Major Title: Mechanics
Program Description:
This fundamental engineering science major provides a rigorous understanding of the behavior of physical systems under various forces and motions. Covering classical and modern mechanical principles, the program develops advanced problem-solving skills for analyzing and predicting the static and dynamic responses of structures, machines, and materials. Students gain expertise in both theoretical foundations and practical applications across mechanical, aerospace, civil, and biomechanical engineering domains.
Core Competencies Developed:
- Classical Mechanics
- Newtonian dynamics of particles and rigid bodies
- Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations
- Vibrations and oscillatory systems
- Continuum Mechanics
- Stress-strain analysis
- Tensor mathematics applications
- Constitutive modeling
- Computational Mechanics
- Finite element method (FEM) implementation
- Multi-body dynamics simulation
- Numerical solution techniques
- Specialized Mechanics Domains
- Fracture and damage mechanics
- Fluid-structure interactions
- Biomechanics applications
Curriculum Structure:
Foundation Courses:
- Vector Calculus for Engineers
- Advanced Engineering Mathematics
- Statics and Strength of Materials
- Dynamics of Mechanical Systems
Core Theory Courses:
- Elasticity Theory
- Plasticity and Viscoelasticity
- Analytical Dynamics
- Wave Propagation
Application Tracks (Choose One):
- Structural Mechanics
- Dynamical Systems
- Computational Solid Mechanics
- Experimental Mechanics
Laboratory & Computational Components:
✔ Material testing lab (Instron, MTS systems)
✔ Vibration and modal analysis experiments
✔ Digital image correlation techniques
✔ Commercial FEM software training (ANSYS, ABAQUS)
✔ High-performance computing applications
Emerging Areas Covered:
- Mechanobiology
- Metamaterials mechanics
- Multiscale modeling approaches
- Smart material systems
Career Pathways:
- Stress Analysis Engineer
- Dynamics Specialist
- CAE Simulation Engineer
- Research Scientist
- Forensic Engineer
Unique Program Features:
- Industry-sponsored design challenges
- National laboratory research opportunities
- Interdisciplinary biomechanics projects
- Professional software certification pathways
Assessment Methods:
- Analytical problem sets
- Computational simulation projects
- Experimental validation studies
- Technical paper reviews
- Design portfolio development
This program produces mechanics specialists capable of modeling, analyzing, and optimizing complex mechanical systems across multiple scales - from microstructural behavior to large-scale structural dynamics. Graduates develop the mathematical sophistication and engineering intuition to solve challenging problems in traditional and emerging technology sectors.
