Course description
Final Year Project I
Course number
MECH 501
The aim of this course is to provide students with practical experience in some design aspects of
mechanical engineering. Students, working in groups, write a literature survey of an assigned
project, critically analyze its components, and develop a bill of materials necessary for the
completion of the project.
Credit hours:
1 credit hour
Required / Elective:
Required for all senior ME students.
Prerequisites by course: Advanced standing.
Prerequisites by topic: Advanced standing.
Textbook:
None. (FYP guidelines are contained in the document entitled: FINAL
YEAR PROJECT: STUDENT GUIDELINES.
Resources
Library, professors, textbooks, laboratories, machine shop, outside
vendors, ..
Contribution of Course toward Meeting the Professional Component
Students will develop the ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
principles to solve an open engineering problem in an organized and timely manner while
acquiring and demonstrating professional communication skills.
Class hours:
Students meet project advisor one hour per week in addition to practicing / meeting on their own.
Topics:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Preliminary project preparation
Literature survey
Project management
Acquisition of parts and supplies
Analysis and synthesis
Production
Comunication skills
Course Objectives:
Correlate to ME program objectives
1.
Develop in students the ability to integrate
mechanical engineering fundamentals with
Encourage students to apply scientific and
contemporary applications;
engineering principles fundamentals to creatively
and critically solve open-ended real world
3.
Motivate students in order to continually
problems while realizing a product, process, or
learn on their own, to think critically and creatively
system.
by allowing them to evaluate new ideas, identify
problems, and advance innovative solutions;
The objectives of this course are:
1.
Develop in students the ability to integrate
mechanical engineering fundamentals with
contemporary applications;
Encourage students to practice a multi-disciplinary
approach to solving problems by utilizing all
3.
Motivate students in order to continually
knowledge gained throughout their education.
learn on their own, to think critically and creatively
by allowing them to evaluate new ideas, identify
problems, and advance innovative solutions;
2.
Equip students with the ability to use modern
experimental and computational tools in design and
Encourage students to conduct independent engineering practices;
research while utilizing modern design tools and
technologies
3.
Motivate students in order to continually
learn on their own, to think critically and creatively
by allowing them to evaluate new ideas, identify
problems, and advance innovative solutions;
3.
Motivate students in order to continually
Familiarize students with the process of product
learn on their own, to think critically and creatively
development from inception to prototype
by allowing them to evaluate new ideas, identify
production.
problems, and advance innovative solutions;
2.
Equip students with the ability to use modern
(if applicable) Allow students the opportunity to
experimental and computational tools in design and
design, test, and interpret experiments
engineering practices;
Help students enhance their project management 4.
Instill in students the necessary interpersonal
skills in anticipation of joining the professional skills to perform professionally in a highly
ranks.
competitive and dynamically changing profession.
Allow students to appreciate and consider non4.
Instill in students the necessary interpersonal
technical constraints (ethical, political, aesthetic,
skills to perform professionally in a highly
environmental, economic, cultural, etc.) in the
competitive and dynamically changing profession.
produced work
4.
Instill in students the necessary interpersonal
Encourage students to function as team members.
skills to perform professionally in a highly
competitive and dynamically changing profession.
4.
Instill in students the necessary interpersonal
Develop the students’ written and oral
skills to perform professionally in a highly
communication skills.
competitive and dynamically changing profession
Course Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, the students should be able to
1. Develop a (1) project proposal of their project and (2) deliver an
oral presentation summarizing their project. Individually and
collectively, these deliverables should (where applicable):
1.a. Contain a thorough literature survey which demonstrates
knowledge of current technological issues
1.b. Contain a detailed technical specification derived from valid
functional requirements
1.c. Contain identification and ranking of the approaches to
solving the open ended problem leading to development of a
practical design strategy (a Pugh Matrix is a good choice)
1.d. Contain a computer-generated working plan: master project
schedule with clear deliverables to specify tasks and their
duration, labor, and cost while identifying the critical path.
1.e. Contain a computer-generated bill of materials (BOM)
necessary for the completion of the project.
1.f. Demonstrate their written communications (oral) skills in the
form of a well-written proposal report (formal presentation)
Applicable
Assessed
Deliverables*
Correlation to ME
program outcomes
PP, P1
j
PP, P1
c
PP, P1
c
PP, P1
k
PP, P1
k
PP, P1
2. Work and function (deliver all deliverables) in a team.
3. Demonstrate concrete awareness and necessity of life-long
learning experiences
g
SP1
d
SP1
i
* Project proposal, PP
Formal presentation, P1
Individual performance, SP1
Assessment:
Per the document: FINAL YEAR PROJECT: STUDENT GUIDELINES:
Project proposal, PP
Formal presentation, P1
Individual performance, SP1
(outcomes 1-a through 1-f)
(outcomes 1-a through 1-f)
(outcomes 2 and 3)
(50%)
(25%)
(25%)
Computer usage:
Extent of use depends on the project. When applicable, students have to either develop or use
suitable software.
Course Administration:
Deliverables and course adminstration are outlined in the document: FINAL YEAR PROJECT:
STUDENT GUIDELINES
Person who prepared this description and date of preparation
Department of Mechanical Engineering: R. Hamade
Date: October 22, 2009