SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
Mechanical Engineering Technology:
Program Objectives and Outcomes
PROGRAM EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
The primary aim of the Mechanical Engineering Technology program is to provide the knowledge required to apply state-of-the-art techniques and designs to meet the current and future needs of society. The program is designed to prepare graduates for careers in the field of mechanical engineering. The specific educational objectives of the program are to:
- Prepare graduates with a broad knowledge of mechanical engineering technology practices applicable to many different industry types.
- Prepare graduates with key knowledge and skills in applied design, analysis, manufacture, test, and assembly of mechanical systems.
- Prepare graduates to be productive contributors in professional practice, graduate school, or some other career path.
- Prepare graduates who know how to act in a professional manner, can continue to learn, and are capable of adapting to a continuously changing work environment.
- Prepare graduates who can communicate effectively and who can contribute as members of a team.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
- Graduates will have an appropriate mastery of the knowledge, techniques, skills, and modern tools of mechanical engineering technology.
- Graduates wil have an ability to apply current knowledge and adapt to emerging applications of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology.
- Graduates will have an ability to conduct, analyze and interpret experiments, and apply experimental results to improve processes.
- Graduates will have an ability to apply creativity in the design of systems, components, or processes.
- Graduates will have an ability to function effectively on teams.
- Graduates will have an ability to identify, analyze and solve technical problems.
- Graduates will have an ability to communicate effectively.
- Graduates will have a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning.
- Graduates will have an ability to understand professional, ethical and social responsibilities.
- Graduates will have a respect for diversity and a knowledge of contemporary professional, societal and global issues.
- Graduates will have a commitment to quality, timelinesss, and continuous improvement.
According the ABET accreditation agency, “Program Educational Objectives are broad statements that describe the career and professional accomplishments that the program is preparing graduate to achieve. Program Educational Outcomes are narrower statements that describe what students are to know and be able to do by the time of graduation.”
The Program Educational Objectives were established through the input from employers of our students, alumni, and industrial constitutes of the program. The achievement of Program Educational Objectives is assessed through the use of alumni and employer surveys, as well as employer focus groups. The Program Educational Outcomes are assessed using a combination of the following instruments:
- Direct assessment of Student work. Each year faculty members in the program assess graded examples of student work to determine the level of achievement. The examples of student work are linked directly the Program Educational Outcomes.
- Senior Exit Surveys. This assessment survey is completed by all graduating seniors in which they are asked to rate how well the Educational Outcomes were achieved.
- Internship Employer Surveys. This assessment survey is completed by supervisors of students who receive internship credit. Employers are asked to rate how well the Educational Objectives were achieved.
- Senior Design Industrial Sponsor Surveys. This assessment survey is completed by supervisors of senior design projects to measure how well the outcomes of the senior design experience were achieved.
- Fundamentals of Engineering Exam reports from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. This nationally administered exam provides a national benchmark for assessing achievement of the Program Educational Outcomes.
The Program Educational Outcomes are assessed annually and each academic program employs at least three of the measurement tools above. More detailed information for each program is available upon request.