What do you know about mechanical engineering education? Read or post below to find out everything you need to know, and the process of how to become a fully qualified mechanical engineer.
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In mechanical engineering education, mathematics and scientific principles are used to solve problems in manufacturing, engine design and construction, among others. Aspiring mechanical engineering students must earn at least a bachelor’s degree typically in mechanical engineering, but there are related fields such as aerospace, aeronautical or biomedical engineering that provide overlapping training and competencies.
Other relevant sub fields are alternative energy and re-manufacturing, the process where someone rebuilds a product after it has worn out. There is also the option to pursue a graduate degree or doctorate program, which can lead to much greater opportunities, promotions in the future and increases salary.
In the United States, every state requires that you acquire a license, if you are looking to provide services directly to clients. You may apply for this license provided that you have passed both engineering exams, FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) and PE (Principles of Engineering). You will also have to have 4 years of progressive experience working under a professional engineer, and at least a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. The PE credential allows engineers to consult or be employed in some governmental positions.
As mentioned previously, mechanical engineers are generally required to have at least a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or maybe a degree in mechanical engineering technology. Programs accredited by the ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology), and the US Department of Education’s CHEA (Council for Higher Education Accreditation), are ideally what students should be looking for.
Admission Requirements
Bachelor’s programs in mechanical engineering have many different requirements needed to be accepted. These can vary in different schools, and include a students high school GPA (Grade Point Average) and their score on the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test). A student’s high school record can provide an insight into their future ability by showing their past interests and successes. Materials required by mechanical engineering courses to be accepted can include:
- Official high school records with a decent GPA in mathematics and science courses
- A transcript of an in-person interview
- An article consisting of 500-600 words
- SAT or ACT (American College of Testing) scores
Typical subjects involved in a mechanical engineering course are:
- Mechanics
- Heat transfer
- Fluid mechanics
- Thermodynamics
- Materials science
- Computer aided drafting
After the mechanical engineering program has commenced, it can be very helpful to get an internship or summer job in the engineering field. These will help you to learn how to apply what you have learned in class to the “real world” and also help you to understand what you like and dislike about engineering and find out your strengths and weaknesses. All mechanical engineering students should take every chance possible to gain experience outside of the classroom, even if it is for limited pay. You can also further your education by taking some online courses on platforms like LinkedIn Learning to enhance your skills and earn some extra certifications.
Going Further
Master’s degrees aren’t an absolute necessity prior to entering the mechanical engineering field, but it can open the door to better opportunities with regards to leadership positions, grants etc. in 2017, CareerOneStop reported that 52% of working mechanical engineers had a bachelor’s degree, while only 20% had a master’s.
There are plenty of different pathways for students to go through when in pursuit of a mechanical engineering degree. A master’s degree in the US generally takes two years to complete, however students can also enroll in combined master’s and bachelor’s programs, which may only take 5 years of accelerated study. There are also dual degrees that can combine a master’s and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Online mechanical engineering master’s degrees are also an option, especially if the student is working around the clock or living in a rural area.
Engineers still not satisfied with this level of mechanical engineering education can look into completing a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy). This will be of interest to engineers that enjoy research, have a desire to teach future generations of engineers or want to make significant advancements in their field. Students will often need to find a PhD advisor to guide and support them throughout their program.
Admissions Requirements (Masters)
The admissions steps for a master’s degree in mechanical engineering is inherently more rigorous. Enrollment requirements may vary and a lot of the time students need to apply to both a university’s graduate school and directly to the school of engineering itself. There are also a couple of options available when students are enrolling in a master’s program, such as a thesis or non-thesis program. Some common admissions requirements for a mechanical engineering masters program are:
- A statement of why the student would like to enroll
- Letter(s) of recommendation
- Official transcripts
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
- Bachelor of engineering degree in mechanical engineering or a related field
Experience
Mechanical engineering education does not conclude when you graduate from university, it is from the moment that the student leaves university that the real learning begins. Experience is now essential to becoming a successful mechanical engineer, and building experience as a mechanical engineer can be one of the most important stages of an engineer’s career.
It can be the starting point to help formulate new ideas or concepts, but it can also be integral to building the important skills needed to work on more difficult and challenging projects. 4 years of experience in the field is also needed (as mentioned previously), for those who have obtaining a professional engineer (PE) license in their plans for the future, more on that here.
The experience and skills built-up throughout this stage of one’s career can also open doors to new opportunities. Mechanical engineers that can use the most modern of tools, such as CAD (Computer Aided Design) or 3-D printing, can find these skills in very high demand. Some of these modern 3-D CAD programs that professional engineers use are AutoCAD, Revit, Inventor and Fusion 360.
But wait, there’s more…
There are quite a few organizations that offer mechanical engineering certifications. According to ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), obtaining certifications can be a way of increasing marketability, earning respect, validating skills and building confidence. It can interest some engineers in the field as it can definitely make a candidate stand out from the crowd. Here are some of the organizations that offer an array of mechanical engineering certifications;
- ASME
- Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
- Association for Facilities Engineering
- Associated Air Balance Council
- National Fire Prevention Association
- Green Building Certification Institute
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