Program Information

1. How products are made
(Manufacturing Processes)

You’ll take Mechanical Drawing (how to use Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software to design things), Machine Design (you’ll design a product that you’ll fabricate in the machine shop), Machine Tool Lab I and II (you’ll learn to use the machine tools and you’ll make parts from CAD drawings that you’ve drawn, Manufacturing Processes (everything from die casting little toy cars to injection molding lipstick cases), Computer-Aided Machining and Computer-Aided Engineering (how to program Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) machines, and how to use design software to understand mechanisms), Chemistry, and Engineering Materials (everything from heat treating steel to make it stronger to laying up carbon fiber composites for bike frames). Additional electives include Welding and CNC Projects.
2. How to design safe products
(Mechanics and Design)

You’ll apply your required math and physics courses here: Statics and Dynamics (such as how to design a car frame that will carry the car’s weight, and why a cart on a “wavy” track gets to the end of the track faster than a cart on a “straight” track the same length), Strength of Materials and Design I and II (such as making sure the links in your bicycle chain don’t break when you pedal fast).

3. How to use energy efficiently
(Thermal and Fluid Systems)

You’ll also apply your required math and physics courses in this area: Thermal Systems and Thermal Applications (including how much oil you’ll have to burn to heat a building, and how to reduce that oil consumption), Fluid Flow Technology (every water tap in America requires a pump somewhere – and you’ll be able to pick the right pump for the job), and the basic electrical engineering needed to control heating and pumping operations. You can choose a wide range of electives from Automotive Technology, Fuel Cells, “Heating, Ventillation, Air Conditioning (HVAC)”, Control of Industrial Machines or Industrial Vibrations to keep the pumps running smoothly, and Energy Management to reduce energy consumption.