Mechanical engineering deals with the creation of the mechanical systems and machines that serve society. Mechanical engineers are involved in researching and designing mechanical devices of all types, including engines, tools, and machines. The broad discipline allows one to work in nearly every area of industry.
Utah States Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering is recognized at both regional and national levels. MAE graduates consistently finish in the top 10 percent in intercollegiate national student design competitions. In 2009, the USU Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Team took first place at an international competition.
Graduate students enrolled in the program have the opportunity to study with award-winning faculty. The MAE Department received the universitys 2010 Department Teaching Excellence Award for outstanding teaching throughout the department.
The department is particularly strong in the following areas of study:
- Solid mechanics is concerned with the mechanics of displacement and stress analysis combined with material science for selection of an optimum design. Included are studies of elasticity, plasticity, and failure in traditional metals and high-tech composite materials.
- Thermal/fluids is concerned with the transport of mass, momentum, and energy in solids, liquids, and gasses. Included within its scope are the fundamental studies of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics.
- Dynamics and control is concerned with describing and controlling the motion of mechanical systems. Included within its scope are the fundamental studies of dynamics, kinematics, vibrations, control theory, electromechanical systems, and machine design.
Concurrent Bachelors/Masters Program:
The department also offers a concurrent bachelors/masters program, which allows USU engineering students to begin taking graduate classes during their senior year as an undergraduate and to complete requirements for both the bachelor's degree and the masters degree concurrently over two years.
Specialization(s):
- Aerospace Engineering (PhD): This addresses atmospheric and space flight. Included are such disciplines as computational fluid dynamics, experimental fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, aircraft flight dynamics, aircraft design, spacecraft orbital mechanics, spacecraft attitude motion and control, aircraft and spacecraft propulsion systems, space system design, thermal management of space deployed systems, and the space environment.

