Department Information

(251) 460-6168

Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering website
https://www.southalabama.edu/colleges/engineering/me/index.html

William B. Burnsed, Jr. Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering Faculty

Mechanical Engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers invent, analyze and design systems that produce power or convert energy. This encompasses such diverse applications as designing next-generation aircraft and automobiles, inventing novel methods of generating energy from renewable sources, and developing sophisticated new medical devices and systems. Mechanical engineers are in the forefront of exciting new technological fields, including nano-engineering, biomedical engineering, and energy research.

The basic fields of study for mechanical engineers include:

• Materials science, the study of the relationship between structure, properties, and processing of materials.
• Thermodynamics and heat transfer dealing with basic concepts and applications of work, energy, and power. Applications include power generation from fossil fuels, from renewable sources (solar, wind energy) and fuel cells.
• Engineering mechanics, the study of static and dynamic effects of forces applied to rigid and flexible solid bodies.
• Fluid mechanics, the study of the forces and motions of liquids and gases. Included in this area of study are hydraulics, gas dynamics, aerodynamics, and design and application of pumps, compressors, and turbines.
• Control systems including studies of transient and steady-state response of systems to external inputs.
• Design synthesis which integrates all fields of engineering in the production of safe, practical, efficient, and economically feasible solutions to real problems.

The curriculum leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) is designed so that graduates can work in any Mechanical Engineering field, or continue their education at the graduate level.

All BSME students complete a senior-year “capstone” design project, in which a team of students defines and solves a unique, real-world engineering problem.

Aerospace Engineering Track

Students who plan to enter careers or graduate studies in aerospace, aeronautics, astronautics, or a related field may pursue the specialized track in Aerospace Engineering within the BSME program. Students in this track must complete AE 361 Introduction to Aerodynamics, in addition to two other approved aerospace engineering electives.

Students interested in the Aerospace Engineering track within the BSME program should consult their academic advisor.

Biomedical Engineering Track

Students who plan to enter careers or graduate studies in biomedical engineering may pursue the specialized track in Biomedical Engineering within the BSME program. This track may also be appropriate for students planning to pursue a career in the health sciences (medical school, dental school, or other health profession programs).

Students in the Biomedical Engineering track must complete General Biology I & II with labs (BLY 121, BLY 121L, BLY 122, BLY 122L), General Chemistry II with lab (CH 132, CH 132L) and Introduction to Biomedical Engineering BME 467.

Students interested in the Biomedical Engineering track within the BSME program should consult their academic advisor.

Students planning to apply for admission to a health profession program should also consult a Pre-Health Profession Advisor to identify any additional courses that may be required.

BSME Program Educational Objectives

Alumni of the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) program should demonstrate the following traits and accomplishments within five years following graduation:

1. Graduates will achieve professional advancements or promotions with progressively higher levels of responsibility, competency, professional and ethical judgment and analysis. They will apply creative and innovative techniques to solve significant problems. They will apply team assimilation skills to successfully manage cross-disciplinary, collaborative projects that require global and multicultural perspectives.
2. Graduates will demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills in presenting, documenting and conveying their work via traditional and new media formats. They will use these skills in creating and supporting new or improved designs, inventions, and intellectual property, thereby contributing to the social, economic, and environmental well-being of local and global communities.
3. Graduates will demonstrate commitment to lifelong learning and continuous professional development through activities such as mentoring, participating in professional societies, completing advanced degrees and achieving professional registration or other certifications.

Mechanical Engineering graduates will accomplish these objectives in the course of professional employment, entrepreneurship, military or public service and postgraduate education.

BSME Student Outcomes

By the time of graduation from the BSME program, a student will have demonstrated attainment of the following outcomes:

1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, and environmental, and economic factors
3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

The Bachelor of Science degree program in Mechanical Engineering at the University of South Alabama is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Mechanical and similarly named Engineering programs.

Mechanical Engineering Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Program

The William B. Burnsed Jr. Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering allows well-qualified undergraduates to follow an “Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s” (ABM) study plan. Under ABM, up to six credit hours of graduate coursework can count towards both the BSME (as Technical Electives) and the MSME degrees, so that the MSME degree is earned faster than usual. See a departmental advisor for specific details.

Exam-Compliant Calculator Policy

Every Mechanical Engineering (ME) student must have an exam-compliant calculator. Only those calculators which are acceptable for use in the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam are considered to be exam-compliant and may be used in Mechanical Engineering classes which allow calculator usage. Use of a calculator which is not exam-compliant in an ME test, quiz, or exam will be considered academic misconduct. For a list of exam-compliant calculator models, see https://ncees.org/exams/calculator/.

Degrees, Programs, or Concentrations

Courses

Aerospace Engineering (AE)

Biomedical Engineering (BME)

Mechanical Engineering (ME)

Faculty