Model-Based Design in Mechanical Engineering: An Undergraduate Curriculum with a Coherent Theme

A design engineer uses math to solve real-world problems. To that end, traditional mechanical engineering curricula teach modeling and analysis skills in a set of specific, often decades-old, courses. This regiment of courses give the student the skill set needed to be an engineer, but is all too often insufficient at teaching that student how to use that skill set. That is, the student is illprepared to bring those multidisciplinary skills together to solve problems, to actually be an engineer. A new curriculum strategy is proposed in which at least one course each semester reflects the concepts of model-based design. Therefore, the engineering student becomes progressively mature in applying his or her multidisciplinary engineering skill set towards actually solving real-world problems. An example of the proposed curriculum strategy, initiated during the 20152016 academic year, is presented. A discussion of the concept of model-based design in mechanical engineering education is first given. Then, details of the case study are presented, including a progression of five courses from freshman to senior years.