NSU Mechanical Engineering program, expands to Broken Arrow campus

BROKEN ARROW, Okla. – In the fall of 2023, Northeastern State University launched a new mechanical engineering bachelor’s degree, aiming to provide a quality undergraduate education in engineering. Beginning this fall, the degree will be expanding onto the Broken Arrow campus.

The mechanical engineering program, housed under the Gregg Wadley College of Science & Health Professions, provides a high-quality undergraduate education in engineering principles, with emphasis on critical and analytical thinking skills.

“The main goals of the program align with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology’s engineering accreditation student outcomes,” Dr. Weihuan Zhao, associate professor and mechanical engineering program chair, said. “Students learn problem-solving skills using mathematics, sciences, engineering principles and abilities to apply engineering designs to produce practical solutions, communication skills, teamwork and leadership, recognizing engineering ethical and professional responsibilities, data analyzation and interpretation skills, and abilities to acquire and apply new knowledge.”

Zhao said she anticipates the program will receive ABET accreditation in five years, ensuring the program instruction matches the quality standards of professional engineers.

The NSU mechanical engineering program provides a high-quality curriculum that is relevant to the needs for engineers in Oklahoma. Students have numerous opportunities to apply engineering principals in immersive ways through newly equipped labs. Zhao said the labs give students the ability to see engineering principles applied with their own eyes.

“We have built four labs for the mechanical engineering program, including a Fluids Lab, a Thermal Engineering Lab, a Mechanics Lab and a Mechatronics Lab,” Zhao said. “We have brand new equipment for these labs, including a wind tunnel and a water channel for the Fluids Lab, a comprehensive material testing system for the Mechanics Lab, a differential scanning calorimetry and thermal conductivity measurement device for a variety of materials for the Thermal Engineering Lab, and robotic vehicles for the Mechatronics Lab.”

Zhao said the progress after the first year of the program is very promising and believes the program is on track to grow quickly in the near future.

With a successful first year at NSU’s Tahlequah campus, the program will also be offered at NSU-Broken Arrow beginning this fall.

“Offering mechanical engineering expands the programs that we are able to offer and provides students with more options for fields they can specialize in,” Dr. Jessica Martin, Dean of the Gregg Wadley College of Science & Health Professions, said. “The need for mechanical engineers in our region is high and expected to grow in the future.”

One of Oklahoma’s Critical 100 occupations, mechanical engineers are highly sought after and have the skills to work in a wide range of sectors, including aerospace engineering, automotive engineering, construction, energy, manufacturing, medicine and more.

"Northeastern State University is excited to expand our Mechanical Engineering program to the Broken Arrow campus this fall,” NSU President Rodney Hanley said. “We are proud to offer a program that not only meets industry standards but also prepares our graduates for successful careers in a dynamic and ever-evolving industry."

For more information about the Mechanical Engineering program at NSU, visit nsuok.edu/mechanicalengineering.

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