Message from the Department Head

Welcome to the Mechanical Engineering Department Home Page. The Department offers degrees at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. To begin our journey into the world of Mechanical Engineering, I would like to answer the most basic question: What is Mechanical Engineering?

A crystal ball is one way to look into the FUTURE; another is to talk to a MECHANICAL ENGINEER.

While the scientist may strip away the mystery and discover basic truths about natural phenomenon, it is the MECHANICAL ENGINEER who takes this newfound knowledge and combines it with his or her own brand of "savvy" to create new products and to obtain solutions that are efficient, safe, reliable, economical, and a benefit to society. Or, as Dr. Theodore Von Karman has said, "The scientist explores what is. The engineer creates what has not been."

The Mechanical Engineering field of study includes technical subject areas such as thermal sciences, design-manufacturing, and mechanics. Mechanical Engineers are people with a pragmatic ability to design, model physical systems, to analyze and create; all within the framework of socio-humanistic needs. The mechanical engineer is a concerned individual.

The undergraduate program prepares the student for a variety of career opportunities and approximately one half of our graduates accept employment in the state upon graduation. Mechanical Engineers enjoy a high standard of living. In 2003 bachelor's degree candidates in mechanical engineering received starting offers averaging $48,585 a year, master's degree candidates had offers averaging $54,565, and Ph.D. candidates were initially offered $69,904. The demand for the graduates is strong with many students receiving several job offers upon graduation.

Career opportunities for Mechanical Engineers are many and varied and include industry, business, government, and other professions such as law and medicine.

Mechanical Engineering is diverse, and our graduates are involved in:

Research
Development
Design
Testing and Evaluating
Manufacturing
Operation and Maintenance
Marketing and Sales
Administration

Again, I welcome you to the Mechanical Engineering Department and invite your comments.

Joseph J. Rencis, Ph.D., P.E.
Professor and Department Head
21st Century Chair in Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
204 Mechanical Engineering Building
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701-1201
V-mail:479-575-3153
Fax: 479-575-6982
E-mail: jjrencis@uark.edu