Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering

Overview

As the largest undergraduate department on campus, we provide the rigorous, practice-based curriculum our students have come to expect. From the many active student organizations to hands-on learning experiences in capstone classes and Co-Op opportunities, we hope each of our students gains both the knowledge and experience to succeed!

Mechanical engineering is a very broad field of engineering which deals with almost all of the day-to-day applications. Mechanical engineers deal with anything that has motion - from the human body to complex machines. The breadth of mechanical engineering discipline allows students to find career opportunities in a wide variety of industries including automotive, aerospace, consumer products, oil and gas, power generation, appliances, heavy machinery, electronics, robots, healthcare, etc. Mechanical engineering is concerned with the design, analysis, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems and thermal devices and processes. Some examples of products and processes developed by mechanical engineers include micro-scale sensors to large aircraft and spacecraft, engines and control systems for automobiles and aircraft, electric power generation machines, lifesaving mechanical devices, and a wide variety of consumer products.

Mechanical engineering at TTU - Points of Pride

• The mechanical engineering undergraduate program at TTU is ranked among the top 35 in the country in terms of undergraduate enrollment.
• TTU mechanical engineering graduates frequently find employment in many regional and national companies including Nissan, GM, Volkswagen, Eastman Chemical, Mahle, TRW, Denso, Bridgestone, NASA-Marshall, etc.
• The program offers a rich offering of elective courses in the areas of thermal and fluids engineering, vibrations and noise control, mechatronics, machine designing, manufacturing, and materials.
• Experimental learning with capstone projects from industries, lab experiments and participate in national competitions with design teams such as Autonomous Robots and Baja SAE are the hallmarks of ME program at TTU.
• Students receive personal attention from top-notch department faculty members.
• The TTU BAJA SAE program is the only program in the world to have won the competition 12 times in the history of the competition.

Research

The mechanical engineering students at TTU will have access to state of the art laboratories. These laboratories are equipped with the latest equipment, hardware, and software. Students enrolled in a senior capstone design course have projects that help the students gain hands-on experience. This is helpful when seeking employment in many of the top companies in the nation.

Extra Curricular Activities

The mechanical engineering students are able to participate in several extra-curricular activities. There are several student organizations that are dedicated to certain branches of mechanical engineering. These organizations conduct several industrial visits and seminar sessions throughout the year where experts from industry share their knowledge with the students. Some of the organizations are -

• BAJA SAE
• Formula SAE (FSAE)
• American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
• Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
• Autonomous Robotics Club (ARC)

Career and Co-Op Opportunities

Employment prospects for mechanical engineers are strong. Mechanical engineers are needed to design or improve manufacturing processes in a team setting. There are job prospects for mechanical engineers in a variety of positions including power production, noise control, mechatronics, environmental clean-up, machine design and manufacturing, and materials regulation. Mechanical engineers have a diverse scientific background, making them valuable assets to the workplace.

Several cooperative or internship assignments are available to students majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Qualified students can gain valuable on-the-job experience while earning money to offset educational expenses. Students taking advantage of this opportunity continue to be enrolled by the university and enjoy the privileges of students, while on work assignments away from campus.

To locate current employment and co-op opportunities, visit Tennessee Tech's Center for Career Development site and explore current positions available through Handshake, Tennessee Tech's part-time, co-op, internship, fellowship and full-time job gateway.

Companies that hire Tennessee Tech Mechanical Engineering Graduates

• ADTRAN
• Boeing Commercial
• Bridgestone
• Bristol Compressors
• Cummins, Inc.
• Caterpillar
• DENSO
• Eastman Chemical
• Flowserve
• General Motors
• Honda
• John Deere
• Mahle Filter Systems
• NASA
• Nissan Motor Corporation
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Schneider Electric
• Trane
• Volkswagen
• Whirlpool

Students at Tennessee Tech get more than a top-notch education. They learn to be leaders in their chosen careers and lifelong learners.

Partnerships between students and faculty combine disciplines and ideas in multi-disciplinary projects and research. Outside the classroom, they learn about cultures across the globe, discover how to be good citizens through service organizations and dozens of student clubs, gain exposure to the arts and build friendships across ages, backgrounds, and interests.

Like our mascot, Awesome the golden eagle, Tennessee Tech students are focused on their studies, fearless in pursuing their goals and their future, and committed to the campus and global communities.

With an enrollment of more than 10,500 students, TTU offers more than 40 undergraduate and 20 graduate degrees across eight academic colleges and schools: Agriculture and Human Ecology, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, Fine Arts, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Nursing.

Life Outside the Classroom

At Tennessee Tech, learning isn’t contained within a classroom’s four walls. There’s a strong intellectual community, where faculty and students connect daily through research, discussion, and service.

Tennessee Tech is a place where student inventions leave the classroom to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Where we rally to help rebuild and repair communities when disasters strike. Where a variety of concerts, performances, and art festivals are a way of life. Where students can become exactly what they want to be.

A Launch Pad for Lifelong Success

Calling Tennessee Tech home, alumni leave our small town to change the world. Astronauts and entrepreneurs, artists and teachers developed the confidence in their abilities and education to tackle global issues and become leaders in their fields in Cookeville.

A Beautiful Place to Call Home

A town of about 30,000 people, Cookeville offers the best of rural and urban living. Centrally located among three of Tennessee’s largest cities, the campus is surrounded by lakes, state parks, mountains and rivers in one of the most ecologically diverse climates in the nation.

Nearly two-thirds of all students receive some form of financial aid, either from the state or federal government, the university, or private funds.

University Accreditation

Tennessee Technological University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, specialist and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097 or call 404- 679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Tennessee Technological University.

Program Accreditation

In addition to the institutional accreditation, many of Tennessee Tech’s programs are accredited by specialized professional accrediting agencies. These nationally recognized programmatic accrediting agencies include:

• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
• American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS)
• ABET - formerly Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.
• American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) - formerly National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC)
• Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) - formerly National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
• National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
• National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)