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Mechanical Engineering
The American Way
The United States offers international students
a wide variety of study options. There are several thousand
colleges and universities, differing greatly in size, location,
teaching style, and type of degrees offered. Even in a specialized
field such as engineering, you will have many options to consider.
 In
many countries, engineering programs are concentrated in a
few large technical institutions - the US has some 300 institutions
offering accredited four year professional engineering degrees,
including 235 Mechanical Engineering departments or 'faculties.'
The majority of these campuses offer studies in a wide range
of fields. This type of degree is required for recognition
and licensing as a 'professional engineer,' for admission
to advanced studies in mechanical engineering, and for employment
as a 'mechanical engineer.' It is comparable to four and five-year
degrees in other systems in terms of the level of mathematics
actually used and the coverage of engineering theory. However,
US engineering education differs in several respects. Generally,
there is greater breadth and less specialization in the first
degree, and a greater emphasis on problem-solving and design
skills, with design integrated into the curriculum from the
first year onward. There is more emphasis on developing communication
and teamwork skills, and an integrated approach to the use
of computers for analysis, problem-solving, and design.
University-level engineering degrees in some
countries take five years, due to the level of entering students,
or the time needed for student thesis research and traineeships.
US programs run for four years, because very few schools require
a thesis, and industrial internships, while popular, are optional.
Students who do internships or 'Co-op' programs generally
take five years to complete a study program. Alternatively,
the fourth and final year of study may include a demanding
design project, in which students deal with a real-world design
problem. One goal of this project is to prepare students to
enter a working world in which engineering design, communication,
and teamwork skills are essential.
Many countries have three-year engineering programs
leading to the BSc degree, where the emphasis is on applied
engineering, and requires industrial practical training. Comparatively
speaking, the US/BS engineering degree has greater academic
breadth, with more math and science content, more coverage
of engineering theory, more work in engineering design, and
with industrial practical training as optional.
 US
mechanical engineering faculties have strong relationships
with industry. Every faculty works with an industrial advisory
board, either directly or through the school of engineering.
A majority of M.E. faculty members have industrial, consulting,
or applied industrial research experience. M.E. students can
obtain practical experience through summer or part-time work,
or better, through 'Co-Op' programs similar to the 'sandwich'
programs found in British institutions. The result is the
same - graduates who understand industry, their career options,
and what they must do to achieve their goals. There are 170
two and four year institutions offering studies in Mechanical
Engineering Technology or related specialities. Two-year M.E.T.
programs normally result in an A.S. or A.A.S. degree, while
four-year M.E.T. programs lead to a BS in (Mechanical) Engineering
Technology. These programs focus on applied technology, particularly
those used in the construction, manufacturing, and process
industries. Comparatively speaking, the selection and academic
requirements for European and US bachelor's-level engineering
programs are more stringent than the requirements for US/BS
Technology programs.
Virtually all M.E. and M.E.T. programs in the
US are periodically reviewed by ABET, the Accreditation Board
for Engineering & Technology. ABET uses a demanding set
of quality standards that reflect the views of experts from
industry, government, higher education, and even students.
Every government has a review process for university study
programs, but unlike so many systems, ABET focuses on what
students actually learn, and whether those learning experiences
truly meet the needs of students and employers.
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME International)
has six major technical groups and over thirty special interest
areas, reflecting the interests and employment choices of
mechanical engineers in the US and worldwide. These include:
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Basic Engineering: Applied Mechanics, Bioengineering,
Fluids Engineering, Heat Transfer, Tribology
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Energy Conversion: Internal Combustion Engines, Fuels
and Combustion Technologies, Nuclear Engineering, Power
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Environment and Transportation: Aerospace, Environmental
Engineering, Noise
Control and Acoustics, Rail Transportation, Solid Waste
Processing
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Manufacturing: Materials Handling Engineering, Plant
Engineering & Maintenance, Process Industries, Manufacturing
Engineering, Offshore Mechanics & Arctic Engineering,
Pressure Vessels & Piping, Computers in Engineering,
Design Engineering, Design Education, Dynamic Systems
and Control, Electrical and Electronic Packaging, Fluid
Power Systems and Technology, Information Storage and
Processing Systems
Why Study Mechanical Engineering in the United
States?
There is a wide selection of institutions and
faculties, differing in size, location, cost, and range of
academic offerings. You can also select a school on the basis
of its contact with regional industries. Different parts of
the US are known for aerospace, automotive, chemical and petroleum,
computer, electronic, heavy equipment, and general manufacturing
industries. Design is an integral part of M.E. studies, from
the first year onward. Practice in communications, computer
use, and teamwork is woven into the total curriculum, and
a high percentage of 'lecture' courses include challenging
practical exercises and class projects. Nationwide quality
standards for mechanical engineering education provide assurance
that degrees will be recognized in both the US and abroad.
US graduates are recognized as entry-level professionals in
seven English-speaking systems, and with work experience,
may qualify for European and other international credentials.
A mechanical engineering degree from a US institution opens
the door to thousands of domestic and multinational employers,
while providing the basis for advanced studies and continuing
professional education.
The ASME Website is a prime source of information
on M.E. education, careers, and ASME student organizations:
WWW.ASME.ORG
Author
T.R. Phillips
American Society of Mechani
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