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By Hattie Brisco (BA 27) 

Mechanical engineering degrees foster creativity, problem-solving, and innovation through a hands-on curriculum. Students in these programs are prepared for the workforce through mentorship, math and science courses, and internship opportunities. 

With nearly five million mechanical engineering graduates in the U.S, and a growing demand for these graduates in the workforce, it is safe to say that the mechanical engineering degree is a valuable one — but what can you do with a mechanical engineering degree? 

What Do Mechanical Engineers Do?

Mechanical engineers apply math and science to design physical solutions to problems. If you want to see the work of a mechanical engineer, just look around! Everything from your chair to your desk to the mug you drank your coffee from this morning was designed by a mechanical engineer. 

When asked to define mechanical engineering, Department of Engineering Chair Dr. Fred Wentorf said, “Mechanical engineers understand how all physical things hold together and how they break. Anything with a physical entity has a mechanical engineer behind it.” 

While mechanical engineering can be a hands-on career, it also requires writing and documentation. Mechanical engineers record and communicate their innovations by documenting them. This is an important part of the job, as it allows ideas to become reality. If engineers cannot communicate their ideas, the ideas won’t come to life.

With mechanical engineering being such a broad field, there are limitless possibilities of where and how you could use a mechanical engineering degree. ���Ĵ�ý mechanical engineering graduates work at companies such as John Deere, SpaceX, GM, and medtech companies here in Warsaw, the Orthopedic Capital of the World®.��

Engineering with a Heart for Service

While mechanical engineering is the broadest branch of engineering, it focuses on the specific mission of improving the lives of others through everyday application. They will guide tools through the entire creation process, from designing, building and testing. 

Many people use their mechanical engineering degrees for work in medical technology. These mechanical engineers reflect God in their work by using His original design to improve the wellbeing and mobility of others. Using an understanding of how the natural body works, mechanical engineers in the medical industry design what Wentorf described as “a much simpler replication of what God initially made.” While our attempts will never perfectly mimic God’s perfect design, these prosthetics are often life-changing for medical patients. 

Other mechanical engineers impact others by manufacturing, conserving materials, and making things in a conscious, efficient way. For example, engineers at John Deere are learning to harvest crops as efficiently as possible, reducing waste and enhancing food security. Engineers at GM design complex vehicle systems with safety and environmental considerations in mind and ensure their effectiveness through troubleshooting. In any setting, engineers can use their math and science skills to solve problems for people, making the world a safer, more efficient, and more enjoyable place to work and live. 

Where Will Your Mechanical Engineering Degree Take You?

Were you created to improve the lives of others by solving problems? We can help you fulfill your calling. 

���Ĵ�ý’s hands-on mechanical engineering program connects students with a wide variety of local and regional companies and allows them to design and race off-road vehicles through Baja SAE. At ���Ĵ�ý, you can explore the possibilities of the engineering field with guidance from experienced, caring professors like Dr. Fred Wentorf, who holds 11 years of industry experience at Zimmer Biomet, a Fortune 500 medtech company. 

In a fallen world, problems are all around us. However, engineering provides an opportunity to be part of the solution in a variety of settings. ���Ĵ�ý’s mechanical engineering students have worked to solve diverse problems by bringing clean water to impoverished communities around the world and designing life-changing prosthetics for patients. In recognizing that God is the greatest engineer, our program allows students to reflect His character through their work.

What can you do with a mechanical engineering degree? You can solve problems in a variety of settings and design almost anything. Now the question is, where will you make an impact? 

Learn more about a mechanical engineering degree.