Mechanical engineering student working on a project.

If you want to change people’s lives, Milligan’s mechanical engineering program will help you do it. Whether designing modern technological devices and systems or meeting the basic needs of the under-served and developing world, a Milligan engineer grad will have a unique preparation of sound engineering theory and application, grounded in a liberal arts curriculum, all taught from a Christian worldview. And we’ve got the support and backing of major industry players who can’t wait to hire Milligan engineering grads.

Mechanical Engineering (ME) focuses on machines, structures, devices, mechanical systems, and energy conversion systems. It is the broadest of all engineering disciplines, and encompasses areas such as energy, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, mechanical design, manufacturing processes, robotics, and systems modeling. Mechanical engineers are employed in nearly every kind of industry. For more information, visit the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) at asme.org.


Discover Engineering at Milligan

Learn about our degree offerings in engineering, including electrical and mechanical engineering disciplines
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Female engineering student in Milligan lab

Milligan engineering ABET accredited

ABET accreditation or a substantial equivalent is required for professional engineering licensure in many states, including Tennessee, and many employers only hire from ABET-accredited programs.
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100% job placement rate months before 2023 graduation

93% job placement rate within six months of graduation overall

Better than national average FE Exam pass rate


Mission Statement

  • Provide high-quality mechanical engineering education to prepare students to be servant leaders that serve industry, community, and public through an integration of Christian faith, technical skills, social responsibility, and a global vision.
  • Be a major talent-base of mechanical engineers that serves the Tri-Cities region and beyond.

Program Educational Objectives

A few years after graduation, the Milligan Engineer will have progressed through positions of increasing professional responsibility. They will have a track record of seeking out and meeting new challenges. The Milligan Engineer will be considered reliable by their supervisors and clients, a credible resource by their peers and community, and will be a mentor to junior colleagues. They will have demonstrated impeccable integrity. In all that they do, the Milligan Engineer will have demonstrated that they serve people through considering all aspects of their work.

Annual student enrollment data and graduation data can be obtained from the engineering offices and is available through all engineering faculty members.  

Student Outcomes

  1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
  2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
  3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
  4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
  5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
  6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
  7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

Enrollment and Graduation Data – July 2023

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Academic YearEnrollment (fall)Degrees Conferred
2016-1723Not applicable
2017-1832Not applicable
2018-1950Not applicable
2019-206811
2020-216710
2021-227112
2022-236513
2023-2473

Faculty

Daniel Cutshall
Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering

Professor of Electrical Engineering

Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Greg Harrell
Area Chair of Engineering; Malcolm C. and Ruth G. Myers Chair of Engineering; Director of the Engineering Programs; Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Landon Holbrook
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Hongyou Lu
Assistant Professor of East Asian Studies; Engineering Program Development Associate

Choonsang Park
Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering

Seeger's Steeple infant of a yellow sunset