manufacturing.

A substantial amount of laboratory and product work is required. Teamwork, technical writing, and computer use are emphasized throughout the program.

Concentrations

In the last three quarters of the program, students may select a concentration in one of the following areas:

• product design
• heat, power, and HVAC
• plastics processing

Customized concentrations may be developed with department approval.

Admission requirements

For information on undergraduate admission, including freshman and transfer admission guidelines, please refer to the Undergraduate Admission section of this bulletin.

Additional information

Evening option

Students who are employed full time and wish to pursue the BS in mechanical engineering technology may take the upper-division portion of this program part time during evening hours. The typical evening student requires approximately 13 quarters to complete the upper-division course requirements. Students also may elect certain courses from the computer-integrated manufacturing engineering technology and electrical engineering technology programs with department approvals.

Note: Some electives are not offered every year. Please check with an adviser when planning the program’s technical electives.