Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

3 credits · Undergraduate

This course provides students with a broad introduction to mechanical engineering by addressing the history, practice, and scientific foundations of the discipline. Students will learn about the evolution of the field of mechanical engineering, from its origin in simple early machines, through the Industrial Revolution, up to the contemporary form of the profession; they will gain an appreciation for the technical, creative, ethical, and other challenges that working mechanical engineers confront regularly; they will develop an understanding of the importance of instruction in fundamental scientific principles to the pursuit of mechanical engineering; and they will explore how issues such as sustainability and developments in artificial intelligence influence the field.  Course meetings will comprise a mixture of discussions, direct instruction, and practical activities. The activities themselves will range from illustrations of scientific phenomena to creative design exercises. The course will help students to understand what the mechanical engineering major entails and what opportunities it ultimately can provide.