Mechanical Engineering Major (B.S.)
Program Overview
The program offers a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Mechanical Engineering which is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the commission's General Criteria and Program Criteria for Mechanical Engineering.
Ohio University's Mechanical Engineering major program has the following educational objectives:
- Graduates will attain employment and advancement in mechanical engineering or another technical or professional field, initiate an entrepreneurial venture or business startup, and/or complete a graduate degree program in engineering, business, medicine, law, or another technical or professional field.
- Graduates will fulfill the standards and values of the engineering profession and of their own company, and further those values through involvement in communities of practice, professional societies, policy making, and government.
- Graduates will act in ways consistent with the values of Ohio University by performing community service and volunteering, voting and being an engaged citizen, engaging in civil public discourse about technical issues, making decisions consistent with the triple bottom line (environmental, financial, social), and/or using their skills and influence in any way that contributes to the greater good.
Mechanical engineering is a broad and diverse field that includes power generation, the design, manufacturing and testing of all types of products, machines, biomedical devices, engines, and vehicles (automotive and aerospace), and the development and processing of useful materials. Mechanical engineering career opportunities include research, development, design, testing, manufacturing, quality, production, operations, sales, technical and/or project management, and administration.
The mechanical engineering curriculum provides a solid foundation in higher mathematics and basic sciences, an opportunity for Engineering Explorations and Experiences, and fundamental and applied courses in Materials, Manufacturing and Design, Fluid, Thermal and Energy Systems, and Mechatronics and Controls. Design and project experiences dealing with real engineering problems are integrated into the curriculum to help students gain experience in engineering problem solving and to develop an ability to work independently and in teams. Senior mechanical engineering students are challenged in a year-long capstone design project which requires the development, construction, testing and delivery of a working product prototype to meet a customer's need. For many of their project experiences, students submit written technical reports and give oral presentations describing project results to develop communication skills. The general education requirements, including significant studies in the humanities, arts and social sciences, provide a breadth of awareness and a well-rounded education.
*This program was previously BS7257 which awarded the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree. Pending Board of Trustees approval (anticipated June 2024), the new program code will be BS7242 and will award the Bachelor of Science degree effective the 2024-25 catalog year.
Admissions Information
Freshman/First-Year Admission
To best prepare for the demands of the academic programs in Russ College, four years of college preparatory math, one year of chemistry, and one year of physics are necessary. Students ranked in the top 30 percent of their classes who score at least 24 on the ACT or comparable SAT are most likely to be successful in Russ College of Engineering and Technology.
Change of Program Policy
Students who wish to transfer into an engineering or computer science program must have earned a C or better in a math course and a science course. The math course must be equivalent to MATH 1200 or higher. The science course must be equivalent to CHEM 1210 or higher, or PHYS 2051/PHYS 2054 & PHYS 2055 or higher. Students enrolled at any Ohio University campus who wish to transfer into any program in the Russ College cannot do so if they would be on academic probation after transferring into that major. The probation rules for Russ College are stricter than those for the University as a whole. In order not to be on probation, a student must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher for all courses taken, for all courses taken in the Russ College, and for all courses taken in the intended major. Students must also have successfully completed all required courses in three attempts and have no required course they have attempted twice without success. For some courses, success means a grade of at least a C or C-.
External Transfer Admission
Transfer students who have earned fewer than 20 semester hours of credit at another accredited collegiate institution may be admitted directly to an engineering or computer science program, if they meet the general requirements for admission to Ohio University and have completed four years of college-prep math and one year each of chemistry and physics and have scored at least a 24 on the ACT or comparable SAT.
Transfer students who have earned more than 20 semester hours of credit at another accredited collegiate institution may be admitted directly to an engineering or computer science program, if they meet the general requirements for transfer students, including a GPA greater than 2.5.Students who wish to transfer into an engineering or computer science program must have earned a C or better in a math course and a science course. The math course must be equivalent to MATH 1200 or higher. The science course must be equivalent to CHEM 1210 or higher, or PHYS 2051/PHYS 2054 & PHYS 2055 or higher.
Opportunities Upon Graduation
From automobiles and airplanes to wind turbines and power plants to artificial hearts and search-and-rescue robots, mechanical engineers design solutions to help us transport and power our world and make a meaningful difference in people's lives.
Mechanical engineers work in design, manufacturing, research, and sales for companies such as Boeing, Toyota and General Electric. Some of our graduates have been hired by professional racing teams and experimental aircraft manufacturers.
Mechanical engineering graduates also can use their degree as a solid background for advanced studies in engineering, law, medicine, or business.