Mechanical Engineering
What is Mechanical Engineering?
Mechanical engineering applies a number of mathematical and science-related courses to design components, machines, and systems involving the conversion and usage of mechanical energy.
What do Mechanical Engineers do?
Mechanical engineers can be found in almost every part of industry, ranging from the appliance and automotive industries to the aerospace and defense industries. They can work to answer such questions as how to make a plane.s wings withstand more stress or how to make a refrigerator run on less energy while maintaining an even temperature. They attempt to find solutions for such questions as how to make a car run efficiently on solar power and what materials should be used to make screws that will last over time and that will be less expensive to manufacture.
Mechanical Engineering at UIUC
Aside from the general courses all undergraduate engineering students take, such as physics, chemistry, and mathematics, the mechanical undergraduate curriculum includes in-depth studies concerning the usage of energy, general design principles, and the opportunities to apply these learned principles to modern, real-life problems.
Students can also become active members in several different mechanical and general engineering clubs that invite engineers to their meetings to talk about leading technical companies and their personal work experiences. Some clubs compete against other universities across the country in building small cars and other exciting engineered creations. Mechanical engineering students can also participate in the University's cooperative program, which allows students to gain real-life work experience in almost any industry they choose.
The Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at UIUC is committed to providing its students with the best education money can buy. Undergraduates can often get involved in the department.s research programs. Included in these programs are the Manufacturing Research Center, the Machine Tool Agile Manufacturing Research Institute, the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Center, and the Center for Machine-Tool Systems Research.
Career Opportunities
Most UIUC mechanical engineering seniors are employed before graduation. Mechanical engineers have graduated to take jobs with such companies as General Electric, Motorola, and Caterpillar, to name a few. Graduates with a mechanical degree often find they can work in one of several departments of a company, including design, manufacturing, research, test equipment, and management.
Why Mechanical Engineering?
The opportunities awaiting a UIUC mechanical engineering graduate are virtually limitless. However, one should not count on strolling leisurely through this program. There are reasons for UIUC.s fantastic reputation in mechanical engineering. Its students must prove themselves through hundreds of hours of studying and problem solving. The payoff comes with the challenging and high-paying careers that wait on the other end.
Department Contact Information:
Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
140 Mechanical Engineering Bldg., MC-244
1206 W. Green St.
Urbana, IL 61801
Telephone: 217-333-1176
Fax: 217-244-6534
Web page: http://www.mie.uiuc.edu
Engineering Guide |
Tau Beta Pi |
College of Engineering