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Mechanical engineers are concerned with the optimum use of materials, energy, time, and individual effort to serve societal needs through the design of machines, structures, and mechanical and thermal systems, and through better understanding of dynamic processes involving these systems. They have a wide involvement in many industries including aerospace, biomechanical and biomedical engineering, construction, electronics, manufacturing, national defense, power generation, and transportation. Within these industries, the engineer might specialize in the design, analysis, automation, operation, or marketing of systems or services. The individual's contribution may lie anywhere in the spectrum from highly theoretical to imminently practical, and often involves leadership as an engineering manager or organization executive.

Because mechanical engineers in industry and research engage in such a great variety of activities, their education must be broadly based. Although individual engineers may specialize within their industry positions or in graduate study, each must have the background needed to contribute in any of several technical areas, to combine knowledge of multiple topics when necessary, and to interact with members of other disciplines and professions in accomplishing broad goals. Thus the mechanical engineer's program of study must include fundamental grounding in mathematics and basic sciences, applications in several engineering sciences, and team-based experience in the process of design, where theory is applied in the context of real needs and limitations and where judgment must be exercised. Furthermore, to be a responsible member of the engineering profession, each graduate must be aware of social, ethical, environmental and economic factors and constraints on engineering activity, and must understand the importance of these matters in a global context. With these considerations in mind, the goals of the undergraduate mechanical engineering program are to provide:

• the knowledge, skills, and credentials needed to be successful at the entry level of the practice of engineering.
• the preparation necessary to undertake the initial steps leading to professional registration.
• an educational preparation for graduate or professional study.
• an educational background that is the basis for professional growth and leadership throughout a career that may encompass a broad range of endeavors, both technical and non-technical.

The curriculum capitalizes on the exceptional abilities of our highly select students to cultivate the learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities needed to adapt, to develop, and to exercise responsible leadership through times of rapid change. The program provides firm preparation in the essential engineering topics while allowing wide flexibility for students to pursue their own specialized interests, including a double major of mechanical engineeringn and biomedical engineering.

Duke's mechanical engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012 - telephone: (410) 347-7700.