A Project Based Introduction To Mechanical Engineering

The Mechanical Engineering Department at the United States Naval Academy has developed and instituted a new introductory course that all mechanical engineering majors are required to take. The goals of the course are to introduce the midshipmen to the major areas of study in mechanical engineering, to enhance the visualization skills of the midshipmen, and to introduce the midshipmen to the design process. For all three goals hands-on projects are used as the vehicle to introduce the midshipmen to mechanical engineering. The desire is to enhance their understanding and enthusiasm for the major, and to give them a basis for appreciating the sequence of engineering science courses. The course is sixteen weeks long with one lecture period and one laboratory period each week for a total of 2 credits. The design portion of the class takes approximately five weeks, the visualization skills occupy roughly five weeks, and the mechanical engineering topics portion of the class takes five weeks.