Degree Offered
- Associate of Science
Nature of the Program
Mechanical engineering is a broad technical discipline. It integrates knowledge of the physical sciences and mathematics for the design, construction, and manufacture, testing, analysis, use, and operation of a device, structure, a machine, a process, or a system in service to humanity. Its development parallels the growth of industry. Modern society needs mechanical engineers who have broad and deep training in the fundamentals of engineering and related sciences and who have developed versatility in analyzing and solving complex problems. Mechanical engineers must not only possess a high level of professional expertise but also have an appreciation for the impact of engineering solutions in a societal context, including ethical and economic considerations.
The associate degree program provides the foundation to complete a bachelor's program in mechanical engineering at West Virginia University. Students planning to enter a bachelor program at another institution should determine the transfer equivalencies for the courses offered at WVU Potomac State College and the institution they plan to attend following completion of the associate degree program
Career Opportunities
Mechanical engineers can find employment in a wide range of industries, government agencies, and educational institutions where they are concerned with many functions. Mechanical engineers can be employed to determine economical conversions of energy from natural sources into useful energy for power, light, heating, cooling, and transportation; design and production of machines to lighten the burden of human work. Others plan and develop systems for using energy machines and resources. Mechanical engineers can also be hired to process materials into products useful to mankind and to educate and train specialists who deal with mechanical systems.
Faculty
Chair
- Erin Cunningham - M.S. Biology
Year @ PSC 2007
Professors
- Mohammad Saifi - M.S. Electrical Engineering
Year @ PSC 1983 - Joan Vogtman - M.S. Applied Physics
Year @ PSC 2008
Advisor
- Richard Peterson - Ph.D Mathematics
Year @ PSC 2008
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
| F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
| F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
| F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
| F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
| F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
| F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
| F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 31-37 | |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEF Elective (5, 6 or 7) | 3 | |
| ENGL 101 & ENGL 102 | Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research (GEF 1) | 6 |
| MATH 155 | Calculus 1 (GEF 3 - minimum grade of C-) | 4 |
| MATH 156 | Calculus 2 (GEF 8 - minimum grade of C-) | 4 |
| MATH 251 | Multivariable Calculus (minimum grade of C-) | 4 |
| MATH 261 | Elementary Differential Equations (minimum grade of C-) | 4 |
| PHYS 111 & 111L | General Physics 1 and General Physics 1 Laboratory (GEF 8 - minimum grade of C-) | 4 |
| PHYS 112 & 112L | General Physics 2 and General Physics 2 Laboratory (GEF 8) | 4 |
| CHEM 115 & 115L | Fundamentals of Chemistry 1 and Fundamentals of Chemistry 1 Laboratory (GEF 2) | 4 |
| ECON 201 | Principles of Microeconomics (GEF 4) | 3 |
| ENGR 101 | Engineering Problem Solving 1 | 2 |
| EE 221 | Introduction to Electrical Engineering | 3 |
| EE 221L | Introduction to Electrical Engineering Laboratory | 1 |
| ENGR 102 | Engineering Problem Solving 2 | 3 |
| ENGR 191 | First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for the following courses: | ||
| MAE 241 | Statics | 3 |
| MAE 242 | Dynamics | 3 |
| MAE 243 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| Elective | 1 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 |
| MATH 155 (GEF 3) | 4 | MATH 156 (GEF 8) | 4 |
| CHEM 115 & 115L (GEF 2) | 4 | PHYS 111 & 111L (GEF 8) | 4 |
| ENGR 101 | 2 | ENGR 102 | 3 |
| ENGR 191 | 1 | ||
| Elective | 1 | ||
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MATH 251 | 4 | ECON 201 (GEF 4) | 3 |
| PHYS 112 & 112L (GEF 8) | 4 | MATH 261 | 4 |
| MAE 241 | 3 | MAE 242 | 3 |
| EE 221 | 3 | MAE 243 | 3 |
| EE 221L | 1 | GEF Elective (5, 6 or 7) | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Total credit hours: 60 | |||
Major Learning Outcomes
Mechanical Engineering
Upon completion of the associates in mechanical engineering program, students will be able to:
- Explain the basics concepts of electrical engineering, statics, dynamics, mechanics or materials and thermodynamics.
- Use mathematical, chemical and physical concepts to solve engineering-related problems.
- Transfer into a bachelor degree program in mechanical engineering.