The United States offers international students a wide variety of study options. There are several thousand colleges and universities, differing greatly in size, location, teaching style, and type of degrees offered. Even in a specialized field such as engineering, you will have many options to consider.
In
many countries, engineering programs are concentrated in a few large technical
institutions - the US has some 300 institutions offering accredited four
year professional engineering degrees, including 235 Mechanical Engineering
departments or 'faculties.' The majority of these campuses offer studies
in a wide range of fields. This type of degree is required for recognition
and licensing as a 'professional engineer,' for admission to advanced
studies in mechanical engineering, and for employment as a 'mechanical
engineer.' It is comparable to four and five-year degrees in other systems
in terms of the level of mathematics actually used and the coverage of
engineering theory. However, US engineering education differs in several
respects. Generally, there is greater breadth and less specialization
in the first degree, and a greater emphasis on problem-solving and design
skills, with design integrated into the curriculum from the first year
onward. There is more emphasis on developing communication and teamwork
skills, and an integrated approach to the use of computers for analysis,
problem-solving, and design.
University-level engineering degrees in some countries take five years, due to the level of entering students, or the time needed for student thesis research and traineeships. US programs run for four years, because very few schools require a thesis, and industrial internships, while popular, are optional. Students who do internships or 'Co-op' programs generally take five years to complete a study program. Alternatively, the fourth and final year of study may include a demanding design project, in which students deal with a real-world design problem. One goal of this project is to prepare students to enter a working world in which engineering design, communication, and teamwork skills are essential.
Many countries have three-year engineering programs leading to the BSc degree, where the emphasis is on applied engineering, and requires industrial practical training. Comparatively speaking, the US/BS engineering degree has greater academic breadth, with more math and science content, more coverage of engineering theory, more work in engineering design, and with industrial practical training as optional.
US
mechanical engineering faculties have strong relationships with industry.
Every faculty works with an industrial advisory board, either directly
or through the school of engineering. A majority of M.E. faculty members
have industrial, consulting, or applied industrial research experience.
M.E. students can obtain practical experience through summer or part-time
work, or better, through 'Co-Op' programs similar to the 'sandwich' programs
found in British institutions. The result is the same - graduates who
understand industry, their career options, and what they must do to achieve
their goals. There are 170 two and four year institutions offering studies
in Mechanical Engineering Technology or related specialities. Two-year
M.E.T. programs normally result in an A.S. or A.A.S. degree, while four-year
M.E.T. programs lead to a BS in (Mechanical) Engineering Technology. These
programs focus on applied technology, particularly those used in the construction,
manufacturing, and process industries. Comparatively speaking, the selection
and academic requirements for European and US bachelor's-level engineering
programs are more stringent than the requirements for US/BS Technology
programs.
Virtually
all M.E. and M.E.T. programs in the US are periodically reviewed by ABET,
the Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology. ABET uses a
demanding set of quality standards that reflect the views of experts from
industry, government, higher education, and even students. Every government
has a review process for university study programs, but unlike so many
systems, ABET focuses on what students actually learn, and whether those
learning experiences truly meet the needs of students and employers.
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME International) has
six major technical groups and over thirty special interest areas, reflecting
the interests and employment choices of mechanical engineers in the US
and worldwide. These include:
- Basic Engineering: Applied Mechanics, Bioengineering, Fluids Engineering, Heat Transfer, Tribology
- Energy Conversion: Internal Combustion Engines, Fuels and Combustion Technologies, Nuclear Engineering, Power
- Energy Resources: Advanced Energy Systems, Ocean Engineering, Petroleum, Solar Energy
- Environment and
Transportation: Aerospace, Environmental Engineering, Noise
Control and Acoustics, Rail Transportation, Solid Waste Processing
- General Engineering: Management, Small Business, Risk Analysis, Technology & Society
- Manufacturing: Materials Handling Engineering, Plant Engineering & Maintenance, Process Industries, Manufacturing Engineering, Offshore Mechanics & Arctic Engineering, Pressure Vessels & Piping, Computers in Engineering, Design Engineering, Design Education, Dynamic Systems and Control, Electrical and Electronic Packaging, Fluid Power Systems and Technology, Information Storage and Processing Systems
Why
Study Mechanical Engineering in the United States?
There is a wide
selection of institutions and faculties, differing in size, location,
cost, and range of academic offerings. You can also select a school on
the basis of its contact with regional industries. Different parts of
the US are known for aerospace, automotive, chemical and petroleum, computer,
electronic, heavy equipment, and general manufacturing industries. Design
is an integral part of M.E. studies, from the first year onward. Practice
in communications, computer use, and teamwork is woven into the total
curriculum, and a high percentage of 'lecture' courses include challenging
practical exercises and class projects. Nationwide quality standards for
mechanical engineering education provide assurance that degrees will be
recognized in both the US and abroad. US graduates are recognized as entry-level
professionals in seven English-speaking systems, and with work experience,
may qualify for European and other international credentials. A mechanical
engineering degree from a US institution opens the door to thousands of
domestic and multinational employers, while providing the basis for advanced
studies and continuing professional education.
The ASME Website is a prime source of information on M.E. education, careers, and ASME student organizations: WWW.ASME.ORG
Author
T.R. Phillips
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
