Northern Illinois University
College of Engineering and Engineering Technology
Northern Illinois University

Mission

The mission of the Mechanical Engineering Department is to provide a high-quality, visionary engineering education that reflects professional engineering standards and prepares students to become engineers and leaders capable of solving technical challenges that industry and society face now and in the future; to conduct quality research by developing and/or applying engineering knowledge and tools to address society's technical needs and challenges; and to provide quality professional and public services to our communities.

Educational Objectives

The undergraduate mechanical engineering program is designed to prepare students for successful careers in engineering by providing them with the following: 

• A balanced education in mechanical engineering fields; a foundational knowledge in mathematics and physical sciences. 
• A broad general education in the humanities/arts, social sciences and interdisciplinary studies.
• Training for effective communication and teamwork.
• An understanding and commitment to an engineer’s professional and ethical responsibilities.

Our educational objectives are based on the needs of the program’s constituencies: employers, alumni, students and faculty. We expect our graduates to attain the following educational objectives within a few years of graduation:

• To become successful professionals.
• To successfully apply engineering knowledge and tools to solve technical problems and challenges.
• To design and/or manufacture valuable products or processes.
• To make contributions to their professional fields, exhibit effective communication skills and become valuable team members.
• To continue professional development and assume professional and leadership responsibility.

Program Outcomes

The graduates of the undergraduate mechanical engineering program should demonstrate the following outcomes by the time of graduation: an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering:

• An ability to identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics.
• 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.
• An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
• 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.
• 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.
• An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
• An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.