About MAME
HISTORY
The school was formed in 1970 and was called the Department of Thermal and Environmental Engineering. In 1971 the program was accredited by ECPD (ABET) as a Mechanical Engineering program. There were 8 Faculty members at that time. In 1984 the name of the school was changed to the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Energy Processes. There are now 14 Faculty members including the Chair and the Director of the Coal Research Center. The school offers B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering and participates in the College-wide Ph.D. program in Engineering Science.
WHY MECHANICAL ENGINEERING?
When you think about Mechanical Engineering most of you probably think about machines like automobiles, airplanes, the aerospace program, earth moving equipment, farm implements, and manufacturing. You would be only partly correct because there is so much more to Mechanical Engineering. Almost every aspect of life is touched by mechanical engineering. If something moves or uses energy, a mechanical engineer was probably involved in its design or production. Mechanical Engineers are found in every major manufacturing industry, scientific organization, medical industry, government agency, consulting firm, business and patent law offices and more.
At SIU, students will learn that Mechanical Engineering involves not only machines and their design, but thermal systems (heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration), energy and chemical processes, combustion, materials and their properties, computer simulations, nano-technology and more. Our Mechanical Engineers learn how to identify and solve problems that can help make society safer and better.
BECOME A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER
Practicing Mechanical Engineers who graduate from SIU can get their Professional Engineering license through the state’s licensing board, giving them more responsibility and capabilities to practice engineering. In the year prior to graduation, the students are eligible and encouraged to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, which is one of the two required comprehensive licensing examinations. This will make them eligible to become registered professional engineers with a minimum of four years of professional work experience, after they pass the Professional Engineering (PE) exam. Our successful graduates go on to own their own businesses, manage businesses, and are found in nearly every walk of life, in countries around the world.
Do you like to solve problems, take things apart to find out how they work, sometimes get into trouble because of your curiosity, or just like to tinker? Then the School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Materials Engineering has a place for you!
WHAT TO EXPECT IN OUR CURRICULUM
The School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Materials Engineering offer degree programs leading to a Bachelor of Science (BS), and Master of Science (MS) in Mechanical Engineering and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Engineering Science. The BS degree awarded in Mechanical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (EAC/ABET)
We use the term “Core Curriculum” to describe common courses that all students are required to take within the University, such as English, Math, Speech, Social Sciences, and Humanities. Students working on a BS degree in ME are required to take about 25% of their course hours in these Core courses. The remaining courses hours are split between required courses for the ME major and elective courses that the students can chose, based on their own interests.
Your first year engineering courses will be Introduction to Engineering and Engineering Graphics because you will concentrate primarily on your requirements for Math, Chemistry, Physics, and English. We cannot stress enough your need to attend classes and study sessions to increase your chance of success. During your second year, your Engineering related classes include: Fluid Mechanics and Lab, Statics, Dynamics, Mechanics of Deformable Bodies, and Thermodynamics. In your third and fourth years your classes will be predominantly Mechanical Engineering and will include more design and computation.
MORRIS LIBRARY
An extensive collection of Engineering journals and reserved Engineering reference books are available. With the new electronic library access to additional materials has been made possible for all SIU students.