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The Mechanical Engineering Profession
Mechanical Engineering is a creative profession concerned with utilizing
technical knowledge, physical intuition and economic resources to improve the
quality of human life while protecting the environment. Mechanical Engineers
provide vital services in communication, energy, environmental protection and
utilization, food, housing, transportation, manufacturing of products and
national security.
Mechanical Engineers invent, design, analyze, test, control, manufacture and
market advanced components, processes and systems. They are involved in all
conventional and emerging technologies. Mechanical Engineers develop efficient
and environmentally benign technologies to supply an energy intensive society
and solve the pollution problems of existing power plants. Mechanical Engineers
design machines and systems using their knowledge of the mechanical properties
of materials and the behavior of structures. These materials include metals and
alloys, advanced ceramics, composite materials, and polymers; and the structures
range from artificial organs to space stations. Mechanical Engineers develop
material and manufacturing processes which exploit advances in automated
systems, design, optimization, adaptive control and the use of artificial
intelligence. They continue to design and create new and innovative tools and
systems, from surgical implants to industrial robots; from clean burning engines
to automated factories.
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Career Paths for Undergraduate Mechanical Engineers
An undergraduate Mechanical Engineering education provides a strong
technological base for professional practice and continued learning. It prepares
students to participate fully in the rapidly changing technology of the future.
Some graduates decide to pursue employment immediately after finishing their
degree. In recent years, graduates of Tufts Mechanical Engineering programs have
been employed by companies and organizations including General Electric,
Raytheon, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Draper Labs, Hewlett Packard,
Bell Labs, Rockwell, and NASA. Some graduates decide to go on to further study
both at Tufts and at other fine institutions. These people usually go onto
successful careers in education, research and development in academia,
government and industry.
The undergraduate curricula are also excellent preparatory experiences for the
pursuit of non-engineering careers including business and management, education,
government, law and medicine. For example, some recent graduates have combined
their engineering backgrounds with teaching science and technology at the K-12
level.
No matter what their immediate path after graduation, mechanical engineering
students usually go on to post-baccalaureate degrees and prominent positions in
the organizations in which they are employed. In an evolving society where the
focus of technology will continually undergo dramatic shifts, Mechanical
Engineers, with their versatile and broad background, will always find
new challenges and leadership opportunities.
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Career Resources
The College of Engineering's office of Internships and Corporate Relations
offers a variety of services to assist students in gaining valuable engineering
experience before graduation. Through its
mentoring program,
undergraduate students are paired with practicing professionals who can provide
them with educational and career guidance.
Seminars can complement
coursework, introduce students to a particular industry or company, or explore
various career and job preparation issues such as being a woman in management or
preparing a resume. Paid and unpaid
internships give
students the opportunity to work alongside professionals as they tackle special
projects or day-to-day routine tasks; occasionally students also receive
academic credit or transcript notation for their work. Internship listings are
included in the
StudentCenter.com database and also filed in binders in the Career Planning
Center.
Tufts Career Services sponsors various
workshops and
information sessions and publishes a career planning guide in addition to
offering individual career counseling. The popular multi-session Sophomore
Career Exploration Workshop provides an extensive opportunity for students to
discover and identify skills, values and interests and their vital role in
personal career planning. Students and alumni can make use of Career Services'
extensive library and web resources, which include a handout on internet job
hunting for engineering students. A January interimship program allows students
to shadow a professional in their field for two to ten days. The
Career Advisory Network
connects students with Tufts alumni and friends who have volunteered to assist
students in their careers. Browsing the Career Advisory Network database--which
is searchable by industry, employer, and geographic area--is a good way to find
out what Tufts alumni are doing and what advice they have for someone
considering their field. Job listings are maintained online through
Jobtrak. An on-campus recruiting program
is open to seniors and graduate students completing their degree in the current
academic year.
The Unofficial Pocket Guide to Mechanical Engineering at Tufts is a student
publication designed to helping undergraduate students get the most out of their
M.E. degrees.
The International Center provides a variety of career-related services to
international students, including workshops on working in the United States
after graduation, assistance with immigration regulations and procedures,
country-specific employment guides, and announcements of job fairs.
The Tufts Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Jobs and Internships web page
includes listings and links to both other sources of listings and companies
which do Human Factors-related work.
The Mechanical Engineering Virtual Library links to a few engineering-focused
job databases and resources which are not included in the Career Planning
Center's web resources, and also includes a list of University Mechanical
Engineering Departments.
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Alumni
Alumni can keep abreast of department news and activities by signing up for the
semi-annual department alum-e-newsletter. Just send an email to
listproc@listproc.tufts.edu and
in the body of your message type subscribe MEalumni-L YOUR NAME HERE. The
Department of Mechanical Engineering seminar series provides an
opportunity for alumni to return to campus and speak about their research. If
you are interested in giving a seminar, contact one of your former professors or
email meinfo@tufts.edu. The department
also hosts an annual dinner for alumni, faculty and graduating seniors
each May.
The College of Engineering's office of Internships and Corporate Relations and
the Tufts Career Planning Center welcome
alumni involvement in many of their programs. Become a
mentor for
undergraduates, give a
seminar, sponsor an
internship, allow a student to shadow you for a few days through a January
interimship, list your company's job openings on
Jobtrak, or join the
Tufts Career Advisory Network.
The Career Planning Center career counseling services, Jobtrak job listings,
library, and web resources are available for alumni use. Browsing the Career
Advisory Network database--which is searchable by industry, employer, and
geographic area--is a good way to find out what Tufts alumni are doing and what
advice they have for someone considering their field.
The office of Alumni Relations
provides a variety of programs and services, including publishing a hard copy
alumni directory and maintaining a web-based alumni email directory.
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