The mission of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department is to educate and prepare students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels for leadership roles in the fields of Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering and to conduct high quality, high impact research for the benefit of society through the advancement of technology.

The program objectives for the program in Aerospace Engineering reflect the missions of the School of Engineering and the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. The following statements also reflect the emphases of the Department on preparing our graduates for successful professional practice in their field, the assumption of leadership roles, and a commitment to life-long learning.

Objective 1 - Graduates of the Aerospace Engineering Program will enter and successfully engage in careers in aerospace engineering, and other professions enabled by their knowledge and skills in aerospace engineering.

Objective 2 - Graduates of the Aerospace Engineering Program will advance in responsibility and leadership in their chosen professions.

Objective 3 - Graduates of the Aerospace Engineering Program will engage in continued learning through post-baccalaureate education and/or professional development in engineering or other professional fields.

The significant constituencies of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department are the faculty, the students, the alumni, the employers and the graduate schools. Special representatives of these constituencies include the Industrial Advisory Board of the Program and student leadership of the AIAA and ASME undergraduate programs. The educational program objectives are established and reviewed on an ongoing basis based on the feedback from the various constituencies as well as archival information about the program graduates. The faculty engages in continuing discussions of the academic programs in the regularly-scheduled monthly faculty meetings throughout the academic year.

In order to achieve these objectives, we have adopted the following program outcomes, as stated by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET Inc.

1. An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering.
2. An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data.
3. An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs.
4. An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams.
5. An ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems.
6. An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
7. An ability to communicate effectively.
8. The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context.
9. A recognition of the need for, and the ability to engage in lifelong learning.
10. A knowledge of contemporary issues.
11. An ability to use techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering.

These program outcomes are also assessed on an ongoing basis in order to maintain and improve the quality of the undergraduate experience and equip our students to achieve the objectives stated in our Program Objectives.

Assessment Plan