Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering

For information regarding the GRADUATE PROGRAM in MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, click here.  

For information regarding the GRADUATE PROGRAM in INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING, click here.  

Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineering emerged as a new field of engineering during the Industrial Revolution when many labor-saving inventions were designed and built in England between 1750 and 1850. The role of the mechanical engineer has expanded dramatically in recent years and nearly 10,000 graduates are now needed yearly.

All large industries employ mechanical engineers. Among those who regularly hire graduates from LSU are automotive, industrial machinery, oceanographic, power, chemical, textile, petroleum, computer, metal manufacturing, electronic, paper and wood product, and aerospace corporations.

In these industries, mechanical engineers perform a large variety of functions; therefore, the education of a mechanical engineer is necessarily broad. Mechanical engineers use the basic sciences (such as chemistry and physics), mathematics, computer programming, oral and written communication skills, and humanities and social sciences. Almost invariably, mechanical engineers rely heavily on a firm understanding of engineering mechanics and thermal sciences to analyze the conversion, transmission and application of energy in its many forms and meet a wide variety of needs.

Mechanical engineers use this knowledge in research by attempting to solve new problems, in development by altering a system to fit a new need, and in design to describe in detail a machine, system, or approach to a problem. Testing, manufacturing, operation and maintenance, marketing and sales, and administration also require large numbers of mechanical engineers. Mechanical engineering, a technical professional field, offers challenge and opportunity for those prepared for hard work, both in school and during a lifetime of service.

The program objectives are reflected by the statement that, upon graduation and over the following years, graduates from the BSME program at LSU will:

• Achieve successful careers in industrial, governmental, academic, and non-profit organizations.
• Continue to develop professionally and exercise leadership in their workplaces and communities.
• Practice life-long learning and adapt to evolving technological and societal needs.

The mechanical engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org. To qualify for graduation, mechanical engineering students must demonstrate:

1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics;
2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors;
3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts;
5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives;
6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions;
7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering

Industrial engineering involves the synthesis and applications of scientific principles of design, installation, and improvement of integrated systems of people, materials, information, and equipment to provide the most efficient and effective operating and work environment. It combines principles of human behavior with concepts of engineering procedure or analysis.

Industrial engineers engage in ergonomics and human factors engineering, safety engineering, work systems design, methods development and improvement, lean systems analysis, information systems design, industrial automation and robotics, systems integration, manufacturing processes design, facilities and plant layout/design, production planning and control, material handling and supply chain systems, operation research and logistics, computer modeling and simulation, quality assurance, statistical analysis and control, and reliability engineering.

The industrial engineer combines the abilities of an engineer and a manager. These include an aptitude for mathematics, statistics, and economics, as well as for the basic engineering sciences; an interest in working with people and systems that produce goods or services; and the ability to analyze, synthesize, and integrate technical knowledge in practical ways.

The program objectives, within the first few years after graduation, for graduates from the BSIE program at LSU are:

• Leverage principles learned in the curriculum to achieve successful industrial engineering careers in industry, government, and non-profit organizations and entrepreneurial environments
• Achieve technical or business leadership roles in their workplaces; and
• Adapt to evolving technological and societal needs especially in design, improvement and integration of integrated systems

Global Knowledge Requirement: Today’s engineers work on global projects in culturally diverse environments. To help prepare for this environment, students in industrial engineering must meet a global knowledge requirement. This can be accomplished in one of two ways:

1. Through participation in a study abroad program of six or more weeks in length, during which course credit is earned.
2. By taking a general education course that meets the global knowledge requirement (the course also counts towards the general education requirement). Currently approved courses are kept on a list available in the College of Engineering office. For a course to be included on this list, it must include instruction and guidance on at least two of the following:
   1. Systematically compare the ideas, values, images, cultural artifacts, economic structures, technological developments, or attitudes of people from different modern societies.
   2. Identify the historical context of ideas and cultural practices of global cultures and their dynamic relations to current societal contexts.
   3. Explain how a culture changes in response to internal and external pressures.

The industrial engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org. To qualify for graduation, industrial engineering students must demonstrate:

1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Accelerated Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering encourages talented undergraduates to take advantage of LSU’s Accelerated MS program where it is possible to earn both BSME and MSME degrees in five years.

3/2 Joint Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering(BSIE)/Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program

The 3/2 program provides highly capable Industrial Engineering students an option to complete both a BSIE degree and MBA degree in five years. Normally, this would take six or more years to complete.

To be considered for the program, students must take the GMAT or GRE during their junior year and apply for admission to the MBA program at the end of the junior year. As part of the application process, an interview is required with the MBA coordinator and/or admissions committee. While there is a minimum requirement of 3.0 overall GPA and 600 GMAT/314 GRE to apply, special emphasis is given to assessing the student’s maturity and likelihood of success in the 3/2 program, and students with above minimum scores may not be admitted.

If admitted, students pay MBA premium tuition for their final two years. In addition, students must earn a 3.0 or higher on all coursework applied to the MBA program.

The MBA and BSIE degrees would normally be awarded concurrently at the end of the fifth year. Note that you must complete the BSIE degree before or concurrent with the MBA in order to complete the MBA.

Accelerated completion of the two degrees is accomplished by:

• Students in BSIE accelerate the undergraduate program through advanced placement credit and summer/intersession/independent study work so that most requirements for their BSIE program are met by end of junior year.
• Up to nine credit hours of MBA 7000-level coursework is also applied towards the Technical Elective requirement in the BSIE undergraduate curriculum. These courses must be taken while co-enrolled in the MBA.
• Up to nine credit hours of senior level IE coursework eligible for graduate credit is also applied toward the MBA elective requirements. These courses must be taken while co-enrolled in the MBA.
• Students should conduct an internship during the summer following the senior (fourth) year, which will count towards three credit hours of MBA elective requirements as well as IE Technical Elective A.

Programs

• Industrial Engineering, B.S.I.E.
• Mechanical Engineering, B.S.M.E.

• Aerospace Engineering Minor
• E-commerce Engineering Minor
• International Automotive Engineering Minor
• Materials Science and Engineering Minor
• Mechanical Engineering Minor
• Nuclear Power Engineering Minor

• Industrial Engineering, B.S.I.E. (Joint 3/2 MBA Program)