Program Overview

Every item we buy today is the result of rigorous product design and development processes led by skilled professionals. Prepare to join their ranks with an Associate of Science (AS) in Mechanical Engineering Technology degree from New England Institute of Technology (91ֱ).

From design principles and sketching to problem-solving and continuous improvement, learn how to work effectively with the latest technology. We go beyond the basics. At 91ֱ, you explore the selection and scheduling of materials and machines, as well as several production processes.

Deepen your understanding of electricity and electronics, metrology, and tool design measurements and graduate equipped with the knowledge and skills for success in your industry. Want a more flexible option? 91ֱ also allows you to earn your AS in Mechanical Engineering degree online.

 

Program Highlights

  • Earn your associate degree and begin your career in as few as 18 months.
  • Attend classes at our Rhode Island campus or study online.
  • Learn computer-aided design (CAD) and enhance your technical proficiencies.
  • Gain field experience that prepares you for a rewarding role in product design.

 

Why Choose 91ֱ’s Mechanical Engineering Program?

 

Internships to Gain Professional Experience

 

We believe in learning by doing. That’s why we strive to match students with internship opportunities that enable them to put their theoretical knowledge into practice. Not only can internships provide the basis for professional growth, but they can also prepare students for the challenges of their industry and equip them with the ability to make decisions and overcome obstacles. ENG 281, our engineering internship course, is built right into the program curriculum as a Term VI option.

 

Capstone Project for Innovation

 

Showcase your hard work and expertise in the capstone class, where you develop and execute an original project with faculty guidance. This represents the culmination of your learning experience and allows you to integrate and apply your knowledge through a comprehensive project that addresses a mechanical engineering problem.

 

Advanced Educational Opportunities

 

Want to take your education to the next level and increase your employment opportunities and earning potential? Consider 91ֱ’s Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering as the next step after earning your associate degree. Explore the bachelor’s degree program to learn more.

91ֱ Faculty

Experienced professionals dedicated to providing a high-quality education, our faculty combine theoretical knowledge with practical application. Through personalized instruction, they ensure students graduate well-prepared to meet the demands of the modern engineering workforce and pursue successful careers.

 

Careers With a Mechanical Engineering Associate Degree

 

Mechanical engineering program graduates can work in the design of recreational equipment such as windsurfers or bicycles — or even automotive or toy design. Our students often seek roles in product design, which is an extremely exciting and rewarding path.

As product designers, they work on cross-functional teams responsible for bringing a product from initial conception to product launch, and they work to improve products continuously post-launch. 91ֱ prepares students for this kind of work.

Students can pursue roles as:


CAD Designer

Manufacturing Technician

Mechanical Designer

Mechanical Engineer

Product Designer

R&D Technician

Tool Designer

The front of 91ֱ campus in East Greenwich

Admissions

Whether you’re applying as a recent high school graduate or are returning to college as an adult, our admissions team helps make the application and enrollment process as smooth as possible. They are available to answer your questions and provide guidance as you take the next step toward your dream career.

Review 91ֱ admissions to get started.

Financial Aid

Financial preparation is an important part of your college journey. Our Financial Aid Office is here to assist you as you explore financial aid options like grants, scholarships, and traditional student loans. We encourage you to review each aid package to determine the right one for you and your goals.

Learn more about 91ֱ financial aid.

Take the Next Step — Apply to the Mechanical Engineering Program Today

In just 18 months, you can earn a mechanical engineering technology associate degree and begin your career! With the education you receive at 91ֱ, you’ll know how to tackle challenges using the latest technology and engineering best practices. Apply today or request more information about the program!

FAQs

  • Is an associate degree in mechanical engineering worth anything?

    Absolutely! A mechanical engineering associate degree is worth a lot if you want to build a long-term career in the field. Students in 91ֱ’s mechanical engineering program find themselves employed in key positions as product or CAD designers, tool designers, engineering technicians, R&D technicians, mechanical designers, and mechanical engineers.

    Additionally, an associate degree program and the courses taught therein can lay a solid foundation and set you up for further studies and advanced mechanical engineering training, such as in a bachelor’s degree program.

  • What is mechanical engineering?

    Mechanical engineering is a field of engineering that deals with the design, analysis, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It encompasses principles from physics, mathematics, and materials science to develop and assess machines, tools, engines, and other mechanical devices.

    Key areas within mechanical engineering include thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, materials science, mechanics, dynamics and control, and manufacturing.

Related Programs

Program Mission, Goals, and Outcomes

Program Mission

The Associate in Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology program’s mission is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of product design.

Students gain a foundation in electricity and electronics, computer-aided design and drafting technology (CAD), metrology, product measurements, manufacturing processes, and engineering documentation.

 

Program Goals

  1. Graduates from the Associate in Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology will have gained the knowledge, problem-solving abilities, and hands-on skills to succeed in a career in the manufacturing, design, specification, installation, testing, operation, maintenance, sales, or documentation of mechanical systems.
  2. Graduates from the Associate in Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology will be able to employ communication and teamwork skills to effectively bridge the gap between professional engineers and skilled production workers and to assist engineers to design, develop, and manufacture industrial machinery and consumer products.
  3. Graduates from the Associate in Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology will be able to apply knowledge and a propensity for learning to continuously develop new skills and to learn about new areas needed for long-term career development, including science, engineering, and technology knowledge and communication and teamwork skills.
  4. Graduates from the Associate in Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology will achieve professional employment within the broad field of mechanical engineering technology or related disciplines.

 

Program Outcomes

Students will develop:

  1. an ability to apply knowledge, techniques, skills and modern tools of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology to solve well-defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline;
  2. an ability to design solutions for well-defined technical problems and assist with the engineering design of systems, components, or processes appropriate to the discipline;
  3. an ability to apply written, oral, and graphical communication in well-defined technical and non-technical environments; and an ability to identify and use appropriate technical literature;
  4. an ability to conduct standard tests, measurements, and experiments and to analyze and interpret the results; and
  5. an ability to function effectively as a member of a technical team.

Mechanical Engineering Technology Courses

 

The Associate of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology program concentrates on product design through the study of concepts like:

  • Design principles
  • Engineering materials
  • Machines
  • Manufacturing processes
  • Troubleshooting

Throughout this full-time associate degree program, students learn about electricity and electronics, metrology, tool design, and more. Hands-on training in the lab and through the optional internship course allows students to practice their skills in professional settings that prepare them for the realities of their careers.

Courses include:

  • Computer-Aided Design I, II, and III
  • Data Acquisition Systems
  • Design Principles
  • Engineering Materials
  • Fundamentals of Electronics
  • Industrial Robotic Automation
  • Introduction to Engineering Technology and Lab
  • Manufacturing Processes
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Metrology
  • Statistics

For a full list of courses, review the catalog.

Q&A and Technical Standards

  1. When do my classes meet?
    Day Classes: Technical classes normally meet for at least three hours a day for up to five days a week. Classes normally begin in the early morning (7:45 a.m.), late morning (usually 11:25 p.m.), or mid-afternoon. A technical time slot may vary from term to term. Evening Classes: Technical classes meet on an average of three nights a week, although there may be times when they will meet four nights a week. Classes normally begin at 5:45 p.m.In addition, to achieve your associate degree, you will take a total of approximately eight liberal arts courses, which will be scheduled around your technical schedule over the course of your entire program. Each liberal arts course meets approximately four hours per week. Liberal arts courses are offered on days, evenings, and Saturdays. At the beginning of each term, you will receive a detailed schedule giving the exact time and location of all your classes. The College requires that all students be prepared to take classes and receive services at any of 91ֱ’s locations where the appropriate classes and services are offered. When a regularly scheduled class falls on a day that is an 91ֱ observed holiday (Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and Memorial Day), an alternate class will be scheduled as a make-up for that class. The make-up class may fall on a Friday. It is the student’s responsibility to take note of when and where classes are offered.
  2. How large will my classes be?
    The average class size is approximately 20 to 25 students; however, larger and smaller classes occur from time to time.
  3. How much time will I spend in lab?
    Almost half of your technical courses consist of laboratory work. In order for you to get the most out of your laboratory experiences, you will first receive a thorough explanation of the theory behind your lab work.
  4. Where do my classes meet?
    Students should be prepared to attend classes at any of 91ֱ’s campuses: either at the Post Road, Access Road, or East Greenwich campus or at an off-campus clinical/fieldwork/internship location.
  5. I have not earned my high school diploma or GED. Can I enroll in an associate’s degree program?
    A candidate for admission to an associate degree program must have a high school diploma, have earned a recognized general equivalency diploma (GED), or meet the federal home school requirements.
  6. How long should it take me to complete my program?
    To complete your degree requirements in the shortest possible time, you should take the courses outlined in the prescribed curriculum. For a typical six-term curriculum, a student may complete the requirements in as little as 18 months.To complete all your degree requirements in the shortest time, you should take at least one liberal arts course each term. Students who need more time to complete their curriculum may postpone some of the liberal arts courses until after the completion of the technical requirements. Students are provided with up to two additional terms of study to complete the liberal arts requirements without any additional tuition assessment fee. During these additional terms of study, students are required to pay all applicable fees. Students may also elect to complete some of their liberal arts requirements during Intersession, a special five-week term scheduled between Spring and Summer Quarters. Students will not be assessed any additional tuition for liberal arts courses taken during the Intersession but may be assessed applicable fees. Students wishing to extend the number of terms needed to complete the required technical courses in their curriculum will be assessed additional tuition and fees.
  7. Is 91ֱ accredited?
    91ֱ is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. Accreditation by NECHE is recognized by the federal government and entitles 91ֱ to participate in federal financial aid programs. Some academic departments have specialized professional accreditations in addition to accreditation by NECHE. For more information on accreditation, see 91ֱ’s catalog.
  8. Can I transfer the credits that I earn at 91ֱ to another college?

    The transferability of a course is always up to the institution to which the student is transferring. Students interested in the transferability of their credits should contact the Student Affairs Office of the institution that they are transferring to for further information.

  9. Can I transfer credits earned at another college to 91ֱ?
    Transfer credit for appropriate courses taken at an accredited institution will be considered upon receipt of an official transcript for any program, biology, science, and mathematics courses in which the student has earned a “C” or above within the past three years and for English or humanities courses in which the student has earned a “C” or above within the last ten years. An official transcript from the other institution must be received before the end of the first week of the term for transfer credit to be granted for courses to be taken during that term. Students will receive a tuition reduction for the approved technical courses based on the program rate and will be applied against the final technical term of the curriculum’s tuition amount. No tuition credit is provided for courses that are not a part of the technical curriculum.
  10. What is the “Feinstein Enriching America” Program?
    New England Institute of Technology is the proud recipient of a grant from the Feinstein Foundation. To satisfy the terms of the grant, the university has developed a one-credit community enrichment course which includes hands-on community enrichment projects. The course can be taken for a few hours per term, spread over several terms. Students who are already engaged in community enrichment on their own may be able to count that service towards course credit.

  11. How many credits do I need to be eligible for Financial Aid?
    In order to be eligible for the maximum financial aid award, you need to maintain at least 12 credits per academic term.

  12. What does my program cost?
    The cost of your program will be as outlined in your enrollment agreement, along with your cost for books and other course materials. Students who decide to take more terms than the enrollment agreement describes to complete the technical courses in their curriculum will be subject to additional fees and possible additional tuition costs. Students who elect to take the technical portion of the degree requirements at a rate faster than the rate prescribed in the curriculum and the enrollment agreement will be assessed additional tuition. Students who require prerequisite courses will incur additional tuition and fees above those outlined in their enrollment agreement. If a student elects to take a course(s) outside of the prescribed curriculum, additional tuition and fees will be assessed. Remember, students who withdraw and re-enter, one time only, pay the tuition rate that was in effect for them at the time of their last day of attendance for up to one year from their last day of attendance. Second re-entries and beyond pay the tuition rate in effect at the time they re-enter. The most economical way for you to complete your college degree is to begin your program now and continue your studies straight through for the six terms necessary to complete your degree requirements.
  13. What kind of employment assistance does 91ֱ offer?
    The Career Services Office assists 91ֱ students and graduates in all aspects of the job search, including resume writing, interviewing skills, and developing a job search strategy. Upon completion of their program, graduates may submit a resume to the Career Services Office to be circulated to employers for employment opportunities in their fields. Employers regularly contact us about our graduates. In addition, our Career Services Office contacts employers to develop job leads. A strong relationship with employers has existed as a result of our training students to meet the needs of industry for over fifty years. No school can, and 91ֱ does not guarantee to its graduates’ employment or a specific starting salary.
  14. Where will job opportunities exist?
    Graduates have obtained employment in the local area. However, one of the most exciting aspects of this program is the ability to look nationally for employment opportunities.
  15. Is there any state or federal licensing required in my field?
    No license is required for any of the careers which you will be preparing to enter.
  16. What kind of jobs will I be qualified to look for?
    You will be qualified to obtain entry-level positions in the area of:

    • Design Drafting
    • Mechanical Design
    • Machine Design
    • Automation Design
    • Tool Design
    • Product Design
    • Technical Sales
    • Manufacturing Engineering
    • Project Engineering
    • Production Supervisor
    • Engineering Technician
    • Applications Engineering
    • Mechanical Engineering

     

  17. How much time will I spend on Computer Assisted Drafting (CAD)?
    You will receive approximately 60 hours of formal training on CAD during the first term of your program.
  18. Will I be able to continue toward a bachelor’s degree?
    Yes. Students who earn an associate degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology can earn a baccalaureate degree with approximately 6 additional terms of study (18 months).

Technical Standards

These technical standards set forth by the Mechanical Engineering Technology Department establish the essential qualities considered necessary for students admitted to this program to achieve the knowledge, skills, and competencies to enter these fields. The successful student must possess the following skills and abilities or be able to demonstrate that they can complete the requirements of the program with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities.

Cognitive Ability

  • Ability to concentrate for long periods of time and retain information on intricate details of component theory and analysis of engineering design and operation of computers and machinery.
  • Ability to deal with materials and problems such as organizing or reorganizing information.
  • Ability to use abstractions in specific concrete situations.
  • Ability to break information into its component parts.
  • Ability to understand spatial relationships.
  • Possession of basic math skills through addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers and fractions using both the U.S. and Metric systems of measurement.
  • Ability to perform tasks by observing demonstrations.
  • Ability to perform tasks by following written instructions.
  • Ability to perform tasks following verbal instructions.

Communications Skills

  • Ability to communicate effectively with faculty and students.
  • Ability to demonstrate and use the knowledge acquired during the classroom training process and in the lab setting.

Adaptive Ability

  • Ability to maintain emotional stability and the maturity necessary to interact with other members of the faculty and students in a responsible manner.

Physical Ability

  • An ability to work in a standing, sitting, squatting, kneeling, or lying position
  • An ability to lift, lower, push, and pull using both arms and legs.
  • Ability to lift objects weighing up to 35 pounds.
  • Ability to stand on a hard surface, usually concrete, for 4-6 hours at a time.
  • Sufficient upper body strength to carry 20 pounds.
  • Sufficient strength and agility to lift equipment and move large pieces of equipment independently.
  • Sufficient strength and agility to grasp and maintain tension for long periods of time.
  • Ability to wear and tolerate ear plugs, safety glasses, and other protective equipment.
  • Ability to perform learned skills, independently, with accuracy and completeness within reasonable time frames in accordance with procedures.

Manual Ability

  • Ability to manipulate wrenches, screwdrivers, and other tools.
  • Sufficient motor function and sensory abilities to participate effectively in the classroom laboratory.
  • Sufficient manual dexterity and motor coordination to coordinate hands, eyes and fingers in the operation of tools and other equipment.

Sensory Ability

  • Visual
    • Visual ability, with or without correction, to enable the student to differentiate tools and instruments, wires, and components.
    • Acute enough to read dials and position control settings of measurement and industrial equipment.
    • Acute enough to read the small print.
    • Acute enough to read small numbers on precision measuring instruments.
  • Auditory
    • Acute enough to hear and understand words spoken by others in an environment with a high level of noise in the background.