Mission Statement
The mission of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department is to:

(1) prepare our students for successful careers in the mechanical engineering profession,

(2) conduct high quality and innovative research, and

(3) serve the community and industry providing educational and research resources.

Program Educational Objectives
The educational objectives of the undergraduate program in Mechanical Engineering are to produce graduates who (during the first several years following graduation):

1. are able to apply the analytical, experimental, and computational techniques to solve engineering problems associated with the design and manufacture of devices, machines and systems (a,b,e,k);

2. are able to synthesize and analyze integrated thermal/fluid and mechanical systems (a,c,e,k);

3. are able to communicate effectively and work collaboratively on multidisciplinary teams (d,g);

4. contribute to society and the profession through professional activities, and understand the impact of engineering solutions on a diverse and global society and their professional and ethical responsibility (f,h,j);

5. engage in life-long learning necessary to advance professionally through continuing education and training (a,h,i,j);

6. succeed in graduate studies in mechanical engineering or a related field if pursued (a-k).

Note: letter(s) in parentheses indicates appropriate ME Program Outcome(s).

Program Outcomes
Students from the Mechanical Engineering program will attain (by the time of graduation): 

a. an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering;

a1.  a knowledge of chemistry and calculus-based physics with depth in at least one;

a2.  an ability to apply advanced mathematics through multivariate calculus and differential equations;

a3.  familiarity with statistics, linear algebra, and numerical methods;

b. an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data;

c. an ability to design thermal, fluid, and mechanical systems, components, or processes to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability;

d. an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams;

e. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve mechanical engineering problems;

f. an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility;

g. an ability to communicate effectively in oral, written and graphical forms;

h. the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context;

i. a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in, life-long learning;

j. a knowledge of contemporary issues in mechanical engineering;

k. an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice in the areas of design and manufacturing, dynamics and controls, thermal and fluid systems, and mechanics and materials.

The MU mechanical engineering program is structured to provide a comprehensive baccalaureate degree program that prepares students for practice of the profession in industry or government, or for further study toward other degrees such as the JD, MD, MS and PhD. Considerable effort is directed toward breadth of topics covered as well as depth in areas of thermal and mechanical systems in order to provide a program of the highest possible quality. Education in a comprehensive university environment, rather than a narrowly focused training program is a fundamental premise of our curriculum. The department instructs students in four major emphasis areas: Design and Manufacturing, Dynamics and Controls, Thermal and Fluid Systems, and Materials, and offers excellence collaboration with other departments through a variety of co-listed courses and projects.

In keeping with the goals of the University of Missouri, mechanical engineering graduates will be prepared to serve Missouri, the nation and the world as a whole through the practice of engineering. In keeping with the ABET Program Objectives, mechanical engineering graduates will demonstrate competence in the two major stems of mechanical engineering; energy systems, and structures and motion in mechanical systems, and have substantial experience in computer applications in both the energy and mechanical systems stems. To further demonstrate that MU mechanical engineering graduates are prepared for practice in industry and government, the program will be assessed according to the General Program Criteria of ABET 2000.

Experience in design is integrated throughout the required courses in the curriculum and culminates in the capstone design course MAE 296: Design Synthesis II. Students receive significant experience with open-ended problems where factors such as economic and social judgments are important. Group and individual projects are chosen to develop student expertise in attacking problems with more than one right answer, to communicate, to work in teams, and to understand the nontechnical contributions to engineering decisions.

The capstone design experience is a small-group, project-oriented course that is structured to draw upon the student's entire academic repertoire. This capstone course integrates earlier technical work with economic, safety, and environmental considerations. The projects are primarily obtained from industrial or private business clients. The presentations of project results are made to a review panel consisting of members of the faculty, the MAE Industrial Advisory Council, and representatives of the client firms.

We endeavor to present a strong experimental program through laboratory experiences to expose undergraduate students to modern instrumentation and measurement methodologies. Students work in well-equipped laboratories in design optimization, microprocessor control, materials, biomechanics, measurement and instrumentation, heat transfer and fluid dynamics, aerosol systems, and nondestructive evaluation. These laboratories are available for instructional and research purposes at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

In addition, students have the opportunity to become involved in individual research or design projects, and those eligible for the honors program have further opportunities for more individualized study.

The MAE curriculum offers convenient transferability among all departments during the first two years. Students concentrate on departmental requirements during the junior year. The senior year is primarily elective allowing the students to develop an individual study program. This enables students to complete a traditional program or create their own program with special emphasis on bioengineering, system design, materials, manufacturing, energy systems, or controls.