Student Resources

Prospective Student Tours

Department of Mechanical Engineering Tours

If you would like to schedule a personal tour of the teaching and research facilities available to students enrolled in Georgia Southern’s undergraduate and graduate Mechanical Engineering programs please contact the Department Office directly. The tours will be hosted by a member of the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s faculty or staff.

Contact Information

Name: Ms. Wendy (Starling) Fletcher
Phone: (912) 478-5761
Email: meng@georgiasouthern.edu

Recommended Computer Specifications

Please note that it is highly recommended that students purchase a personal computer based on the Windows Operating System. While students may purchase a personal computer from Apple based on macOS they may encounter interface problems with some of the software packages that the department and college utilize. In addition, some engineering software packages (like SOLIDWORKS) are not developed for macOS.

Hardware Specifications

The recommended hardware specifications seen below operate under the premise that students will purchase a laptop or tablet/convertible form factor.

Operating System

Windows 10
Windows 10 or 11
Windows 10 or 11

Processor

Intel Core i5 (or AMD equivalent)
Intel Core i7 (or AMD equivalent)
Intel Core i7 or i9 (or AMD equivalent)

Memory (RAM)

8 GB
16 GB
32 GB

Storage

250 GB (SSD)
500 GB (SSD)
500+ (SSD)

Graphics

Integrated graphics
Discrete video card
Discrete video card

Additional Information

Some software companies, like Dassault Systeme’s SOLIDWORKS Corporation, also have unique recommended system requirements.

Software used in Curriculum

ANSYS
Autodesk AutoCAD
MathWorks MATLAB
Microsoft Office
Minitab
National Instruments LabVIEW
PTC Mathcad
SOLIDWORKS

Certification and Licensure

Completion of Georgia Southern’s Bachelor of Science Programs in Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering meet the educational requirements to begin the licensure process in the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories: American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands by providing the coursework necessary to sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination. Software Engineering does not have a specific PE examination. It is typically recommended that candidates sit for their FE exam toward the end of their senior year, or soon after graduation.

Georgia Southern makes every effort to ensure information about educational requirements for licensure or certification is current; however, state requirements may change. Separate from educational requirements, state licensure boards may require applicants to complete professional examinations, background checks, years of professional experience, residence requirements, jurisprudence exams, training, etc. If you are planning to pursue professional licensure or certification in a state other than Georgia, it is strongly recommended that you contact the appropriate licensing entity in that state to seek information regarding licensure or certification before beginning an academic program. For more information and a list of applicable state boards, visit the Georgia Southern State Authorization and Professional Licensure Webpage.

Engineer-in-Training (EIT) Certification

The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is generally your first step in the process of becoming a professional licensed engineer (PE). It is designed for recent graduates and students who are close to finishing an undergraduate engineering degree from an EAC/ABET-accredited program.

The FE exam is distributed by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). The FE exam is a computer-based exam administered year-round at NCEES-approved Pearson VUE test centers.

Upon graduation, and after successfully passing the FE exam, an application for EIT Certification must be submitted to the Georgia State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Professional Engineer (PE) Licensure

Professional licensure protects the public by enforcing standards that restrict practice to qualified individuals who have met specific qualifications in education, work experience, and exams. In the United States, engineers are licensed at the state level by professional licensing boards.

The Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam tests for a minimum level of competency in a particular engineering discipline. It is designed for engineers who have gained a minimum of four years’ post-college work experience in their chosen engineering discipline. An application to take the PE exam must be submitted to the Georgia State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Eagle Motorsports

Georgia Southern’s race team, Eagle Motorsports, participates in the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Collegiate Design Series (CDS) competitions. The CDS competitions enable students to design, build, and test, the performance of a real vehicle. The competitions enable students to apply the theoretical knowledge gained in their coursework to a hands-on, team-based, engineering experience. Eagle Motorsports participates in SAE’s Formula (on-road) and Baja (off-road) competitions.

Baja SAE

To compete in Baja SAE challenges, students must design and build an off-road vehicle capable of traversing rough terrain. Students must collaborate to resolve design, testing, and manufacturing technical challenges.

Formula SAE

Students must design, fabricate, and race a small formula-style race car to compete in Formula SAE challenges. Students compete in a series of static and dynamic events that evaluate the performance and endurance of their vehicles.

Formula SAE Overall Results

2021 Knowledge: 103rd
2019 Michigan: 60th
2018 Michigan: 57th
2017 Lincoln: 18th
2016 Michigan: 64th
2015 Michigan: 49th
2014 Michigan: 55th
2013 Michigan: 20th

Baja SAE Overall Results

2022 Rochester: 42nd
2022 Tennessee Tech: 53rd
2021 Louisville – Validation: 27th
2021 Knowledge: 68th
2020 Illinois: 29th
2019 Rochester: 16th
2018 Kansas: 39th
2017 Kansas: 3rd
2016 Tennessee: 14th
2016 Rochester: 20th
2015 Auburn: 5th
2015 Maryland: 22nd
2014 Kansas: 8th
2013 Rochester: 16th
2013 Tennessee: 22nd

Join Eagle Motorsports

SAE International’s Collegiate Design Series competitions challenge students with hands-on, team-based engineering experiences. The competitions enable students to gain experience with budgeting, communication, project management, and marketing.

For more information about joining, visit the Student Organization page on Eagle Engage or contact the student organization’s advisor, Mr. Christopher Gerdmann.

Student Organizations

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

ASME is a not-for-profit membership organization that “enables collaboration, knowledge sharing, career enrichment, and skills development across all engineering disciplines, toward a goal of helping the global engineering community develop solutions to benefit lives and livelihoods.” ASME now consists of more than 100,000 members of which 32,000 of these members are students.

ASME serves a wide-ranging technical community through quality programs in continuing education, training and professional development, codes and standards, research, conferences and publications, government relations and other forms of outreach.

Student Organization (MyInvolvement)

For more information, please contact the faculty advisor of the local chapter, Dr. Brian Vlcek. The student organization also maintains several social media accounts links to which are found below:

Eagle Motorsports (Formula SAE and Mini Baja)

Eagle Motorsports is Georgia Southern’s racing team that participates in international competitions that involve designing, building, testing and racing a formula-style race car as well as an off-road baja vehicle. These annual competitions, sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), are extremely competitive and are an excellent way to build technical skills and professional connections as future engineers.

Society Website · Student Organization (MyInvolvement) · Chapter Website

For more information, please contact the faculty advisor of the local chapter, Mr. Spencer Harp. The student organization also maintains several social media accounts links to which are found below:

National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)

With more than 500 chapters and nearly 16,000 active members in the U.S. and abroad, the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) is one of the largest student-governed organizations based in the United States. NSBE supports and promotes the aspirations of collegiate and pre-collegiate students and technical professionals in engineering and technology. NSBE’s mission is “to increase the number of culturally responsible Black Engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.”

NSBE offers its members leadership training, professional development activities, mentoring, career placement services, community service opportunities and more. NSBE comprises 515 active chapters — 288 collegiate, 82 professional and 145 pre-collegiate — located in six geographic regions.

Student Organization (MyInvolvement) · Chapter Website

For more information, please contact the advisor of the local chapter, Mr. Franklin Collins. The student organization also maintains several social media accounts links to which are found below:

Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)

SME is a non-profit association of professionals, educators, and students committed to promoting and supporting the manufacturing industry. SME helps manufacturers innovate, grow, and prosper by promoting manufacturing technology, developing a skilled workforce, and connecting the manufacturing industry.

Society Website

For more information, please contact the faculty advisor of the local chapter, Dr. Drew Snelling.

Society of Women Engineers (SWE)

SWE gives women engineers a unique place and voice within the engineering industry. The mission of SWE is to “empower women to achieve full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, expand the image of the engineering and technology professions as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity and inclusion.”

Society Website

The student organization also maintains social media accounts links to which are found below:

Pi Tau Sigma International Mechanical Engineering Honor Society (PTS)

Georgia Southern University’s chapter of Pi Tau Sigma, Georgia Southern Beta Iota, was founded at the Pi Tau Sigma National Convention at The University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign on February 28th, 2015. Pi Tau Sigma is the International Mechanical Engineering Honor Society. Pi Tau Sigma members are chosen on a basis of sound engineering ability, scholarship, personality, and probable future success in their chosen field of Mechanical Engineering. The objective of Pi Tau Sigma is to encourage and recognize superior scholarship, to foster the high ideals of the engineering profession, to stimulate interest in coordinating departmental activities, to promote the mutual professional welfare of its members, and to develop in mechanical engineering students the attributes necessary for effective leadership and civic responsibilities.

Society Website · Student Organization (MyInvolvement) · Chapter Website

For more information, please contact the faculty advisor of the local chapter, Dr. David Calamas. The student organization also maintains a social media account a link to which is found below.

Peer Tutoring and Learning Support

Fall Peer Tutoring

The Mechanical Engineering Department offers in-person and virtual peer tutoring Sundays through Thursdays from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM during the Fall term.

The in-person tutoring will take place in Engineering Building Room 2124 on the Statesboro Campus.

The virtual tutoring will take place via Zoom. Please click below to join the “waiting” room. After you’ve joined the waiting room, a peer tutor will direct you to a private room for one-on-one tutoring.

Join via Zoom

Please be patient upon joining the room, peer tutors may be actively assisting other students.

Engineering Learning Center

The Department also offers in-person and virtual peer tutoring at the Engineering Learning Center on the Armstrong Campus. Please click here to check out the current tutoring schedule.

In-person peer tutoring will take place in University Hall Room 240 on the Armstrong Campus.

Students are encouraged to join Engineering Learning Center Discord Server. Please click the button below to join the Discord Server.

Join Discord Server

Tutoring is limited to Math, Science, and Engineering Science (ENGR) courses at the Engineering Learning Center.

Academic Success Center

The Academic Success Center (ASC) provides tutoring services, peer mentoring, testing services, and individual academic consultations.

On the Statesboro Campus, the Academic Success Center is located in Suite 1303 in the Zach S. Henderson Library (Building 208). Tutoring services are available from 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM Mondays through Thursdays.

On the Armstrong Campus, The Academic Success Center is located in the Pirate Athletics Center (PAC) building (Building 20). Tutoring services are available from 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM Mondays through Thursdays and 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM on Sundays.

Internships and Co-ops

What are Internships and Co-Ops?

The Department of Mechanical Engineering encourages students to participate in experiential learning activities like internships and co-ops.

Internships are hands-on experiential learning opportunities where students can apply academic knowledge in professional settings to further adapt skills for the “real world.” Typically, students complete an internship over the summer. Most engineering internships are paid.

Co-op, short for cooperative education, is an experiential learning program that balances classroom theory with multiple periods of practical, hands-on experience before graduation. Co-ops allow students to alternate semesters of academic study with semesters of full-time, paid employment positions related to their academic and career interests.

Click one of the buttons below to learn more about internships and co-ops on the Office of Career and Professional Development’s website.

Current Job Opportunities

The Office of Career and Professional Development connects with employers daily to post co-op, internship, and full-time job opportunities on Handshake. Click the button below to view a list of current job opportunities.

Faculty Mentoring

In addition to your academic advisor in the Student Services Center, each student has been assigned a faculty mentor. Faculty mentors serve as a first point of contact for any questions you might have about the mechanical engineering profession, on-going research projects, your future career, etc. You can meet with faculty mentors during office hours or by appointment.

Statesboro Campus

To search for the faculty mentor assigned to you, enter your last name in the textbox below.

Contact Info