Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5343 USA
(269) 276-3420

Accreditation

The Aerospace Engineering (B.S. in Engineering) program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Aerospace and Similarly Named Engineering Programs Criteria. 

The Mechanical Engineering (B.S. in Engineering) program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Mechanical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs Criteria.

The following accreditation-related information is available:

  • Program educational objectives
  • Student outcomes
  • Program enrollment and degree data
  • Advisory boards

Program educational objectives

The educational objectives of the aerospace engineering program at Western Michigan University are to have graduates

  1. Career Growth: as demonstrated by achieving proficiency in current position, increasing responsibility, diversity of job functions, recognition, progression and/or job advancement.
  2. Professional Development: as demonstrated by pursuing additional education, professional certifications, leadership effectiveness, staying current with evolving technologies and/or demonstrating initiative.
  3. Service: as demonstrated by community involvement, professional societies, and/or humanitarian endeavors.
  4. Innovation: as demonstrated by the development of new processes, devices, methods, patents, and/or dissemination of knowledge.

Student outcomes

The following student outcomes are produced by the faculty of the aerospace engineering program at Western Michigan University satisfying the ABET criterion for student outcomes (1-7).

  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 judgements, 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 judgement to draw conclusions.
  7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Program enrollment and degree data

Academic YearTotal Undergraduate 
Enrollment		Bachelor’s Degrees 
Awarded
2023-24326 
2022-2331244
2021-2231541
2020-2131620
2019-2028848
2018-1926339
2017-1826327
2016-1727536
2015-1627724
2014-1525422
2013-1421334
2012-1318712
2011-12 22

Advisory board

  • Rob Curtis, B.S.'11, Engineering Manager, Parker Aerospace
  • Dr. Tom Heine, B.S.'02, Flight Systems Engineering Lead, Meta Orbital Effects
  • Alexander Porter, B.S.'89, M.S.'92, Global Director of Engineering, Intertek
  • Dr. Sudesh Woodiga, Ph.D.'13, Principal Experimental Aerodynamicist, Ford Motor Company

 Program educational objectives

The educational objectives of the mechanical engineering program at Western Michigan University are to have graduates:

  1. Career Growth: as demonstrated by achieving proficiency in current position, increasing responsibility, diversity of job functions, recognition, progression and/or job advancement.
  2. Professional Development: as demonstrated by pursuing additional education, professional certifications, leadership effectiveness, staying current with evolving technologies and/or demonstrating initiative.
  3. Service: as demonstrated by community involvement, professional societies, and/or humanitarian endeavors.
  4. Innovation: as demonstrated by the development of new processes, devices, methods, patents, and/or dissemination of knowledge.

Student outcomes

The following student outcomes are produced by the faculty of the mechanical engineering program at Western Michigan University satisfying the ABET criterion for student outcomes (1-7).

  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 judgements, 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 judgement to draw conclusions.
  7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Program enrollment and degree data

Academic

Year

Total Undergraduate EnrollmentBachelor’s Degrees Awarded
2023-24290 
2022-2333379
2021-2237582
2020-2144784
2019-2048379
2018-1954598
2017-1855684
2016-1753773
2015-1654063
2014-1548961
2013-1445349
2012-1344759
2011-12 62

Advisory board

  • John Bair, Executive Director, Western Michigan University's Center for Advanced Vehicle Design and Simulation
  • James Castellano, B.S.'83, Vice President, Hitachi
  • Jim Medsker, B.S.'99, President, Keystone Solutions Group
  • Kurt Lentner, B.S.'96, Senior Director of Corporate Engineering and Analytics, Stryker
  • Yasir Khogali, B.S.'00, Senior Engineering Manager, Nissan Technical Center
  • Mike Preston, B.S.'05, MBA'18, Senior R&D Manager, Stryker