Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
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 always been taught at South Dakota State University. In the earliest years, students could opt to take a prescribed set of classes leading to the BS degree in Mechanical Arts (later Mechanical Engineering). For the first two years, mechanical engineering students took classes with civil engineering students. Specialization occurred in the junior and senior years. In 1897, a Department of Mechanical Engineering was established to administer mechanical engineering work. Most civil engineering classes moved to the Department of Architectural and Agricultural Engineering at this time, although some remained with mechanical engineering. In 1902, when the Civil and Electrical Engineering departments were established, the Department of Mechanical Engineering became a fully independent department, much as it is today. Mechanical engineering graduates have a range of career directions from which to choose. Work is in research, development, design, testing, manufacturing, operation and maintenance, marketing and sales, or in management and administration.