the specific mission of the undergraduate mechanical engineering (me) program is to prepare students for successful mechanical engineering careers, responsible citizenship, and continued intellectual growth. the goal of the program is to produce graduates strong in fundamentals, applications, design, communication, and professional responsibility. the me undergraduate program is accredited by the engineering accreditation commission of abet, 415 n. charles street, baltimore, md, 21201, or by telephone: (410) 347-7700. the educational objectives for the me program follow.

mechanical engineering graduates will:

the undergraduate mechanical engineering program is principally oriented toward career preparation, providing students with the engineering and technical education appropriate to the challenges presented by today's technologically complex and difficult problems. the coursework in mechanical engineering provides four years of study in mathematics, basic sciences, university core subjects, and engineering topics. the overall curriculum provides an integrated educational experience directed toward the development of an ability to apply pertinent knowledge to the identification and solution of practical problems in mechanical engineering.

the profession of mechanical engineering is very broad, with practitioners employed in most areas of technological and industrial management endeavor. examples of industrial employers which require mechanical engineering background are: process industries including pulp and paper, steel, aluminum, food, petroleum, chemicals and others; manufacturing industries including highway vehicles, instruments, airplanes, rockets and engines, toys, agricultural machinery, and many others; power plants including steam, nuclear, and hydroelectric plants; federal laboratories performing a wide variety of defense and non-defense related engineering design, analysis, and experimental work; and a wide variety of consulting work including heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system design, and forensic engineering. this brief sample gives a view of the wide spectrum of employment possibilities in mechanical engineering.