A Holistic Review Of Mechanical Design Curriculum In An Engineering Technology Program

In most of the mechanical and manufacturing engineering technology programs, mechanical design is a critical course for students to acquire the knowledge and skill in design of mechanical components and systems. While the course contents generally include important topics, such as failure theories and machine elements, a holistic mechanical design education should also address the interdependency between various subjects related to mechanical design. The subject of mechanical design should be viewed as an “integrated curriculum,” not an isolated course. As a result of a professional development project with the Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), the Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology (MMET) program at Texas A&M University (TAMU) has embarked on a critical review of its mechanical design curriculum. This paper presents the collaboration between TAMU and SNL on the education development project, the on-going curriculum review of mechanical design courses, and the initial findings and recommendations for the MMET program at TAMU. The methodology in this study can be used as a continuous improvement process for engineering technology education.