Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
South Dakota State University. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
South Dakota State University. Mechanical Engineering Department
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
Mechanical engineering has been taught at South Dakota State University since its earliest years. Initially, students could follow a prescribed course sequence leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Arts, later renamed Mechanical Engineering. During the first two years, mechanical engineering students shared coursework with civil engineering students, with specialization occurring in the junior and senior years.
In 1897, the Department of Mechanical Engineering was established to oversee the mechanical engineering curriculum. At that time, most civil engineering courses were transferred to the Department of Architectural and Agricultural Engineering, though some remained with mechanical engineering. By 1902, with the formation of separate Civil and Electrical Engineering departments, Mechanical Engineering became an independent department, a structure that continues today.
Graduates of the mechanical engineering program pursue careers in research, development, design, testing, manufacturing, operations, maintenance, marketing, sales, management, and administration.