General Engineering

Department Head:	Bruce Madigan
	(406) 496-4576
	SE 313A

Administrative Assistant:	Darlene Voss
	(406) 496-4184
	SE 313

Department FAX:	(406) 496-4849

The Engineering department at Montana Tech offers Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in General Engineering. The mission of the undergraduate degree program is to provide the student with an interdisciplinary engineering education that emphasizes mechanical, electrical, civil, and welding engineering fundamentals but also to provide flexibility in choosing a specialization through open engineering technical electives and specified options. Students gain a broad training in science, mathematics, computers, and engineering and are encouraged to select an area of specialization. Formal specialized options within the department include Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Welding Engineering. Students may also choose a Civil or Mechanical Engineering major. Other specialization can also be pursued through proper advising. Students are exposed to courses with laboratories that emphasize applied engineering concepts and others with design aspects of engineering.

The General Engineering program stresses professionalism and a solid fundamental engineering education, which the student can apply to a wide range of industrial situations. The Bachelor of Science degree in General Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org. The goal of this program is to prepare graduates to enter and continue the practice of engineering at a professional level. Also, the program provides a solid foundation for an advanced engineering degree.

Graduates will be prepared to assume a wide range of positions as engineers in the early years of their careers. In additional to acquiring a broad range of engineering skills, graduates will be able to master workplace skills required in their areas of engineering. In the first years following graduation, graduates are expected to:

Perform engineering work in a highly ethical manner, placing public safety and welfare in the forefront while understanding social and global impacts of technology.
Progress in their respective fields to become technical and work leaders, assuming advanced responsibilities through experience and licensure.
Develop sub-areas of expertise through experience and pursuit of life-long learning opportunities.
Take on roles of marketing and project overview by advancing skills in written, oral and graphic communication.
Work effectively on cross-function teams, communicating and coordinating with clients, customers, co-workers, contractors, and public agencies.
Instill eagerness to learn and continue learning whether it be through advanced degrees or courses or staying current on industry issues.

Engineering programs must demonstrate that their students attain the following outcomes:

An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering.
An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data.
An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.
An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams.
An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.
An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
An ability to communicate effectively.
The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context.
A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning.
A knowledge of contemporary issues
An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

The curriculum meets all general criteria specified by ABET and provides both breadth and depth in the range of topics included in the program. The curriculum is broken into mathematics and basic sciences including computer use, humanities and social sciences, economics, technical writing and presentations, the engineering core with advanced engineering topics and laboratories, and the engineering design experience. The engineering core includes the study of mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, engineering graphics, and electrical circuits. In addition, the student selects engineering elective courses to provide further depth and specialization. The Civil Engineering option requires courses in surveying, structural engineering, and in water resources and includes courses taught in the environmental engineering, geological engineering, and mining engineering departments. The Mechanical Engineering option involves the classic mechanical engineering topics of machine design, mechanics, and thermal-energy. There are other mechanical courses to choose from including HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), industrial plant design, structural mechanics, concurrent engineering, etc. The Welding Engineering option of curriculum involved welding processes such as arc, laser and solid-state, welding metallurgy of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys, design of welded connections for structures and manufacturing operations, and nondestructive evaluation techniques using x-ray, ultrasonics and magnetics. The Welding Engineering option also emphasizes the use of robotics and automation.

Engineering design is incorporated into the curriculum and applied to the formulation and eventual solution of open-ended design problems. The design process is introduced in a freshman course, EGEN 101 - Introduction Engineering Calculations & Problem Solving . The design process further evolves in a sophomore course, EGEN 215 , and a junior course, EGEN 318 , where advanced techniques are taught in the use of CAD/CAM software, and culminates in a senior capstone design project. Design projects are also integrated into a majority of the upper-level engineering electives,. The design process stresses the use of sound engineering principles and includes economics, group interactions, ethics considerations, feasibility studies of alternative solutions, and social impact studies. A solution of the design problem is required, with a clear, concise, and detailed presentation of the design process, the critical decisions made, and the results.

Outcome assessment of the General Engineering program includes alumni surveys, standardized exams, industry feedback, and student evaluations. All graduating seniors are required to take the Fundamentals of Engineering exam to provide feedback on improving the program. This provides the initial step toward professional registration, is used as an assessment tool, and requires a thorough review of the basic course work required for graduation.

Graduates currently work in energy production, mineral production, product manufacturing, aerospace design and production, in atomic energy, highway and bridge design, robotics and in research. Engineering alumni currently hold positions that range from design engineer to engineering manager to corporate CEO.

General Engineering Specialized Options

The student is encouraged to specialize in one of the three General Engineering options: Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Welding Engineering. These areas of concentration offer the advantage of specialization but still retain the core and flexibility of the traditional general engineering curriculum. Required technical electives for each of these four areas are listed following the core curriculum required of all general engineering majors.

Civil Engineering. This option requires courses in surveying, structural engineering, and land development and includes courses taught in the environmental engineering, geological engineering, and mining engineering departments. In addition to the general engineering core, this option offers the student a specialization in the civil engineering areas of foundations, structures and surface water hydrology and hydraulics. The remainder of the civil engineering technical electives are chosen from areas in advanced structures, water and soil remediation, construction, environmental issues, hydrogeology, and geomechanics.

Mechanical Engineering. This option involves the classic mechanical engineering topics of machine design, mechanics, and thermal-energy. There are other mechanical concentrations to choose from including mechatronics, HVAC (heating ventilating and air conditioning), industrial plant design, structural mechanics, and concurrent engineering. The mechanical engineering option prepares the graduate for jobs in the broad field of mechanical engineering and includes power production, equipment design, manufacturing, mechanical system design and maintenance.

Welding Engineering. This unique program qualifies graduates to secure jobs in a variety of industrial sectors from heavy, light and aerospace manufacturing, maintenance and repair, and inspection work. There is a huge demand for this type of hands-on engineering in industry today and there are few schools filling this demand. The Welding Engineering Curriculum is multidisciplinary and includes welding processes, automation, metallurgy, design and nondestructive evaluation. This exciting field is critical for the success of engineering projects. The Welding Engineering emphasis at Montana Tech is unique, and its graduates are in high demand in many industries.

The Engineering Department has maintained steady growth and nearly 100% placement for the past decade. The 2008 graduate survey reported an average starting salary of $55,500. Graduates currently work in areas such as energy production, mineral production, product manufacturing, aerospace design and production, highway and bridge design, robotics and automation, and heavy construction.

Programs

Bachelor of Science