Undergraduate Program Educational Objectives
Mechanical engineering is a broad engineering
discipline that incorporates skills and expertise
in the areas of design, manufacturing, mechanics
and thermal sciences that are essential to most
sectors of industry.
The educational objective of the undergraduate program
in Mechanical Engineering is to prepare graduates so
that, within three years of graduation, they will have
successfully established themselves in professional
careers and/or obtained a graduate degree, and will
have begun to generate new knowledge or exercise leadership
in their positions to the benefit of society.
Program Outcomes
The following Program Outcomes stem from the overall educational objectives listed above. It is our intention that every graduate of the ME program possess the following measurable outcomes:
- Ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
- Ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
- Ability to use computers to solve engineering problems
- Ability to use modern instrumentation
- Ability to design and conduct experiments including the use of probability and statistics.
- Ability to analyze and interpret data
- Ability to design thermal systems, components, or processes to meet desired needs
- Ability to design mechanical systems, components, or processes to meet desired needs
- Knowledge of the processes used to manufacture products
- Knowledge of contemporary issues in mechanical engineering
- Ability to make effective oral presentations
- Ability to write effectively
- Ability to function effectively on multi-disciplinary teams
- Understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
- Understanding of the impact of engineering in a global and societal context
- Ability to engage in life-long learning
Accreditation and Assessment
The M.E. curriculum is fully accredited by the
Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of the
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
(ABET). Accreditation
is a process of continuous improvement that uses
a series of assessment tools that measure how well
the program
is achieving the objectives listed above. As a
student, you can expect to take part in the following
evaluations during (and after) your academic career
at CU:
- Faculty Course Questionnaire (FCQ) – You will evaluate every course you take at the end of every semester, including your assessment of how well the learning objectives for the course were met.
- Focus Groups – Every semester, we evaluate three required courses in depth. As part of that process, you may take part in a 25-minute in-class session to elicit detailed information on course strengths and on areas for possible improvement.
- Concept Inventories – These exams focus on conceptual understanding in the core courses of mechanical engineering. They are administered as pre- and pos-tests in selected courses. They have been methodically developed and systematically tested to measure learning gains in comparison to national norms. These exams also inform our continuous improvement cycle.
- Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam – This national exam is the first step toward professional registration as an engineer and all M.E. students are required to take the exam prior to graduation. Students with senior standing may apply. Exam dates are in October or April.
- Senior Exit Survey – In your last semester, you will be asked to fill out a two-part survey that asks how well the outcomes listed above were met, and your overall satisfaction with the program, department, faculty, etc.
- Alumni Survey – We will also send you a similar survey three years after graduation.