Building Machines and Technology With a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Degree

Industries will not flourish without the creative and dedicated engineers on field and off the field. Production lines work perfectly producing the best products we could buy, making our life a lot easier and more comfortable. We eat, drink, work, study, play and sleep every day. And everything that we consume or use was manufactured for us by thousands of industries and manufacturers around the world.

Did it ever occur to you how many people in the production line need to work on a single car that is manufactured by a motor company? And what are the machines and equipment they use to manufacture our car so we will be comfortable and safe when we drive it?

Millions of canned and processed foods are manufactured everyday while millions of chickens need to be dressed before they hit the hypermarket stands. Bare hands cannot make these things possible. Mass production becomes possible because of the engineers who design machinery and equipment for these mega-factories.

Creating is one thing and innovating is another. The engineers’ work is limitless. In a world that is populated by almost 2.3 billion, there is no denying that life is tough without the help of machines.

Builders and facilitators

They develop and build mechanical devises used in industrial operations and processes. They are the Mechanical Engineers.

Mechanical engineers basically plan, study, develop, test, build and innovate mechanical devises, machinery, equipment, engines and other tools needed by industries.

A Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering is one of the disciplines of engineering which covers a broad curriculum that includes research, mathematics, physical sciences, engineering and design, management and manufacturing or production systems.

The degree programs usually take four to five years depending on the university with integrated paid internships and theoretical course-studies in preparation for industry work or related-career shift.

Other colleges and universities help students to cope with the financial requirement for the degree so actual work experience is encouraged with the backing of the college.

The best colleges and universities where to study Mechanical Engineering are:

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) United States
2. Stanford University (United States)
3. University of Cambridge (United Kingdom)
4. Imperial College London (United Kingdom)
5. University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
6. Harvard University (United States)
7. National University of Singapore (NUS)
8. The University of Tokyo (Japan)
9. Georgia Institute of Technology (united States)

10. University of Michigan (United States)

Meanwhile, In order to become a licensed Mechanical Engineer, one has to complete the qualifications executed by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The accreditation sanctions the proficiency of engineers in actual work. Professional engineers (PEs) working directly in public agencies also need ABET accreditation, examination passage and four years of work experience.

Salaries of Mechanical Engineers

The average annual wages in sample industries employing mechanical engineers as follows:

1. Federal government – US$91,000
2. Research and Development – US$88,190
3. Aerospace product and parts manufacturing – US$83,870
4. Navigational, measuring, electromedical,
   and control instruments manufacturing  — US$83,310
5. Architectural, engineering – US$82,210

The US BLS reported that Mechanical engineers have the second largest number in the engineering field with jobs numbering to 243,200 in the year 2010. Most of them work in manufacturing companies for instruments, engineering and research.