Department of Mechanical Engineering

Contact

 

Brittany Pasquale, Senior Staff Assistant
585-475-5181,

 

Overview

From rockets to robots, power plants to biomechanical parts, mechanical engineers put both energy and machines to work. Wherever there is motion or energy, mechanical engineers have played a role in the innovations that define modern life.

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 offers a solid foundation in mechanical engineering fundamentals as well as the opportunity for students to concentrate their studies in several specific areas of engineering. Because of their comprehensive training and education, mechanical engineers are often called upon to assume management positions. They work in many different industries and businesses as product developers, researchers, prototype designers, automotive engineers, aerospace engineers, management consultants, among many others, and many serve in senior leadership positions in their fields.

The mechanical engineering department is the largest academic department in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering. We offer a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering with options to focus your studies on aerospace engineering, automotive engineering, bioengineering, or energy and the environment. At the graduate level, we offer Master of Science and Master of Engineering degrees in mechanical engineering and an advanced certificate in vibrations engineering. 
Well-equipped facilities offer you the opportunity to build models and prototypes to demonstrate particular engineering design concepts. Experimentation and research are encouraged, including enriching undergraduate and graduate research experiences in areas such as sustainable energy systems, biomedical and assistive device technology, systems analysis, robotics, vibrations, and automotive and aerospace engineering. 

Vision and Mission

Vision: RIT’s mechanical engineering department will establish itself first as one of the top 25 mechanical engineering programs in the nation, and then as a top 25 program in the world. 

Goals: In pursuit of our vision, the department’s goals are to:

  • Demonstrate a revolutionary advance in engineering education whereby we turn every entering student into graduates who achieve outstanding success.
  • Provide solutions to three compelling problems of national and global significance.
  • Other mechanical engineering departments must emulate us. We must disseminate our model of education and research and become the role model to which other institutions aspire.

 

Accreditation

The BS degree in mechanical engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org. For Enrollment and Graduation Data, Program Educational Objectives, and Student Outcomes, please visit the college’s Accreditation page.  
 

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Undergraduate options in aerospace, automotive, bioengineering, and energy and the environment

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Areas of research

900+

Undergraduate and graduate mechanical engineering students

Degree Programs

Undergraduate Degrees

The mechanical engineering department offers undergraduate degrees that build a strong foundation in engineering mechanics and design tools in the first year of study. In subsequent years, course work continues with advanced mechanical engineering subjects and the integration of cooperative education – nearly a year of full-time, paid work experience in industry. Your degree culminates with a significant multidisciplinary design project in the final year of study.

The aerospace engineering option allows for specialized study in all engineering aspects of air- and space-borne vehicles. Aerospace engineering focuses on developing aircraft, spacecraft, and the mechanical systems that make both possible. Also referred to as aeronautical engineering, aerospace engineering deals with designing, building, and testing airborne and space vehicles, from airplanes and helicopters to rockets, missiles, satellites, and spacecraft. This option is part of the mechanical engineering BS degree.

Learn More about Aerospace Engineering Option - Mechanical Engineering BS 

Modern automotive engineering entails the design of engines and automotive components such as braking, powertrain systems, vehicle dynamics, lighting systems, transmission, and fuel economy. The automotive engineering option offers specialized advanced electives that provide a comprehensive understanding of automotive design and manufacturing, vehicle power plants, dynamics, control systems, and more. This option is part of the mechanical engineering BS degree.

Learn More about Automotive Engineering Option - Mechanical Engineering BS 

Bioengineering is the application of engineering fundamentals to the principles of biology, the life sciences, and the physical sciences. The result is the creation of advanced solutions to some of the most pressing biological challenges, from the environment, agriculture, and genetic engineering, to pharmaceuticals, medicine, and health care. This option is part of the mechanical engineering BS degree.

Learn More about Bioengineering Option - Mechanical Engineering BS 

More than ever there is an intensive focus on identifying, developing, and effectively utilizing alternative energy systems. The energy and environment option is focused on the contemporary issues facing the fields of energy and the environment and how engineers can best develop modern technologies that are kinder to the environment while providing the energy resources we need. This option is part of the mechanical engineering BS degree.

Learn More about Energy and the Environment Option - Mechanical Engineering BS 

Mechanical engineers put energy and machines to work–from rockets, robots, and airplanes to automobiles, satellites, and renewable energy systems. Our mechanical engineering BS degree encompasses courses in math, science, physics, engineering science, and engineering systems.

Learn More about Mechanical Engineering BS 

Graduate Degrees

The mechanical engineering department offers graduate degrees that provide in-depth exploration of mechanical engineering, mechatronics, and vibrations engineering.

In this mechanical engineering master's degree, you'll apply mechanical engineering principles and theories to enhance your skills through formal education and training, and independent inquiry.

Learn More about Mechanical Engineering ME 

A mechanical engineering master's degree that focuses on the in-depth examination of dynamics, robotics, nanotechnology, biomechanics, and energy systems to prepare you to enter a career in industry or research.

Learn More about Mechanical Engineering MS 

Control vibration in engineering systems and apply your knowledge to everything from consumer product development, manufacturing, aerospace systems, and more.

Learn More about Vibrations Adv. Cert. 

Minors and Immersions

The minor in mechanical engineering exposes students to the core foundations of the discipline. Courses help non-majors explore high-technology careers and communicate more effectively with engineers on project teams. The minor consists of a five-course sequence that builds on prerequisite knowledge from calculus and engineering mechanics. Elective courses provide additional depth of knowledge in an area of individual student interest.

Learn More about Mechanical Engineering Minor 

Research

The mechanical engineering department supports the Kate Gleason College of Engineering’s research initiatives in communications, energy, health care, nano-science and engineering, and transportation.

Read More

Latest News

  • November 30, 2020

    three students working on model of a dinosaur tail.

    Hands-on engineering senior design program flourishes this fall

    RIT’s Multidisciplinary Senior Design program began last fall with more projects for engineering student teams than expected, despite the pandemic. From collaborations with other universities and NASA to an anthropologist needing a robotic model of a dinosaur tail, all the projects represent innovative technologies built with sustainable, user-friendly designs.

  • November 6, 2020

    side-by-side portraits of a student and a faculty member.

    Podcast: Native Americans in Higher Education  

    Intersections: The RIT Podcast, Ep. 39: Nicole Scott, director of RIT’s Native American Future Stewards Program, and Abigail Reigner, a second-year mechanical engineering student who is the regional student representative for the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, discuss life as Native Americans in higher education, learning about Native cultures, and some of the unique ways RIT partners with tribal nations and organizations.

More News  

Featured Profiles

Faculty

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Staff

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Facilities

Student and Professional Organizations

Honor Societies and Student Chapters of Professional Organizations

Pi Tau Sigma: Pi Tau Sigma is the mechanical engineering national honor society. Membership, by invitation, is open to men and women ranked in the upper third of their class in their fourth and fifth years at RIT. Chapter activities are tailored to foster high ideals in the engineering profession, support departmental activities, and promote professionalism. 

Tau Beta Pi: This national engineering honor society was founded to celebrate those who have conferred honor upon their Alma Mater by distinguished scholarship and exemplary character as students in engineering, or by their attainments as alumni in the field of engineering, and to foster a spirit of liberal culture in engineering colleges. Election to Tau Beta Pi is one of the highest honors bestowed on an engineering student by his or her peers. 

American Society of Mechanical Engineers: The student chapter of ASME offers educational, technical, and social activities. It helps students develop leadership skills and leads to contacts with engineers in industry and students at other colleges within the region. The student chapter is active and works closely with the local professional chapter.  

Society of Automotive Engineers and FSAE Competition Team: The purpose of the RIT Society of Automotive Engineers is to give students the opportunity to meet with senior engineers in industry and provide students a chance to apply their classroom knowledge in various projects.

Society of Women Engineers: The Society of Women Engineers is a student-run organization that organizes and hosts guest speakers, high school outreach, community activities, tours, social events, and events with other student organizations. The RIT chapter is strongly committed to encouraging women in their pursuit of careers in engineering or related fields. 

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers: The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers is an association of professionals and students in engineering, science, technology, business, and other related disciplines at RIT. SHPE’s aim is to identify and promote professional growth opportunities for Hispanic students. 

National Society of Black Engineers: The student chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers is dedicated to the retention, recruitment, and successful graduation of its members. 

Aero Design Club: The student chapter is dedicated to promoting careers and opportunities in the aerospace industry.  

Formula One SAE Racing Team: Our award-winning SAE team builds a car from the ground up every year. Purchasing only the engine block, tires, and bulk materials, it is entirely designed and constructed by our students to compete in national and international competitions. 

Mechanical Engineering Professional Organizations and Societies

Professional organizations and societies provide opportunities for students to enhance their professional development through local and student chapter meetings and activities, including society-sponsored conferences, symposia, and workshops. Learn more by exploring some of the professional organizations and societies for opportunities to volunteer, get involved, and shape your career.

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
American Society for Engineering Education
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Materials Research Society
National Society of Black Engineers
Rochester Engineering Society
SAE International
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
Society of Women Engineers

Student Resources

The Mechanical Engineering Department offers a variety of resources for our students that vary from academic support to handbooks and more. Visit our Student Resources page for more information.