G.E. Johnson, Dean
R.C. Loutzenheiser, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Affairs
M.B. Ventrice, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research
T.D. Marable, Director of Minority Engineering
UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES
The College of Engineering offers seven programs with curricula leading to Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Industrial Technology. A uniform first-year curriculum for majors in engineering is provided by the Basic Engineering Program, allowing additional time for the student to select a field of specialization.
The undergraduate curricula in Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The Industrial Technology curriculum is accredited by the National Association of Industrial Technology (NAIT). The Computer Engineering Program is new and should receive ABET accreditation soon.
The normal load in the Engineering or Industrial Technology curricula is approximately 17 semester hours. Students may enroll for lighter loads, which will result in an increase in the number of terms necessary to complete requirements for graduation.
GRADUATE STUDIES
The College of Engineering offers programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.
The Master of Science, a research-oriented degree program, is offered with majors in Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
The Doctor of Philosophy, coordinated by the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research, is under the direction of faculty advisory committees which are interdepartmental in nature. A highly qualified student, possessing an M.S. degree in Engineering, will normally need three years of full-time study to complete the degree. Current areas of doctoral research include thermal science, transfer operations, fluid mechanics, water quality, acoustics, solid mechanics, energy systems, machine design, combustion modeling, environmental engineering, solid waste treatment disposal, physical electronics, lasers, plasmas, control systems, computer engineering, networks and signal processing, telecommunications, power systems, material science, human factors, robotics, and manufacturing.
For more information see the Graduate Catalog.
THE COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM
Students of all curricula of the College of Engineering are eligible to participate in the University's COOPERATIVE EDUCATION program. This program is one in which classroom study is integrated with practical industrial experience in an organized program under which students alternate on-campus study with off-campus employment in industry or with a governmental agency.
A student on the cooperative education program must complete the same course work as required of the regular four-year students. For the program, a student initially attends college full-time for three semesters (one calendar year), has an off-campus assignment for the second year, returns to the campus for the third year, has a second off-campus assignment for the fourth year, and then returns to the campus for the fifth year to complete graduation requirements. An alternating semester work plan is also available. See Cooperative Education for more details.
MINORITY ENGINEERING PROGRAM
The College of Engineering is committed to development of minority engineers through scholarships and special cooperative education opportunities. Several scholarships are offered for minority applicants during the annual Engineering Scholarship Awards Program (ESAP). Also, the Minority Engineering Scholarship Program (MESP) awards several scholarships in conjunction with a co-op experience.
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE
The College operates three State-supported accomplished Centers of Excellence: Manufacturing Research and Technology Utilization; Management, Utilization and Protection of Water Resources; and Electric Power. These Centers provide financial support and state-of-the-art facilities for undergraduate and graduate research projects.
ADMISSION OF FRESHMEN
In addition to meeting the requirements for admission to the University, students seeking admission to Engineering must have at least a 2.35 high school average and must have achieved a composite score of at least 20 and a mathematics subtest score of 20 on the enhanced ACT Test. It is advisable for Basic Engineering students to have completed 4 units of science and at least 3 1/2 units of college preparatory mathematics, including a study of trigonometric identities, in high school. Applicants who have completed the recommended mathematics courses and who have a sufficiently high ACT mathematics score will be admitted to MATH 181. Based on high school mathematics preparation and test scores, other students will be advised to enroll in at least one of the following: MATH 145, 155 or 171. MATH 145, 155 or 171 or other math courses intended as preparation for MATH 181 may not be utilized to satisfy any curricular requirement for graduation in engineering. Students with less than the recommended preparation in mathematics are encouraged to enter the College of Engineering during summer semester immediately following high school graduation. Course offerings are normally available during the summer semester for students with deficiencies and for students who wish to begin their studies early.
Students selecting the Industrial Technology curriculum must have completed two units of high school algebra.
ADMISSION OF TRANSFER STUDENTS
Tennessee Tech's engineering curricula are designed so that the needs of students who choose to initially attend a community college or other college/university not offering a B.S. engineering program may be met. Students who complete the following list of approved courses at another institution may complete curricular requirements for a B.S. degree in engineering at Tennessee Tech in approximately two years. Transfer students must satisfy the same requirements as TTU students for entry into a degree granting department. (See Basic Engineering Program). Students who wish to transfer to the Industrial Technology program should consult with the Chairperson of the Department of Industrial Technology. The College of Engineering will assist transfer students in making the transition to Tennessee Tech at any point in their academic programs.
Suggested Courses for 2-year Pre-engineering Program
|
Semester Hours |
|
| General Chemistry with Laboratory | 8 |
| English Composition | 6 |
| Engineering Graphics (must include CAD experience) | 2 |
| Introduction to Engineering or additional Graphics | 1 |
| Computer Programming5 | 3 |
| Calculus | 13 |
| Differential Equations | 3 |
| English, World, and American Literature | 6 |
| Physics (Calculus-based) with Laboratory1 | 8 |
| Physical Education or Military Science (must be two semesters) | 2 |
| Mechanics - Statics | 3 |
| Mechanics - Dynamics2 | 3 |
| Humanities and/or Social
Science Sequence 2 3 4 (2 hrs. Humanities, 6 hrs. Social Science Sequence) |
10 |
| Maximum | 65 |
1This varies from 3 to 8, see the specific discipline to
determine.
2Students planning to major in Chemical Engineering are advised to
substitute organic chemistry (8 semester hours) for dynamics and the 6-hour
Social Science sequence in the second year.
3Humanities and Social Science courses as defined by the Accreditation
Board for Engineering and Technology include philosophy, religion, history,
literature, fine arts, sociology, psychology, political science, anthropology,
economics, and foreign languages other than the student's native language(s).
See subsequent section, "Humanities and Social Science Elective
Program" for a more precise definition and lists of acceptable TTU courses
to determine similarity of content. Subjects such as accounting, industrial
management, finance, personnel administration, engineering economy, speech, and
military training usually do not fulfil the objectives desired of the humanities
and social science content.
4Students planning to major in Industrial Engineering should select
economics for their social science sequence.
5Students intending to major in Chemical or Civil Engineering should study
fortran programming language. All others should study "C" programming
language.
CHANGE OF MAJOR AMONG DEGREE-GRANTING
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENTS
Students not on academic warning, probation, or suspension status, who have been admitted to a degree-granting engineering department, are eligible to change majors within any of the five degree-granting engineering departments in the College.
REQUIREMENTS FOR B.S. DEGREE
The student must complete the curriculum for the major subject chosen and must comply with GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE except that engineering students who completed one unit of American history in high school are exempt from the requirement of six semester hours of American history. The courses offered in the major subject for engineering include all courses taken which bear the student's departmental designation. This excludes courses listed as not for credit for these students. For computer engineering, ECE and CSC courses will constitute the major subject. Transfer courses that are equivalent to TTU courses will be considered in the QPA in the major but not in the QPA in the major at TTU. The departmental chairperson, or faculty member designated by the chairperson, serves as the student's academic advisor.
HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
ELECTIVE PROGRAM
Studies in the humanities and social sciences serve not only to meet the objectives of a broad education but also to meet the objectives of the engineering profession. In the interest of making engineering students fully aware of their social responsibilities and their ability to consider related factors in decision-making, courses in the humanities and the social sciences are required. Curricular approval by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) requires that a minimum of 16 semester hours be devoted to humanistic-social science courses. ABET defines humanities as the branches of knowledge concerned with man and his culture, while the social sciences are the studies of individual relationships in and to society. Courses such as accounting, industrial management, finance, personnel administration, engineering economy, and military training usually do not fulfill the objectives of the humanities and social science content; however, these courses may be approved as other electives. American, World, and English literature, which are required courses in the engineering curricula, satisfy part of the ABET humanistic-social science requirement.
The Tennessee Board of Regents requires that all students complete at least three semester hours in the humanities in addition to the six semester hour sophomore literature requirement. Engineering students who completed one year of American History in high school are exempted from a State of Tennessee law requiring six semester hours of American History in college. Six semester hours of a Social Science sequence must be substituted for this requirement. (Industrial Technology majors are not exempt and must take American History.)
Courses may be selected from the following lists to satisfy the requirements as shown in the various curricula. Other courses may be approved by the departmental chairperson with the approval of the Dean of Engineering. The six semester hours of social science chosen should consist of an integrated sequence to obtain a greater depth of understanding. An integrated sequence implies courses taken from the same department (e.g., Economics).
| APPROVED HUMANITIES ELECTIVES | |
| Art | 200, 211, 212, 313, 314, 315, 316 |
| Foreign Lang. | any course offered by the Department of Foreign Languages except 100 |
| History | any HIST course except 200, 241 |
| Literature | any literature course offered by the Dept. of English |
| Music | any course listed under Music/Art, Music History and Literature, or Church Music offered by the Department of Music and Art |
| Philosophy | any PHIL course |
| Theater | 200, 300 |
| APPROVED SOCIAL SCIENCE ELECTIVES | |
| Criminal Justice | 261, 266, 401, 404, 466 |
| Economics | any ECON course |
| Geography | any GEOG course except 111, 333, 421 |
| History | any HIST course except 200, 341, 451, 452 |
| Political Science | any POLS course except 300 |
| Psychology | any PSY course except 300, 301, 311, 425, 460 |
| Sociology |
any SOC course except 290, 391, 492, 493 |
ORGANIZATION
Departments and Undergraduate Curricula
The College of Engineering includes the following departments which offer curricula as follows:
| Department | Curriculum | Degrees |
| Chemical Engineering | Chemical Engineering | B.S., M.S.Ch.E. |
| Civil & Environmental Engineering | Civil Engineering | B.S., M.S.C.E. |
| Electrical & Computer Engineering | Electrical Engineering | B.S., M.S.E.E. |
| Computer Engineering | B.S., Cmp.E. | |
| Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering | Industrial Engineering | B.S., M.S.I.E. |
| Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering | B.S., M.S.M.E. |
| College of Engineering | Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Industrial and Mechanical Engineering | Ph.D. |
| Industrial Technology | Industrial Technology with minor in Business | B.S.I.T. |
Individual curricula
Course descriptions
BASIC ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Associate Professor Hunter, Director; Associate Professor
Goolsby; Assistant Professor Wells
The mission of the Basic Engineering Program is to provide a high-quality, first-year program of study for all majors in engineering.
All freshmen desiring to pursue studies leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in one of the fields of engineering must register for Basic Engineering (BE) as their major.
Admission to Basic Engineering does not guarantee admission to an engineering discipline of one's choice.
Basic Engineering students in good standing may change majors to any degree-granting engineering department in the College when they:
a. Complete 30 semester hours of credit with a C or better in each course counted; at least 25 of which must be applicable to the Basic Engineering curriculum and include MATH 181.
b. Earn an overall QPA of at least 2.0.
c. Be in good standing
Basic Engineering students may not register for upper-division engineering courses (300 and 400 level). The chairperson of the department in which an upper-division course is taught may grant an exception for unusual circumstances (hardship cases).
Since the Basic Engineering Program is a common program to all engineering curricula, students are considered to have entered the curriculum of the degree-granting engineering department when they begin the Basic Engineering Program and may graduate by satisfying the requirements of the catalog then in effect.
Professor Yarbrough, Chairperson; Professor Kerr;
Associate Professors Biernacki, Whitmire; Assistant Professors
Dycus, Visco
The Department of Chemical Engineering offers programs leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Science, Master of Science in Chemical Engineering, and Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering. The undergraduate chemical engineering program is accredited by ABET's Engineering Accreditation Commission and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
The mission of the TTU Chemical Engineering Department is to provide the highest quality undergraduate chemical engineering education by undertaking teaching and research in chemical engineering and related areas, and working with industry, government, the community and the profession to increase the wealth and well-being of society.
The B.S. degree requirements include a broad spectrum of chemical engineering subjects that build on a foundation of physical sciences, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences. A blend of theory and engineering design provides the basis for undertaking professional assignments in chemical engineering or related fields. The graduates of this program will be prepared to enter the chemical engineering profession. Every graduate will have demonstrated effective communication skills. Every graduate will be prepared for continued individual study or formal advanced education in chemical engineering or related fields. Every graduate will have participated in technical team projects including interdisciplinary activities. Every graduate will have demonstrated an understanding of the professional and ethical responsibilities of a chemical engineer. The various elements of the program are designed to produce a chemical engineer prepared for the challenges of future decades.
Professor Bonner, Chairperson; Professors Buchanan,
George (Director, Water Center), Gordon,
Loutzenheiser, (Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Affairs), Roberts, Tolbert;
Associate Professors Crouch, Lowhorn, Ryan; Assistant Professors Badoe,
Henderson, Huo, Jiang, Neary, Ramirez, Weathers
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers programs leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Science, Master of Science in Civil Engineering, and Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering. The principal mission of the Civil Engineering program is to offer the strong academic program needed to prepare students to become educated members of society who can join the civil engineering profession and to provide the opportunity for students to prepare for graduate studies. This mission is consistent with the academic component of the University's mission which is in part to provide a strong academic program in engineering. To achieve this mission, the undergraduate program is structured to provide an education consisting of mathematics, basic sciences, engineering sciences, engineering design, humanities and social sciences consistent with accreditation standards and national needs. The civil engineering component of the program is designed to provide a broad foundation by requiring course work in structures, environment, geotechnics, materials, water resources, surveying, and transportation. Design-based instruction is required to provide students with the opportunity to prepare professionally for the diverse opportunities available to them. Preparation for graduate studies is accomplished by excelling in the undergraduate program and through careful selection of professional and technical electives.
The goal of the CE program is to produce well-educated undergraduates who will become productive members of the civil engineering profession. The intent is that these young engineers having outstanding technical capabilities will have a positive social impact at the state, regional, national and international levels. The greatest desired impacts are expected at the state and regional levels.
To achieve this goal requires that educational objectives be met. To this end, the education program will:
Provide and deliver a quality four-year curriculum in civil and environmental engineering using traditional as well as the most up-to-date teaching methodologies, laboratory exercises, and computer tools to provide the best possible opportunities for students to learn.
Require that students prepare to enter the civil engineering profession and begin the professional registration process prior to graduation.
Require that students are directed and coached in design activities across the CEE curriculum.
Insure that students have acquired effective communication skills.
Insure that students understand the principles of experimental process through effective laboratory experiences.
Insure that students have abundant practice in solving homework problems in fundamental problems courses.
Enhance social, career and professional development potential and develop a sensitivity to social, ethical, public health, and global problems.
Instill the desirable quality of lifelong learning.
Develop the ability to function on multi-disciplinary committees and task teams.
Yield an understanding of the impact of contemporary issues upon their profession and careers.
Maintain and improve an environment to carry out fundamental and applied research and advance engineering knowledge through research.
Provide the student the opportunity to excel in graduate school if desired and properly prepared.
Achievement of the department's goal and objectives are assessed through outcomes measures. Current outcome measures include performance on the subject areas of the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam, alumni surveys, college base exam, survey of enrolled students, and feedback from employers. Additional outcomes measures are being formulated.
The Civil Engineering faculty maximizes the design experience for each of the students in the Civil Engineering program. As the student progresses through the program, design experiences increase in scope and build on design experiences and abilities acquired in previous courses. The "finality" occurs when students participate in Senior Design, CEE 495. Design programs are open-ended so that each student/team is able to decide on a "best" solution.
Design is introduced at the freshman level with design projects assigned in BE 111, 112, and 121. Lecture is used to introduce students to the design approach. Design assignments utilize both the individual and the team approach to practical problems. Problems are open-ended and include realistic constraints.
The design experience is broadened in Mechanics of Materials, CEE 311, during the fourth semester with design-oriented homework. As proficiency in science and synthesis increases, students are guided into more complex design considerations. By the sixth semester, students are engaged in design in each area of emphasis.
The basic sciences and mathematics that were mastered in the freshman and sophomore years and the introduction to engineering topics provide the opportunity to broaden the design experience in the junior year. Six of the twelve courses selected for the junior year have design components. These are as follows: Construction Materials, CEE 303; Microcomputers in Civil Engineering Systems, CEE 310; Water Supply and Pollution Control, CEE 341; Water, Wastewater and Hydraulics, CEE 342; Transportation Engineering, CEE 361; and Structural Steel Design, CEE 431. The design component of each course is carefully selected to take advantage of the student's strengths in science, mathematics and engineering topics as each is related to the content of the current course.
Evidence of the breadth and depth of the design experience continues in the senior year. The design content of CEE courses increases from 8 percent in the sophomore year to 39 percent in the junior year and 52 percent in the senior year. Several courses including those that may be taken as a sequence and/or technical elective are considered to be totally design. In addition to technical design concepts, the student applies other realistic constraints in design; namely, economic factors, safety, reliability, aesthetics, ethics and social impacts. The design component in most senior courses addresses designs with applications to practical engineering problems so that the student is exposed to design experiences pertaining to his/her specific emphasis.
Senior Design, CEE 495, provides a major overall design experience and is scheduled to be taken during the last semester. The course emphasizes the use of principles acquired during the previous seven semesters, and formal lectures are kept to a minimum. Students are organized into teams composed of members representing each area of emphasis in Civil Engineering to produce designs for the same project. Each team must make its own decision as to its "best" design.
The undergraduate Civil Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Students are expected to select an area of concentration from among the following: Transportation Engineering, Structural Engineering, Structural Mechanics, or Environmental Engineering.
Civil Engineering students are required to take the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination (Engineering Intern Test-EIT) administered by the Tennessee State Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners before they are graduated.
Professor Rajan, Chairperson; Professors Alouani, Anderson
(Manufacturing Center),
Carnal, Sekar, Chowdhuri (Electric Power Center), Mahajan,
Natarajan, C. Ventrice; Associate Professors Austen, Haggard,
Ojo, Ososanya, Radman; Assistant Professors Abdelrahman,
Frolik, Mahmoud
The primary mission of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is to prepare students to become productive members of the electrical and computer engineering professions. In addition, the department strives to enhance and expand knowledge in the various fields of electrical and computer engineering by conducting research and scholarly activity. It also serves the public and the profession by sharing the expertise of its personnel. The Department offers two undergraduate academic programs, one leading to the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) degree and the other the Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (BSCmpE) degree. It also offers graduate programs leading to MSEE and Ph.D. in Engineering degrees; the graduate programs are described in the Graduate Catalog.
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) Degree Program
The Department prepares well-rounded electrical engineers who are well versed in the fundamentals of electrical engineering. They are employed by a number of small and big companies in Tennessee and other states. Some of the companies that have employed TTU BSEE graduates are TVA, IBM, Raytheon, Texas Instruments, Motorola, BellSouth, Saturn, Nissan, and many electric utilities. The BSEE degree program has graduated more than 2100 students. It has been accredited since 1966 by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) or its predecessor organizations. The objectives of the BSEE program are formulated so as to meet the present and anticipated needs of the students and satisfy the State, University and accrediting agency requirements. In the BSEE program students acquire the following knowledge and skills:
A strong foundation in the core subjects of electrical engineering, a broad knowledge of the basic principles of at least five different areas of electrical engineering and an in-depth knowledge in at least one area of electrical engineering.
A strong foundation of basic sciences and calculus-based mathematics with an ability to apply scientific knowledge and approach to solve engineering problems.
Skills to design and conduct experiments, collect and interpret data, construct and test circuits and devices and work effectively in multidisciplinary group activities.
Ability to think critically and identify, formulate and solve engineering problems.
Ability to design electrical circuits and systems to meet the specifications under practical constraints.
Effective use of computers and other modern tools in engineering applications.
A basic knowledge of general engineering principles such as engineering mechanics and engineering graphics.
Effective written and oral communication skills.
Awareness of contemporary issues and sensitivity to social, ethical, safety and such considerations that engineers face in the practice of their profession.
An understanding of the need and a knowledge of the avenues for lifelong learning to keep them current in the area of their expertise.
The students acquire the above knowledge and skills by following an integrated curriculum of courses and experiences. This curriculum is presented later in this Catalog. The department employs a series of tools, such as examinations, presentations, surveys, etc., to assess the level of success in meeting the above objectives. These in turn are used to revise the objectives and curriculum. The department has expertise and offers in-depth courses in a number of emphasis areas: Circuits and Signal Processing, Computers and Digital Systems, Control Systems, Electronics, Electric Power, Nuclear Engineering, Physical Phenomena and Telecommunications. An integrated design experience is provided to students starting with elementary designs in freshman and sophomore level courses and ending with a major design experience in a senior level course. The students are encouraged to develop leadership and other social skills by participating in a number of professional and honor societies such as IEEE and Eta Kappa Nu. Students are informed of the importance of becoming professional engineers and, as a first step, are required to take the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination administered by the Tennessee State Board of Architecture and Engineering Examiners before they graduate.
Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (BSCmpE) Degree Program
The BSCmpE is a new degree program developed to meet the growing demand for engineers who have expertise in the design of both hardware and software for computers. It was initiated in August 1998 and has not yet been accredited. The University is committed to get this program accredited by ABET as soon as possible. This program is a joint effort between the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Computer Science. It replaces the computer engineering concentration previously offered in the BSEE curriculum. The BSCmpE program is designed to prepare graduates for entry into the computer engineering profession. The objectives are formulated so as to meet the present and anticipated needs of the students and satisfy the State, the University and the accreditation requirements. Specifically, the goals of the program are as follows:
The students will acquire technical competence for careers in computer system design, development, project supervision and research.
The students will acquire ability to think critically, analyze problems systematically, propose solutions based on scientific principles and engineering practice, and evaluate solutions objectively.
The students will acquire expertise in hardware, software, and hardware - software trade-off considerations in the design of computer systems and applications. Also they will learn to design systems to meet specifications under constraints of cost, time, etc.
The students will acquire hands-on skills and the ability to use computers and other modern tools effectively.
The students will acquire the ability to undertake self-study and lifelong learning.
The students will acquire effective written and oral communication skills.
The students with high academic ability will be able to pursue advanced studies in computer engineering.
The students will acquire an awareness of contemporary issues and sensitivity to social, ethical, safety and such considerations that engineers face in the practice of their profession.
The students will have an opportunity to acquire an understanding of the society which they live in and an appreciation of the general aspects of human life.
In order to meet the above goals, students are required to follow a curriculum which provides the various skills and knowledge in an integrated manner. The details of the curriculum are presented elsewhere in this catalog. Briefly, the BSCmpE students are required to take basic science courses, calculus-based mathematics, English composition and courses in literature, humanities and social science. Students build expertise in hardware and software by taking electrical engineering and computer science courses. Design experience is provided in an integrated manner starting from elementary designs at the freshman and junior level courses culminating in a major design experience in a senior level course. Opportunities are also available for students to develop their leadership and social skills by participating in a number of professional and honor societies and student government associations. Students graduating in this program are also expected to become professional engineers and so before graduation, they are required to take the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination administered by the Tennessee State Board of Architecture and Engineering Examiners.
Professor Matson, Chairperson; Professors Currie,
(Manufacturing
Center) Deivanayagam, Elizandro, Smith, Sundaram
The mission of the Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering program is to prepare graduates for entry into the industrial engineering profession for a satisfying lifelong career in a technologically dynamic society. The mission is in concert with the university's mission, which includes providing a strong academic program in engineering.
The industrial engineering profession is concerned with the design of work systems that include people, materials, machines, information, and capital. To meet the department's mission, the goals of the industrial engineering program have been related to student outcomes and accomplishments as follows. Industrial engineering graduates will have
The technical competence for an entry-level position in industry or graduate school, and a broad education for effecting engineering solutions in a global environment.
A strong foundation in mathematics, sciences, social sciences and humanities, and engineering science courses, as well as applied courses stressing the concepts of engineering design and culminating with a capstone senior design internship.
The ability to contribute to design teams, including multi-disciplinary teams.
Effective communication skills.
The ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems to meet desired needs, including the design of experiments, and analysis and interpretation of data.
An understanding of ethical, social, and occupational safety and health considerations in engineering endeavors.
The desire for lifelong professional improvement and concern for engineering solutions to societal problems.
The undergraduate industrial engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The department also supports a research-oriented graduate program, and provides leadership and technical support in technology transfer to regional industries.
The department's curriculum is designed to provide the competencies identified in the program goals. All freshman engineering majors begin in the Basic Engineering program. Emphasis is placed on the fundamental tools of mathematics, chemistry, a higher-level computer language, engineering graphics and expository writing. Students are introduced to the various fields of engineering and the concept of design. This fundamental pre-engineering knowledge is the foundation for further studies in engineering design, engineering science, and other topics unique to industrial engineering.
During the sophomore year students will complete their required mathematics and physics courses and a significant number of the required social sciences and humanities courses. Students also begin their engineering mechanics sequence. The course, Introduction to Industrial Engineering and Computers, introduces the student to engineering analysis and design and the concept of evaluating alternatives and reporting on recommendations. Ethics in engineering is stressed. This course links the students to their future upper-division industrial engineering courses.
The junior year curriculum includes Engineering Economy, Engineering Statistics, Quality Control, Operations Research, and Simulation of Industrial Systems, courses fundamental to design applications in topical courses. At the junior level, these topical courses are Human Factors Engineering and Work Systems Design and Measurement. These two courses provide experiences in man-machine system design and work station design using open-ended problems. The design experiences this year are preparatory to the more complex environment encountered in the senior year. The course, Industrial Engineering Seminar, is designed to enhance students' written communication skills and to help them to be cognizant of ethical, social, and safety considerations in engineering endeavors. Other topics include accounting and engineering science courses.
All of the senior year industrial engineering courses build upon the junior year courses. Facilities and Material Handling Systems Design, Production Control, and Manufacturing Quality and Productivity are courses that each require a design project using open-ended problems. The design project includes problem identification, data collection and reduction, development and evaluation of alternatives, and a written report. Students also take two technical electives and an IME design elective to enhance their knowledge in areas of interest. During the last term, the student draws upon all the previous design experiences in a capstone course, Engineering Design Internship. This semester-long course is conducted in one of the many industries in middle Tennessee and provides a real-world experience. Included in the senior year are the remaining three engineering science courses: Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, and Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering. These engineering science courses and others in prior years provide IME students with fundamentals that are basic to engineering and prepare IME students for the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam.
Industrial engineering students are required to take the Fundamentals of Engineering examination before graduation. The Tennessee State Board of Architecture and Engineering Examiners administers this exam.
Professor D. Wilson, Chairperson; Professors Griggs, Han, Hoy,
Idem,
Johnson (Dean of Engineering), Munukutla, Peddieson, Smoak,
Ting,
Ventrice (Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research);
Associate Professors Cunningham, Darvennes, Marquis, Smaili;
Assistant Professors Canfield, Chai, Pardue, Soper, C. Wilson
Central to the mission of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Tennessee Technological University is the preparation of its graduates for productive, professional careers in mechanical engineering. The Department offers the Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering (B.S.M.E.). This program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
The profession of mechanical engineering focuses on motion and the forces and energy associated with motion. It encompasses the design and analysis of machines and processes required to meet the ever expanding needs of a changing, technological, energy-based society. Applications within the profession are diverse; consequently, mechanical engineers may find their niche in one of many specialties. ME graduates from Tennessee Tech may find employment in the automotive industry, consulting firms, governmental agencies, manufacturing facilities, national laboratories, the power-production industry, process industries, universities and others. Thus the undergraduate curriculum is broad in its scope and strongly grounded in the fundamentals essential for professional practice, life-long learning, and advanced study at the graduate level. Since design is a unique element of the profession, the design experience is developed and integrated throughout the curriculum.
The mission of the Department encompasses: provision for its students to prepare for life and livelihood in a competitive, dynamic, technologically-based society; advancement of the knowledge of mechanical engineering principles and applications; and service to the public. The mission is in concert with that of the University, which includes the goal of maintaining a strong engineering program. Concomitant objectives are:
To maintain a high-quality, ABET-accredited program with an integrated curriculum that emphasizes the mechanical engineering stems of energy systems and structures and motion in mechanical systems, with balance between theory and applications, such that all graduates are prepared for entry-level professional employment and the higher-achieving graduates are prepared for entry into any M.S.M.E. graduate program of their choosing.
To improve the student's ability to reason, to express thoughts via both written and oral communication, to be ever cognizant of ethical, social and safety considerations in all engineering endeavors, to evaluate arguments and evidence from various fields of study, to discover information, and to engage in independent inquiry, emphasizing the production and efficient use of energy and motion.
To enhance the student's capacity in leadership, individual responsibility and integrity while maintaining respect for the views and abilities of others, appreciation for new ideas, and sensitivity to the feelings of others.
To develop the student's commitment to life-long learning, in order to continually improve individual abilities, attitudes and knowledge; and enthusiasm for contributing to an enhanced quality of life for all.
The Department's curriculum provides students with a solid foundation of prescribed courses which span both stems of mechanical engineering. Four area-concentration (AOC) courses provide for focused, in-depth study within one of the diverse areas of the two stems. About 17 percent of the engineering topics within the curriculum is allocated to the AOC; thus, it is imperative that students consult with their academic advisor in selecting an appropriate area of concentration.
Entry to the College of Engineering is through the Basic Engineering program. The freshman curriculum is essentially the same for all engineering students. Here emphasis is placed on the fundamental tools of mathematics, chemistry, computer programming, written communication, and basic engineering. Students are introduced to the various fields of engineering and the design concept in Introduction to Engineering (BE 121). In Engineering Graphics (BE 111), a design project is used which focuses on creativity and the importance of conveying ideas via sketches and computer-aided drafting; particular points are made relevant to machine design and manufacturability. Finally, in Programming for Engineering (BE 112), the last assignment is an open-ended project.
The sophomore curriculum stresses the fundamental tools of mathematics, physics, and engineering sciences (statistics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, and fundamentals of electrical engineering) and the humanities and social sciences. In addition, the course, Introduction to Mechanical Engineering (ME 200), is taken.
The junior curriculum is primarily devoted to the engineering fundamentals of electrical engineering, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, dynamics of machinery, measurement systems, materials and processes in manufacturing and vibrations. Completing this is an upper division mathematics course and machine design. Integration of design in this portion of the curriculum is accomplished principally via assignments of open-ended problems and generic modeling. Extensive use of computer-aided engineering (CAE) is made in the Dynamics of Machinery courses (ME 361). Vibration and Simulation (ME 305) introduces the basics of MATLAB as a computer-aided simulation tool. Selected simulation assignments given in ME 305 introduce the student to parametric design.
The senior curriculum contains capstone design experiences in three courses: Machine Design (ME 402), Design of Measurement Systems (ME 444), and Thermal Design (ME 472). The Department's goal in these courses is to provide the opportunity to integrate fundamental engineering sciences, a variety of analytical skills, parametric design experiences, computer-simulation skills and sociological group process skills for the solving engineering design problems encompassing real-life decision-making. The concepts of using multiple design pathways leading to the solution of a prescribed set of design specifications are explored, as well as the application of conventional quantitative optimization techniques to the solution of open-ended design problems. Each course requires small-group design projects involving exploration of initial ideas, pursuit of the selected design, progress reporting, and final-design written and oral reports. The senior curriculum also contains core courses in Automatic Controls (ME 481), Engineering Economy (IME 310), Transport Phenomena Laboratory (ME 475), and four areas of concentration courses.
The Senior year of the ME curriculum is completed by each student's selection of four courses from one of the following Areas of Concentration:
Energy Systems: typical emphases are Aerospace, Heat Transfer/Fluids, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, and Power Production.
Structures and Motion in Mechanical Systems: typical emphases are Machine Design, Controls and Vibrations, and Materials/Manufacturing.
Engineering Mechanics: emphases are available which include courses spanning both stems.
The majority of AOC courses contain significant additional design experiences.
Before graduation, Mechanical Engineering students are required to take the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination (previously the Engineering In Training Exam--EIT) administered by the Tennessee State Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners.
Professor ElSawy, Chairperson; Associate Professor Stone;
Assistant Professor Vondra
The National Association of Industrial Technology (NAIT) defined Industrial Technology as "a field of study designed to prepare technical and/or management oriented professionals for employment in business, industry, education and government. Industrial Technology is primarily involved with the management, operation and maintenance of complex technological systems while Engineering and Engineering Technology are primarily involved with the design and installation of these systems."
Industrial Technology is a relatively new discipline, which gained distinction in the early 1960's as the result of industrial demand for technical managers who could make knowledgeable decisions about managing work forces in the technical areas. TTU's Industrial Technology Department offers a four-year degree program leading to a BS Degree in Industrial Technology with a minor in Business Management. The department began in 1956 within the College of Engineering and has the distinction of being accredited by the National Association of Industrial Technology (NAIT) since 1982 and today serves as a model for Tennessee and the nation.
The Department of Industrial Technology prepares technologists for employment in manufacturing and management positions. Through specialized classes, group projects and individual assignments, students learn to be creative and resourceful. Students learn public relations, personnel supervision and problem-solving through group work, instruction and guest speakers. This background enables graduates to share the planning responsibilities of the engineer, scientist, or manager, as well as the production responsibilities of the technician, craftsman or laborer. Industrial Technology graduates are trained in group leadership and communications at all levels of the industrial workforce.
The curriculum in Industrial Technology is built upon technical education and operations, human and industrial relations, business administration and specialized technology. The department strives to keep the curriculum up to date, incorporating new technological developments as they occur. The department offers classes in materials for industry as well as conventional manufacturing processes such as: metal casting, metal manufacturing technology, welding technology, woodworking processes, foundry technology, industrial plastics and maintenance technology. Moreover, the department offers courses in the advanced technology areas such as principles of electricity, industrial electronics, computer numerical control machining practices, CAD technology and industrial automation, which includes robotics and programmable controller. Occupational Safety and Health, Plant Layout and Material Handling, Industrial Communications, and Industrial Supervision enable the industrial technology graduates to achieve the competencies required to apply the latest technological advances in a given field.
The curriculum also emphasizes other vital areas in the industrial workplace: Operations Management, Organizational Behavior, Accounting, Human Relations, Industrial Psychology, Motion and Time Study and Statistical Process Control. The addition of these courses to the curriculum gives the I.T. graduate an appealing, well-rounded education. This lets potential employers know that she or he understands all of the common operations that exist within a manufacturing environment.
Professional support of any college program is a tremendous advantage to both the students and the businesses. This support is given to the Department of Industrial Technology by the I.T. Advisory Board. Nissan America, TRW, Peterbilt, Saturn, BMW, UPS and Advances Manufacturing Technologies are a few of the companies represented on the board. The advisory board is a great way to look at companies and see what they have to offer. They also provide a great collective knowledge about the industrial field from which all I.T. students are encouraged to draw. Industrial Technology students are also given the opportunity to participate in co-operative education assignments with well-respected industrial manufacturers. Qualified students gain valuable on-the-job experience while earning money to offset educational expenses.
By supplying graduates with a technical, operational and managerial education, the Department of Industrial Technology meets the needs of industry. The wide breadth of technical positions in the industry assures the Industrial Technology graduate of an interesting and challenging career. Most of the current I.T. students have already secured jobs by the time they graduate.