College of Engineering - College Overview

The Wichita State University College of Engineering shares in the University's commitment to provide comprehensive educational opportunities in an urban setting and its commitment to the highest ideals of teaching, scholarship, and public service. In order to contribute to the University's dedication to excellence, the College has a vision of attaining national recognition as a metropolitan-based college of engineering with strong undergraduate and graduate degree programs, major collaborative efforts with industry, and a respected research program.

This vision is brought into focus by the College's commitments to education, faculty development, and the local community. Our accredited engineering curriculum, enhanced by our metropolitan setting, fully prepares graduates for engineering practice and advanced education. Our award-winning faculty enjoys the support and resources necessary to create and apply cutting-edge knowledge and to impart such understanding and expertise to their students. Enriching the college experiences of students and faculty alike is the College's engagement with the Wichita community through our participation in and support of business, professional, cultural, and social programs and activities. 

Modern technological developments in engineering have brought about considerable change in the College of Engineering's curriculum at Wichita State University. The curriculum provides a vigorous, challenging experience through a broad spectrum of fundamental technical knowledge as well as courses in humanities, social sciences, communications, mathematics and physical sciences. This balance in the curriculum prepares students for professional positions in the scientific-industrial community after the bachelor's degree or allows them to continue in graduate studies for a more active participation in research and advanced study. The College of Engineering is organized into four degree-granting departments: aerospace, electrical and computer, industrial and manufacturing, and mechanical. The programs in engineering are offered in daytime and evening classes, and the courses are the same whether they are taught in the day or at night.

The College's Bachelor of Science degree programs in aerospace, computer, electrical, industrial, manufacturing, and mechanical engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).  A Master of Science (MS) is offered in aerospace, electrical, industrial, and mechanical engineering. A Master of Engineering Management program is offered in the industrial and manufacturing engineering department. A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) also is offered by each of the four departments of engineering.  Typical fields of specialization include aerodynamics, fluid mechanics, propulsion, structures, solid mechanics, composites, dynamics and control, communication theory, signal processing, control theory, digital systems, energy and power systems, thermodynamics, heat transfer, engineering materials, engineering design, kinematics, operations research, management science, manufacturing processes, and human factors.

Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace engineers are involved in research, development, design, and manufacture of such products as airplanes, helicopters, missiles, satellites, and spacecraft. Aerospace engineers are not only proficient in a highly specialized field, but possess the necessary background for directing and managing large engineering projects in the aerospace industry. In addition, an education in engineering, and especially aerospace engineering, provides knowledge in a specialized field and develops a way of thinking that is valuable for the continuing education required in today's rapidly advancing technology. The aerospace engineering curriculum at Wichita State offers students the opportunity to develop strong fundamental knowledge of mathematics, physics, and engineering sciences and to acquire competence in such professional fields as aerodynamics, flight mechanics, propulsion, control systems, structures, and simulation techniques.  This undergraduate program requires the completion of 135 semester hours for graduation.

Computer Engineering

Our graduates from the computer engineering program have had a curriculum which is oriented toward computer architecture and computer networks and the design of digital hardware to implement computers and networks. Additionally, our graduates are required to take sufficient courses in computer programming and are proficient as computer programmers. The curriculum is oriented to the study and application of computer languages, data structures, operating systems, and algorithmic processes. A graduate from our computer engineering program is ready to play an important role in our nation's computer industries.  This undergraduate program requires the completion of 128 semester hours for graduation.

Electrical Engineering

When an individual graduates with a degree in electrical engineering from Wichita State, they are prepared to work in a wide spectrum of activities covering many fields, including avionics, process control systems, information processing, instrumentation and measurement systems, digital systems, and power systems. Our undergraduate program in electrical engineering is flexible enough to have allowed our graduates to concentrate their electives in communications and signal processing, control systems, digital systems, electric power systems, and electronics.  The graduates from this program have had access to fully equipped electrical, electronic, optical, and computer laboratories. This undergraduate program requires the completion of 128 semester hours for graduation.

This degree provides our graduates with a set of comprehensive engineering skills to solve problems in manufacturing and service industries, businesses, and institutions, with the objective of productivity improvement through better use of human resources, financial resources, natural resources and man-made structures and equipment.  Our graduates are prepared to contribute to jobs related to design, implementation and improvement of systems in manufacturing and service sectors; including jobs in quality engineering, facilities management, man-machine systems, simulation, project planning, inventory management, ergonomics, and optimization.  This undergraduate program requires the completion of 128 semester hours for graduation.

Manufacturing Engineering

The curriculum for this program has been developed to provide our graduates with a set of broad and comprehensive manufacturing engineering skills applicable in a wide spectrum of industries.  The strength of our manufacturing engineering program is its emphasis on the following three manufacturing engineering areas: materials and processes, product engineering and assembly, and manufacturing quality and productivity.  The curriculum, designed with input from practicing engineers, assures that our graduates have opportunities for hands-on experiences in solving real-world problems through class projects performed in local industries.  This undergraduate program requires the completion of 128 semester hours for graduation.

Mechanical Engineering

The Mechanical Engineering Department at Wichita State University is dedicated to excellence in education and research. The curriculum has been developed to provide our graduates with a strong foundation in mathematics and the physical sciences of chemistry and physics, followed by in-depth education in the four principal engineering areas: materials/mechanics, mechanical design, dynamics/controls, thermal-fluid science.  Our mechanical engineering program is committed to providing our graduates with an invigorating environment for education and innovation. Master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees are also offered.  This undergraduate program requires the completion of 128 semester hours for graduation.

Cooperative Education

Wichita State's Cooperative Education and Work-based Learning Program, the largest program of its kind in Kansas and among the top 10 percent nationally, allows students to complement their classroom experience with employment related to their academic area of interest. Through the co-op program, engineering students receive extensive hands-on experience in their fields while earning competitive wages and college credit. Employers include NASA, Boeing, LSI Logic, Lockheed Martin Space Operations, Raytheon, EXCEL Manufacturing, and others.

National Institute for Aviation Research

Wichita State's reputation is enhanced by the National Institute for Aviation Research, a research center housing multiple opportunities for students interested in engineering.  With more than 50 full time staff and more than 80 part time and student employees, the institute provides many students valuable learning opportunities outside of the traditional classroom.  More than 18 laboratories are housed at teh research center covering a diverse field of research including, but not limited to, aerodynamics, aging aircraft, aircraft icing, composites and advanced materials, crash dynamics, structural components, 3-D computer design/animation, and virtual reality.  Research at NIAR allows student to learn in a hands-on environment while providing them with valuable industry knowledge and contacts.  NIAR is designated as a Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation Center of Excellence.  NIAR was selected to be a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Center of Excellence for General Aviation and an Airworthiness Assurance Center of Excellecne.  NIAR was awarded the prestigious FAA Excellence in Aviation Institutional Award in 2001 for its ability to partner with industry, academia, and government to advance avitiona research.  In December of 2003, the FAA created a new Air Transportation Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials of which NIAR has been designated the lead institution.

The Wichita State Campus

Wichita State University is as proud of its campus as it is of its academic programs and facilities. The University's beautiful 330-acre campus is a dynamic synthesis of traditional and modern buildings, flower-bordered lawns, and a striking variety of shrubs and trees. The campus also boasts some 56 outdoor sculptures by renowned artists, one of the largest university outdoor sculpture collections nationwide.

Organizations

There are more than 150 student organizations at WSU, including fraternities and sororities, honorary groups, professional organizations, religious associations, and special interest organizations.  Students in engineering are encouraged to join the enginering professionalsocieties and organizations such as Soceity of Women Enineers (SWE), American Institue of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), American Society for Quality (ASQ), Educational Society for Resource Management (APICS), Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), Institute for Industrial Engineers (IIE), Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the SAE Aero-Design Club.  The Engineering Council, which represnets the engineering student body, is probably themost active student organization inthe college planning scuh activities as the Engineering Open House.  Involvment in these organizations is key to building your resume and networkign with other engineering professionals.

The City of Wichita

Wichita State offers a Metropolitan Advantage, the City of Wichita. The greater Wichita area has a population of 500,000, large enough to support an abundance of diversions, including the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, Music Theatre of Wichita, the Wichita Art Museum, the Exploration Place, the Lake Afton Public Observatory, more than 70 public parks, the Sedgwick County Zoo.  In addition, Wichita boasts the Wichita Thunder, a professional hocky team, and the Wichita Wranglers, a Double-A baseball team. Wichita has employment opportunities for cooperative education positions and part- or full-time work are abundant. All this, and much more, contributes significantly to the quality of life WSU students can enjoy while pursuing their educational goals. Wichita State and the City of Wichita offer a unique experience for students' education, employment, and entertainment!