This is an archived copy of the 2022-2023 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://coursecatalog.bucknell.edu.

Mechanical Engineering (MECH)

The discipline of mechanical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals predominantly with the conversion, transmission and storage of mechanical and thermal energy; the generation, transmission and control of forces; the production and regulation of mechanical motion; and the optimal use of materials in the design and fabrication of the requisite machines and mechanisms.

Mission Statement

The Department of Mechanical Engineering is committed to providing the best undergraduate mechanical engineering education possible within the constraints of a four-year curriculum. In accord with the College of Engineering Mission Statement, the mechanical engineering department strives to nurture the intellectual, professional and personal development of its students. The mechanism for achieving the department’s educational mission is the curriculum in mechanical engineering designed to satisfy its Program Educational Objectives. The department strives to achieve a process of continuous improvement of the curricula, to provide a faculty who are professionally current in their field and to maintain state-of-the-art facilities.

Program Educational Objectives

The Department of Mechanical Engineering seeks to prepare students to be successful in engineering or other careers, and to be recognized for qualities associated with their Bucknell educational experiences. Graduates of our program will:

  • Develop innovative solutions to challenging problems consistent with professional expectations.
  • Pursue advanced studies that supplement their Bucknell education and further their career.
  • Demonstrate effective communication and an ability to contribute successfully in a multidisciplinary team.
  • Make decisions by considering multiple factors including ethics, sustainability and societal impact.
  • Advance professionally by accepting new responsibilities and demonstrating leadership potential.

It is our expectation that our graduates will have demonstrated significant progress toward a subset of these objectives within five years of graduation from Bucknell.

Student Outcomes

Graduates of the program shall demonstrate the following at the time of graduation:

  1. An ability to identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics.
  2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors. 
  3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental and societal contexts.
  5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives.
  6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed using appropriate learning strategies. 

The mechanical engineering program at Bucknell University is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.