The mission of the department is three-fold:

• Teaching ? To provide a high-quality educational experience for undergraduate and graduate students that enables them to become leaders in their chosen professions.
• Research ? To create, explore, and develop innovations in engineering and science through undergraduate and graduate research.
• Service ? To provide beneficial service to the local, state, national, and international industries and communities via educational, technical, entrepreneurial, and professional activities.

The courses offered in mechanical engineering provide the student with a broad understanding of fundamental scientific principles that serve as a background for many fields of specialization. The undergraduate curriculum is designed to stress basic engineering principles and to assist in developing creative thinking. Emphasis is placed on the science and art of designing machines and systems, of converting energy into useful forms, and developing a basic understanding of engineering mechanics. The undergraduate program leads to a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering; its educational objectives are to produce graduates who:

• Effectively analyze and design mechanical systems and energy systems;
• Contribute to the economic development of Arkansas and the world through the practice of mechanical engineering;
• Meet or exceed the needs and expectations of mechanical engineering employers in industry, government, and private practice;
• Engage in professional activities that promote the mechanical engineering profession and provide continuing self-development, and
• Succeed in graduate study and research, if pursued.