Multi-Disciplinary Approach to an Undergraduate Engineering Analysis Course

Final Paper pdf 293KB

Courses in the Mechanical Engineering curriculum should support practical applications, address various subject areas, and relate to other coursework. However, students often find it difficult to completely grasp the connections between courses. At Mississippi State University, the junior- level Engineering Analysis course links mathematical approaches across most mechanical engineering subject areas. Therefore, this course has been selected to introduce a multi- disciplinary instructional component that maps concepts from various courses through a common mathematical framework, while tying practical applications to the course material. The instructional techniques employed include homework and projects designed to illustrate practical examples of engineering solutions, verification statements, and in-class examples explicitly illustrating conceptual material from other courses and practical applications of numerical techniques. Additionally, ample opportunity for open discussion of material application to the overarching curriculum is provided. The primary objective is to help students’ view their collective education as connected pieces of a whole process.

Author(s):

Alta Knizley    
Mechanical Engineering
Mississippi State University
United States

Rogelio Luck    
Mechanical Engineering
Mississippi State University
United States

Aaron Smith    
Mechanical Engineering
Mississippi State University
United States