What is mechanical engineering?
Mechanical engineering is one of the largest and broadest engineering disciplines, providing the foundation for almost all other engineering majors. The expertise developed in Penn State Altoona's Mechanical Engineering program empowers graduates to work on athletic equipment, medical devices, theme park rides, electronics, engines, power plants, propulsion systems, manufacturing automation, and virtually any other system that can be created. Mechanical engineers contribute to our health, happiness, and safety and often change the way we think about the world.
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Why major in mechanical engineering?
Mechanical engineers have some of the most versatile training of any of the engineering disciplines, which touch virtually every aspect of modern life. If a system is manufactured, generates heat, needs to be protected from its environment, needs to be transported, or needs to move, there is a good chance someone with mechanical training had a part in designing it.
Graduates of Penn State Altoona's Mechanical Engineering program employ concepts from foundational topics like physics, chemistry, and mathematics to study mechanical and fluid/thermal systems. Because every industry values a mechanical engineer’s problem-solving capabilities, a student pursuing such a degree will enjoy tremendous career flexibility in disciplines as varied as research, manufacturing, product and systems design and testing, health care, energy, the military, transportation, and consumer products. Education in mechanical engineering is also excellent preparation for technical management, business, law, or technical sales.
Where do mechanical engineers work?
Penn State Altoona Mechanical Engineering graduates will be ...
- Educated in a diverse range of industries for large multinational companies and small local firms alike.
- Prepared to work in virtually every industry, such as small startups of all stripes, manufacturing, automation, robotics, public works, power generation, defense, automotive, HVAC, aerospace and propulsion, heavy equipment, computer hardware, rail, ship and yacht manufacturing, commercial/residential building installation design, mining, wind/solar, and countless more.
- Equipped to work as a manager due to their broad educational background and creative problem-solving skills.
Our engineering graduates regularly accept positions at Fortune 500 companies such as Ingersoll Rand, Boeing, Toshiba-Westinghouse, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Dow Chemical, ExxonMobil, Procter & Gamble, United Technologies Corporation, and Johnson & Johnson.
Undergraduate Research and Opportunities in Mechanical Engineering
Undergraduate research opportunities provide pathways for students to get involved in funded research at a very early stage in their baccalaureate degrees. Students have traveled to both national and international conferences to present their work. More information is forthcoming.
Mechanical Engineering Contacts
Contact Grant Risha, the Mechanical Engineering Department Chair, or reach out to any of our Mechanical Engineering faculty.
