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Mechanical Engineering
There is no part of our lives untouched by the inventiveness and perseverance of mechanical engineers. From our air conditioners to the engines that power massive ships, mechanical engineers play a huge role is making our modern lives possible. WVU Tech’s ABET Accredited Mechanical Engineering program will prepare you to take on one of the most diverse careers available in engineering.
Let's get to work!Mechanical engineers have provided some of the most significant and continuous contributions to industrial development since the dawn of human civilization. History is replete with stories of mechanical engineering ideas and concepts that have led to increased prosperity and a rise in living standards for entire nations. Mechanical engineers play a vital role in maintaining the sort of technical leadership that insures innovation and growth in industrialized societies.
WVU Tech's Mechanical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Learn more about ABET AccreditationIn order to prepare our students for the challenges awaiting them in the real world, the Mechanical Engineering Department at WVU Tech offers a practice-oriented education with strong emphasis on hands-on experience. We recognize that engineers are builders and need to develop strong analytical and design skills, so our curriculum is structured to bolster those skills and create a well-rounded graduate who can succeed in a field that is both challenging and rewarding.
Courses such as English, mathematics, physics, computer science, the humanities and general engineering science supplement the mechanical engineering curriculum and technical electives are offered in energy and mechanical systems, enabling students to pursue advanced studies in their areas of interest.
Engineers are builders and need to develop strong analytical and design skills. Our curriculum is structured so that meaningful design experience is included in several of the required and elective courses. Mechanical engineering students develop these skills systematically by successfully completing a series of sequential courses in statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, fluid mechanics, dynamics of machinery, machine design and mechanical engineering systems design.
Open-ended problems and multiple-solution design concepts are incorporated across the curriculum involving design assignments in thermal and mechanical systems. This process starts with the Mechanics of Materials course in the sophomore year and culminates with the capstone design courses (ME Systems Design I and II) at the end of the senior year. The capstone design courses provide students with an opportunity to apply previously acquired knowledge in areas that include mathematics, science, engineering, humanities, communications, ethics and economics.
Our faculty also recognize the dynamic nature of modern technology in which changes are inevitable and the need for our graduates to be well-prepared to meet these challenges. The mechanical engineering curriculum is under constant review and modifications are introduced continuously in response to the changing needs of the industry and the job market.
Learn about metals, microstructure, chemical composition, heat treatment, plastic deformation, fracture, fatigue, creep and wear, plus preparation and microscopic examination of specimens and advanced materials testing.
Explore methods of analyzing the motion in linkages, cams, gears and other basic mechanisms. Explore the synthesis of linkages, cams, gear profiles and gear trains. Analysis techniques include algebraic, graphical methods and computer simulation.
Discover Bernoulli’s equation; dimensional analysis; potential flow analysis; lift analysis; compressible flow through nozzles; shock wave analysis; boundary layer effects; and experimental testing in subsonic and supersonic flows.
West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech) and West Virginia University (WVU) have joined their resources to offer a 2+2 aerospace program, (two years at Beckley and two years at Morgantown), leading to a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering degree. Under this arrangement, a student interested in a BSAE degree from WVU, can start as a freshman at WVU Tech in Mechanical Engineering, complete the appropriate courses in four semesters with a GPA of at least 2.0 at Beckley and transfer to the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Department at Morgantown. Upon completion of the appropriate curriculum requirements during the following four semesters at Morgantown, he/she will receive a BSAE degree from WVU.
Learn more about the Aerospace ProgramGraduates of the mechanical engineering program hit the ground running. With practical and theoretical experience obtained through foundational course work; design and lab experiences; intercollegiate student design competitions; and hands-on co-ops and internships, WVU Tech students are well prepared for life after graduation.
With instruction from highly accessible faculty with practical engineering experience, WVU Tech graduates are highly regarded. Graduates have found careers in industries such as manufacturing (automotive, aircraft and mining equipment), chemical production, energy production and utilities. Some graduates have gone on to complete advanced degrees (MS and PhD).
~$100,000*
Median Mechanical Engineer Yearly Salary
*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024
WVU Tech's Mechanical Engineering program has a strong reputation among industry leaders. Companies like Toyota, Siemens, Schlumberger and DuPont seek out our graduates. We make sure students get the opportunity to learn outside of the classroom on the equipment they will work with after graduation.
WVU Tech Mechanical Engineering graduates who have co-op experience while in our program usually have job offers before they graduate. Many times, those offers come from the co-op program participants where students worked. You'll find WVU Tech Mechanical Engineering graduates in jobs across the industry including designers, engineering managers, plant engineers and field engineers.
Our program graduates have landed rewarding jobs, enjoying fascinating careers as:
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Profile: Bernhard Bettig, Ph.D.
Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Profile: Yogendra "Yogen" Panta, Ph.D., PE, PMP, CPEM
Professor Emeritus, Mechanical Engineering
Profile: Juin S. Yu, Ph.D. [Emeritus]
Professor Emeritus, Mechanical Engineering
Profile: Govindappa "Pat" Puttaiah, Ph.D. [Emeritus]
