Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering Degree

Mechanical engineering has been called the jack-of-all-trades because it requires education and skills that span from social, technical, to environmental issues. The mechanical engineer is concerned with controlling the principles of energy, force, and motion through mechanical solutions.

Mechanical Engineering Degree Description:

A mechanical engineering degree provides individuals with the tools to think and construct the most effective methods to solving the most complex issues pertaining to the service of time and energy.

The mechanical engineering university student will be expected to learn advanced science such as calculus, chemistry, and physics. After completing the required courses within mechanical engineering degrees students take specialized courses in: robotics, environmental science, fluid dynamics, and manufacturing processes. The mechanical engineering university student would also be required to take advanced computer classes pertaining to areas of design.

Other mechanical engineering university course requirements would be communications classes in technical writing and composition, a humanities course in political science, a science course in physics, business class in marketing and accounting, and a mathematics course. During the sophomore year in school the student would take the core mechanical engineering courses such as heat transfer and engineering design.

Mechanical Engineering Careers:

There are many career choices for those with mechanical engineering degrees. Some options include: mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, production development engineer, quality control engineer, automotive engineer, biomedical engineer, consulting, nuclear engineer, robotics engineer, teaching, piping engineer, thermal design engineer, tool engineer, acoustics engineer, design engineer, and energy conservation engineer.

Mechanical engineering degrees provide the individual with the skills to create the tools to use for the most essential functions of society. Mechanical engineers work on electric generators, steam and gas turbines, and internal combustion engines. Mechanical engineers may also develop machines such as air-conditioning equipment, power tools, and refrigeration.

A mechanical engineering degree can often be applied to engineering specialties, such as manufacturing engineering or aerospace engineering. Medical biotechnology is a field that is gaining more attention for the mechanical engineer specializing in design mechanics. This individual would specialize in the design of artificial limbs and organs. Mechanical engineers have the delicate task of working alongside medical doctors to develop products that will be compatible with the human body.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for a mechanical engineer is just under $70,000. Mechanical engineers hold over 226,000 jobs, more than half of which are in manufacturing transportation equipment, computer and electronic products, and machinery.