Florida Institute of Technology
High Tech with a Human Touch
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Undergraduate Degree Programs
Printable Program Information:
Catalog Information
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineers are deeply involved in activities that are essential to our modern civilization. These activities include the research, development, design and testing of materials, structures and machines for the generation of power, for transportation and for the production of electricity by the conversion of energy from various sources including chemical, nuclear, solar and geothermal; conception and design of all types of machines that serve humans and their many needs; construction and operation of production machinery for the manufacture of materials and consumer products; and instrumentation, control and regulation of these and other types of manual and automatic mechanical systems.
The mechanical engineering undergraduate curriculum at Florida Tech presents the fundamentals underlying modern mechanical engineering and prepares the student for a lifetime of continued learning. During the freshman and sophomore years, the emphasis is placed on mathematics and physics. An introduction to engineering in the freshman year previews the field and gives the students their first experience in engineering design. The sophomore and junior years direct the student toward the engineering sciences, including mechanics of solids, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. During the junior and senior years, the study becomes progressively centered on the specific issues facing practicing mechanical engineers. The student uses the basic tools imparted during the first two years and applies them in studies of machine systems, instrumentation, automatic controls, thermal systems and design projects. Other courses taken during the last two years expand the student’s knowledge in the fields of heat transfer, electronics, vibrations and mathematics. Technical electives taken during the senior year allow the student to direct the program toward specific areas of personal interest.
Laboratory experiences are essential to the education of engineers, and these are provided in chemistry, physics, computer-aided design, materials, fluids and heat transfer. The capstone of the educational process is the senior mechanical engineering design project, which synthesizes and focuses elements from the various disciplines into a design activity of current mechanical engineering interest. The faculty serve jointly in the supervision and consultation for these projects.
After graduation, the mechanical engineering student is prepared to pursue a career either in industry or government as a practicing engineer, or to enter graduate work in engineering, applied mechanics or mathematics. In some cases, mechanical engineering graduates also enter professional schools of medicine, law or business.
Students are encouraged to define career objectives early in the program (preferably during the sophomore year) so that in consultation with faculty advisers, electives can be selected that are best suited to the achievement of specific goals.
Educational Objectives
The broad educational objectives of the mechanical engineering program at Florida Tech are:
Academic Fundamentals: Graduates are to achieve a sufficient mastery of the academic fundamentals that underpin a successful career related to mechanical engineering. These fundamentals include knowledge of chemistry, calculus-based physics, advanced mathematics, engineering sciences, humanities, social sciences, information technology and experimental methodologies.
Engineering Practice: Graduates are to develop sufficient competence in the application of engineering skills for the practical solution of problems related to the mechanical engineering profession. These skills include systematic problem formulations, techniques for their solutions, and methodologies for designing systems in the two main stems of mechanical engineering: energy systems and mechanical systems.
Teamwork and Communication: Graduates are to develop the confidence and ability to work both independently and as productive members of a team. Graduates are to attain a mastery of communication skills and practice the interpersonal and organizational skills required to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
Professional Development: Graduates are instilled with the desire to contribute to the profession and to society on a continuing basis. They are encouraged to pursue various options consistent with lifelong learning: maintain ethical professional conduct, have knowledge of contemporary issues, participate in professional organizations, and contribute to diversity in the community.
Degree Requirements
Candidates for a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering must complete the minimum course requirements as outlined in the following curriculum.
For definitions of electives for engineering programs, see the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Freshman Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| ASC 1000 | University Experience | 1 |
| CHM 1101 | General Chemistry 1 | 4 |
| COM 1101 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| MAE 1024 | Introduction to Mechanical Engineering | 3 |
| MTH 1001 | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| 18 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| COM 1102 | Writing about Literature | 3 |
| CSE 150x | Introduction to Software Development | 3 |
| MTH 1002 | Calculus 2 | 4 |
| PHY 1001 | Physics 1 | 4 |
| PHY 2091 | Physics Lab 1 | 1 |
| 15 | ||
Sophomore Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| CHE 3260 | Materials Science and Engineering | 3 |
| CHE 3265 | Materials Lab | 1 |
| COM 2223 | Scientific and Technical Communication | 3 |
| MAE 2081 | Applied Mechanics: Statics | 3 |
| MTH 2001 | Calculus 3 | 4 |
| PHY 2002 | Physics 2 | 4 |
| 18 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| MAE 2024 | Solids Modeling and 3-D Mechanical Design Principles | 3 |
| MAE 2082 | Applied Mechanics: Dynamics | 3 |
| MAE 3083 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| MAE 3191 | Engineering Thermodynamics 1 | 3 |
| MTH 2201 | Differential Equations/Linear Algebra | 4 |
| PHY 2092 | Physics Lab 2 | 1 |
| 17 | ||
Junior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| HUM 2051 | Civilization 1 | 3 |
| MAE 3064 | Fluid Mechanics Lab | 1 |
| MAE 3090 | Design of Machine Elements | 3 |
| MAE 3161 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| MAE 3192 | Engineering Thermodynamics 2 | 3 |
| MTH 3201 | Boundary Value Problems | 3 |
| 18 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| HUM 2052 | Civilization 2 | 3 |
| MAE 3024 | Computer-Aided Engineering | 3 |
| MAE 3091 | Theory of Machines | 3 |
| MAE 4171 | Principles of Heat Transfer | 3 |
| MAE 4190 | Design Methodologies and Practice (Q) | 1 |
| Restricted Elective (Engineering) | 3 | |
| 16 | ||
Senior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| ECE 4991 | Electric and Electronic Circuits | 3 |
| MAE 4024 | Mechanical Vibrations | 3 |
| MAE 4071 | Thermal Systems Design | 3 |
| MAE 4074 | Heat Transfer Lab | 1 |
| MAE 4193 | Mechanical Engineering Design 1 (Q) | 3 |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
| 16 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| MAE 4014 | Control Systems | 3 |
| MAE 4175 | Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning | 3 |
| MAE 4194 | Mechanical Engineering Design 2 (Q) | 4 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| 16 | ||
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 132