Academic Planning

Q. What courses are appropriate for freshmen to take?

A. First year students who would like to get a flavor of mechanical and/or manufacturing engineering can take ES1020 (Introduction to Engineering), ME1800 (Manufacturing Processes and Control), and ES1310 (Introduction to Computer Aided Design). None of these courses assumes prior background. In the spring semester, first year students who are making excellent progress and have the recommended background (see course descriptions) could also consider taking ES2001 (Intro to Materials) or ES2501 (Statics).

Q. How do I find a MQP?

A. There are several approaches, and using a combination of all of them is probably a good idea. It's important to begin early, typically C-term of your junior year. In early February, the Projects Office begins advertising a directory of available projects, so check to see what's there. Not all faculty advertise their projects on that site, however, so it's always a good idea to talk to professors in your interest area about projects they might have available. Another option is to come up with your own idea and then look for a faculty member who is willing to advise it. Some specialty areas within ME may organize a meeting or seminar where all faculty will describe their MQPs for the next year.

Q. Are all MQPs done in teams, and if so, do I need to find my own team?

A. The department encourages students to do MQPs in teams rather than solo, but it is not a requirement. You can either "shop" for a project as a team or as an individual. Very often, professors will put together the teams after individuals have expressed interest in a particular project.

Q. How do I know whether my MQP will satisfy the capstone design requirement?

A. Students must discuss this issue with their MQP advisor when they sign on to a particular project. Even once the MQP begins, if students are counting on it to satisfy the capstone design requirement, they will need to take shared responsibility for developing the MQP so that it meets the requirements of capstone design; advisors will assist of course. Note that not all MQPs need to satisfy the capstone design requirement. For some students, doing a research-oriented MQP makes more sense. In that case, just be sure to take one of the courses that meets the capstone design requirement. Those courses are listed in the visual representation of the ME distribution requirements in the WPI Undergraduate Catalog.

Q. Are any ME MQPs done at off-campus project centers?

A. ME majors currently have a few options for doing their MQP in one term at an off-campus site:

Lincoln Labs (A term, contact Prof. Tryggvason)
Pratt & Whitney (often A,B,C terms, contact Prof. Rick Sisson)

In addition, there is a Gillette Project Center (contact: Prof. Bob Norton), but those projects are usually done on campus (with visits to Gillette) over three terms. Similarly, there are often several projects done with Norton Company (contact: Prof. Chris Brown).

Q. How do I go about trying to get transfer credit for a course?

A. Departments are given the right and responsibility to award transfer credit for courses that they teach. However, the Office of Academic Advising is your main point of contact; it normally coordinates the process, has the necessary paperwork, and arranges to have transcripts sent to the appropriate department(s). It's also important to realize that if you want to take courses over the summer at another school and get credit for them here, those courses require pre-approval from the relevant WPI department. Again, Academic Advising coordinates this process. Bring a copy of the course description from the other school, and Academic Advising will forward the information to the relevant department for review.

Sample Programs in Different Concentrations

The links below provide example programs of four-year schedules that would meet the requirements for a ME major, a concentration within ME, and institute-wide requirements (e.g., Sufficiency, IQP). We recommend that you use these sample programs to gain a better understanding of the various requirements, along with a sense of the flexibility you have in designing your own academic program. They are not meant to be a prescription; rather, we encourage you to use them as a starting point or point of departure for discussions with your academic advisor or other faculty members. A few notes:

None of these sample programs lists Physical Education courses; completion of four PE courses or equivalent IS required for graduation.
Students are not required to have a concentration. A broad mechanical engineering degree is always a wise choice.
All of the sample programs show the IQP spread out over an academic year, but it is possible to plan a schedule to accommodate a full term away at an off-campus project center (either for IQP, Suff, or MQP). It's just important to begin thinking about it as early as possible, since there are some courses you may need that are offered only once a year or every other year.