Mechanical and Electrical Engineering

Chairperson: Dr. Henry Castejon

Faculty

Professors: Castejon, Ghorieshi, Razavi, Srinivasan
Associate Professors: Bednarz, Ghamari, Sabouni, Zhu
Assistant Professors: Anaya-Archila, Baddour, Du, Mu, Sha
Faculty of Practice: Greiner, Taylor
Office Assistant: Colavitti

Mission

Our mission is to enable the professional development of students’ abilities for analysis, design, and innovation. Our department emphasizes engineering as a creative, hands-on profession. Teamwork, ethics, and communication permeate the educational experience to enhance the graduate’s technical problem solving ability. Wilkes Engineering graduates will possess the vision, confidence, and will to pursue and assume increasing responsibilities in engineering and leadership within a global context.

Vision

Our vision is to be recognized as one of the finest engineering programs in Pennsylvania.

Values

We foster the values of Wilkes University: mentorship, scholarship, diversity, innovation, and community. Our unique contribution as an engineering department is that we advance the university values in practical ways, specifically:

Preparedness: Prepare students to enter the workforce as engineers with skills and knowledge relevant to economic, environmental, social, and global needs.
Mentorship: Create a nurturing environment to help students reach their full potential in academics, innovation, and career aspirations.
Integrity: Teach students to make ethical professional choices, and live this value ourselves in our interactions with students and with each other.
Collaboration: Partner with industry and community in order to improve our programs, find and fund research projects, and provide opportunities for students.
Hands-on Experience: Encourage students to design, create, and experiment to reinforce their classroom learning.
Community: Design our programs and devise solutions to address challenges within our community and improve the community through our involvement.

Academic Programs

Total minimum number of credits required for a:

Major in Electrical Engineering leading to the B.S. degree - 130
Major in Engineering Management leading to the B.S. degree - 130
Major in Mechanical Engineering leading to the B.S. degree - 130
Minor in Computer Engineering - 19-21
Minor in Engineering Management - 21

Engineering is a creative profession in which technological problems are met within the framework of scientific possibilities, economic constraints, and cultural preferences. The Wilkes University Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Electrical Engineering (EE)programs provide the knowledge and investigative skills, both theoretical and experimental, to address professional and societal needs responsibly through modern curricula, hands-on experiences, cooperative education and internships, and a personalized academic environment. The Engineering Management program blends engineering and business and prepares students for project, process, and technical management careers. The Engineering Management minor is available to any student but is of special interest to those pursuing a traditional engineering degree who also wish to develop business and technical management skills. The Computer Engineering minor is a highly focused option for students majoring in engineering or other related disciplines. Students intending to pursue any engineering major are encouraged to be well prepared in the sciences and mathematics.

The Wilkes University Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering programs maintain professional accreditation by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (ABET, 415 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201; Telephone: (410) 347-7700).

The department also offers a BS/MS 4+1 option for students to earn a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree in one additional year. Program details are provided in the “Special Programs” section of this bulletin.

Honors in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Upon the recommendation and approval of department faculty, the honor student in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering will be recognized upon completion of the following requirements:

achievement of an overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.25 or better;
achievement of a Major Field Average (MFA) of 3.75 or better;
receipt of grades of 2.00 or better in every course comprising the Major Field Average.

The distinction “Honors in Mechanical Engineering” or “Honors in Electrical Engineering” will be recorded on the student’s transcript upon graduation.

Student Activities

Professional societies in which students participate include the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), SAE International, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers (PSPE), and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).The Engineering Student Activities Committee (ESAC) is a club that encourages interaction and skill development among all engineering majors. Each group hosts various events and competitions throughout the academic year. Students are invited to join the Wilkes University student chapters of these organizations, which offer excellent opportunities for leadership, networking, and professional development.

Department Transfer Credit Policy

Students requesting transfer credit must follow all Wilkes University policies as outlined in the current bulletin. No credits will be transferred to Wilkes University unless their prerequisites have been satisfied. Transfer credits must follow the proper course sequence as specified in the Wilkes bulletin. For transfer credits to be awarded, the required prerequisite(s) must be satisfied during the first year at Wilkes. A current Wilkes student requesting a course for transfer should first consult his/her advisor and complete the proper paperwork with required signatures before attempting the course.

Cooperative Education

An important feature of all engineering programs at Wilkes University is the Cooperative Education experience, a valuable option usually scheduled during the junior year. An internship is encouraged through summers and senior year even if it is not taken for credit (students should register for the zero-credit co-op in these instances). Participants derive three advantages from any co-op experience: a determination of how they wish to fill their elective courses; an enhanced ability to conduct a job search; and a greater recognition that career opportunities may be stimulating and fulfilling as well as financially rewarding. The Cooperative Education opportunity provides a natural extension of the college experience. The co-op option for credit may be taken only one time for either three (3) or six (6) credits as described below. The zero-credit option is encouraged for any internship in which a student is not participating for credit and may be taken as many times as a student wishes. All registered internships at any credit level, including the zero-credit option, appear on a student’s transcript.

The requirements for the 0-credit hour co-op are as follows:
1. The co-op project should distinctly demonstrate an engineering component.
2. The working hours should not be less than 10 hours per week and the total 150 hours should spread out at least 10weeks.
3. The student should make a 10-minute final oral presentation to a general audience.
The requirements for the 3-credit hours co-op are as follows:
1. The co-op project should distinctly demonstrate an engineering component.
2. The student, working with his or her manager, should submit bi-weekly project reports to the faculty advisor.
3. The working hours should not be less than 10 hours per week and the total 150 hours should spread out at least 10 weeks.
4. The student should make a 10-minute final oral presentation to a general audience.
5. The student should submit a final project report of approximately 15 pages (double-spaced) for the body of the report with no limit on details to be included in an appendix. The final report should include at least the background of the company, project background, technical work, and project reflection.
The requirements for the 6-credit hours co-op are as follows:
1. The co-op project should distinctly demonstrate an engineering design & analysis component.
2. The student, working with his or her manager, should submit bi-weekly project reports to the faculty advisor.
3. The working hours should not be less than 20 hours per week and the total 300 hours should spread out at least 10weeks.
4. The student should make a 15-minute final oral presentation to a general audience.
5. The student should submit a final project report of approximately 25 pages (double-spaced) for the body of the report with no limit on details to be included in an appendix. The final report should include at least the background of the company, project background, technical work, and project reflection.

Student in Major Classification Categories

Students attain Sophomore standing after successfully completing all Freshman-year required engineering courses. Students attain Junior standing after successfully completing all Sophomore-year required engineering courses. Students attain Senior standing after successfully completing all Junior-year required engineering courses.

Programs

Bachelor of Science

Minor