Major code BS7257

Russ College of Engineering and Technology  
Department of Mechanical Engineering  
251 Stocker Center
Ohio University
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.1553
Fax: 740.593.0476
www.ohio.edu/engineering/mechanical

Greg Kremer, contact person
kremer@ohio.edu

Program Overview

Ohio University’s Mechanical Engineering major program has the following educational objectives:

• Graduates will attain employment and advancement in mechanical engineering or another technical or professional field, initiate an entrepreneurial venture or business startup, and/or complete a graduate degree program in engineering, business, medicine, law, or another technical or professional field.
• Graduates will fulfill the standards and values of the engineering profession and of their own company, and further those values through involvement in communities of practice, professional societies, policy making, and government.
• Graduates will act in ways consistent with the values of Ohio University by performing community service and volunteering, voting and being an engaged citizen, engaging in civil public discourse about technical issues, making decisions consistent with the triple bottom line (environmental, financial, social), and/or using their skills and influence in any way that contributes to the greater good.

Mechanical engineering is an extremely diverse profession that is concerned with

1. the economical and ecological conversion of energy from natural sources to provide power, heating, cooling, and propulsion
2. the design of all types of machines, engines, and vehicles
3. the processing of materials into useful products
4. the development of systems for using machines and resources.
   Professional activities include research, development, design, testing, production, operation and maintenance, marketing and sales, technical management, and administration.

The mechanical engineering curriculum is designed to provide a solid foundation in higher mathematics and basic sciences followed by extensive instruction in all of the classical mechanical engineering disciplines. Design and project experiences dealing with real engineering problems are integrated into the curriculum to help students:

1. apply their own creativity in formulating alternative engineering solutions
2. develop an ability to work independently and/or in teams, which is an important skill for continued growth as a practicing engineer
3. bridge the gap between the acquisition of engineering knowledge in required courses and the application of that knowledge to solve engineering problems.

The design experience begins in the freshman year, wherein students are introduced to elements of engineering design. This often involves the design and construction of a device to perform a specified task. Throughout the sophomore, junior, and senior years, mechanical engineering students are required to solve design problems in many of the required engineering courses and across the spectrum of disciplines encompassed by the mechanical engineering profession. Senior mechanical engineering students are challenged in a year-long sequence of formal design courses involving a capstone senior design project, which requires the construction and testing of a working product prototype. The capstone project requires application of fundamental engineering knowledge as well as knowledge of engineering economy and social issues, such as product safety and reliability. Students are required to submit written technical reports, as well as give oral presentations describing project results. This is in accord with the department’s objective of producing engineers who have good communication skills, as well as excellent technical skills. The design experience is enhanced by providing students with technologically modern lab facilities and computational tools.

In addition to engineering courses, the department requires significant studies in the humanities and social sciences to establish a breadth and depth of awareness and education. The humanity and social science requirements are consistent with the department’s objective of graduating individuals with a well-rounded education.

Admissions Information

Freshman/First-Year Admission

To best prepare for the demands of the academic programs in Russ College, four years of college preparatory math, one year of chemistry, and one year of physics are necessary. Students ranked in the top 30 percent of their classes who score at least 24 on the ACT or comparable SAT are most likely to be successful in Russ College of Engineering and Technology.  

Change of Program Policy

Students who wish to transfer into an engineering or computer science program must have earned a C or better in a math course and a science course. The math course must be equivalent to MATH 1200   or higher. The science course must be equivalent to CHEM 1210    or higher, or PHYS 2051 /PPHYS 2054  &PHYS 2055  or higher. Students enrolled at any Ohio University campus who wish to transfer into any program in the Russ College cannot do so if they would be on academic probation after transferring into that major. The probation rules for Russ College are stricter than those for the University as a whole. In order not to be on probation, a student must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher for all courses taken, for all courses taken in the Russ College, and for all courses taken in the intended major. Students must also have successfully completed all required courses in three attempts and have no required course they have attempted twice without success. For some courses, success means a grade of at least a C or C-.

External Transfer Admission

Transfer students who have earned fewer than 20 semester hours of credit at another accredited collegiate institution may be admitted directly to an engineering or computer science program, if they meet the general requirements for admission to Ohio University and have completed four years of college-prep math and one year each of chemistry and physics and have scored at least a 24 on the ACT or comparable SAT.

Transfer students who have earned more than 20 semester hours of credit at another accredited collegiate institution may be admitted directly to an engineering or computer science program, if they meet the general requirements for transfer students, including a GPA greater than 2.5.Students who wish to transfer into an engineering or computer science program must have earned a C or better in a math course and a science course. The math course must be equivalent to MATH 1200   or higher. The science course must be equivalent to CHEM 1210    or higher, or PHYS 2051 /PHYS 2054  &PHYS 2055   or higher.

Opportunities Upon Graduation

From automobiles and airplanes to wind turbines and power plants to artificial hearts and search-and-rescue robots, mechanical engineers design solutions to help us transport and power our world and make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

Mechanical engineers work in design, manufacturing, research, and sales for companies such as Boeing, Toyota and General Electric. Some of our graduates have been hired by professional racing teams and experimental aircraft manufacturers.

Mechanical engineering graduates also can use their degree as a solid background for advanced studies in engineering, law, medicine, or business.

Requirements