Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Department Office: Osborne Center for Science & Engineering, Room A-437
Email: mae@uccs.edu
Phone: (719) 255-3243
Fax: (719) 255-3042
Website: http://eas.uccs.edu/MAE/

Faculty

Professors: Peter Gorder (Chair)
Professor Emeritus: David Schmidt
Associate Professors: Todd Bredbenner, Michael Calvisi, Jena McCollum, and Steven Tragesser
Associate Professor Emeritus: Leal Lauderbaugh
Assistant Professors: Josué Cardoso dos Santos, Matt Quinlan, Hui Wan, and Xin (Cindy) Yee
Teaching Professors: Julie Albertson, Thomas Amundson
Associate Teaching Professor: Lynnane George
Assistant Teaching Professors: Christopher Foley, Md Rubayat-E Tanjil, and Benjamin Wilcox

Programs Coordinated by the Department

Minor in Mechanical Engineering
Minor in Aerospace Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, BS Double Major
Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering
Concurrent Bachelor and Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering- Concentration in Aerospace Engineering
Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering- Concentration in Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Study

Mechanical Engineering is a core discipline, encompassing mechanics, materials science, thermal science, dynamics and controls, design, and manufacturing. Aerospace engineering, as a discipline, is a combination of aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering. These disciplines encompass all of the areas of the more general mechanical engineering discipline listed above but focus more specifically on vehicles and devices that function predominantly within an atmosphere (aeronautical engineering) or outside of an atmosphere (astronautical engineering). Career opportunities are open to mechanical engineers and aerospace engineers in industry, government, and universities, as well as in other professions including business, law, and medicine. As the name suggests the industry most targeted by aerospace engineers is the aerospace industry, whereas mechanical engineers are employed in a wide range of industries including aerospace, automotive, chemical, computing, electronics, industrial machinery, manufacturing, mining, oceanography, petroleum, pharmaceuticals, power, printing, publishing, and textiles. Both mechanical engineers and aerospace engineers usually engage in research, development, design, testing, manufacturing, operations and maintenance, marketing and sales, and administration.

The undergraduate curricula in mechanical and aerospace engineering incorporates mathematics, physics and chemistry; humanities/ social sciences; business; engineering science; electrical theory; measurement science; mechanical engineering core courses (computer-aided drafting, dynamics and controls, solid and fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, materials science, and heat and mass transfer); and selected technical elective courses. These electives are designed to meet the needs of the industrial, commercial, governmental, and military communities, and to serve students’ professional objectives.

Undergraduate students can participate in internship and cooperative educational programs with a variety of high-tech companies along the Front Range.

Undergraduate students also have many opportunities to become involved in discipline-related activities outside the classroom. The MAE Department has active chapters in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).

Further, currently enrolled undergraduate students with exceptional academic records may obtain guaranteed early enrollment in mechanical and aerospace engineering graduate programs.