Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Bachelor of Science (5006)
Program Coordinator
Gregory K. Arbuckle, greg.arbuckle@wku.edu, (270) 745-2403
This program prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and advanced manufacturing technical skills in support of industrial operations. The major includes instruction in optimization theory, human factors, organizational behavior, industrial processes, industrial planning procedures, systems integration, quality, and project management. Graduates achieve positions of leadership in business and industry while practicing innovation in the global marketplace.
Program Description
A minor or second major is not required. Course requirements for the major are shown below. Students should consult with an advisor in planning their course schedules and career goals.
Project Lead the Way
The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) agrees to grant college level credit for secondary school students from certified Project Lead the Way (PLTW) schools who satisfy the following requirements:
First, students must complete the following two (2) PLTW courses with a grade of B or above and a 6 or above on the End of Course college credit exam: 1. Introduction to Engineering Design; and 2. Principles of Engineering
Second, students must complete two (2) of the following PLTW courses with a grade of B or above and a 6 or above on the End of Course college credit exam: Aerospace Engineering; Biological Engineering; Civil Engineering and Architecture; Computer Integrated Manufacturing; Computer Science and Software Engineering; Digital Electronics; Capstone Course – Engineering Design and Development
Third, students must meet the requirements for admission to Western Kentucky University and enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering Technology program within SEAS. Finally, students requesting the credit must provide a written statement from the instructor of the PLTW program and the principal or guidance counselor, stating the student has successfully completed the program with the above specifications. In addition to the written statement, an official transcript should be submitted for verification.
If the previous four conditions are met, the following three (3) courses will be articulated to the student’s Western Kentucky University record:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MFGE 120 | Basic Electricity | 3 |
| MFGE 205 | CADD for Manufacturing | 3 |
| AMS EL-L (Lower Level Undergraduate Technical Elective) | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Program Requirements (61 hours)
A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.
Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Core Courses | ||
| Select one of the following Finance Selectives: | 3 | |
| Principles of Financial Accounting | ||
or MKT 220 | Basic Marketing Concepts | |
or FIN 161 | Personal Finance | |
or ECON 202 | Principles of Economics (Micro) | |
or ECON 203 | Principles of Economics (Macro) | |
| AGMC 371 & AGMC 372 | Agricultural Mechanics and Agricultural Mechanics Laboratory | 3 |
| MFGE 120 | Basic Electricity | 3 |
| MFGE 205 | CADD for Manufacturing | 3 |
| MFGE 271 | Industrial Statistics | 3 |
| SEAS 398 | Internship I | 1 |
| or SEAS 401 | Contemporary Issues in Architecture and Manufacturing | |
| MFGE 490A | Senior Research for Manufacturing Engineering Technology | 3 |
| MFGE 328 | Robotics and Machine Vision | 3 |
| MFGE 217 | Industrial Materials | 3 |
| MFGE 227 | Introduction to Manufacturing Methods | 3 |
| MFGE 342 | Manufacturing Operations | 3 |
| MFGE 343 | Automated Systems | 3 |
| MFGE 370 | Computer Numerical Control | 3 |
| Total Hours | 37 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Management Core | ||
| MFGE 310 | Safety in Industry | 3 |
| MFGE 356 | Systems Design and Operation | 3 |
| or MGT 314 | Operations Management | |
| MFGE 390 | Project Management | 3 |
| MFGE 430 | Technology Management / Supervision / Team Building | 3 |
| MFGE 371 | Quality Assurance | 3 |
| MFGE 394 | Lean Systems | 3 |
| Select a Communications Selective from the following: | 3 | |
| Advanced Public Speaking | ||
or COMM 346 | Persuasion | |
or COMM 349 | Small Group Communication | |
or COMM 362 | Organizational Communication | |
or MGT 261 | Business Communication Fundamentals | |
or COMM 330 | Leadership Communication | |
or COMM 348 | Interpersonal Communication | |
| Select a Business Law Selective from the following: | 3 | |
| Business Law | ||
or MGT 333 | Management of Nonprofit Organizations | |
| Total Hours | 24 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Program Requirements: | ||
| PHYS 231 & PHYS 232 | Introduction to Physics and Biophysics I and Laboratory for Physics and Biophysics I | 4 |
| MATH 117 | Trigonometry (or higher) | 3 |
| Select one combination from the following Chemistry Sequences: | 4-5 | |
| Fundamentals of General Chemistry and Fundamentals of General Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| OR | ||
| College Chemistry I and College Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
| Total Hours | 11 | |
- †
Please consult with your advisor regarding courses within your major that can overlap with Colonnade Program requirements (such as CHEM 105/106 and CHEM 120/121 [E-NS/SL], COMM 349 [K-SY], ECON 202 and 203 [E-SB], and FIN 161 [E-SB]).
Finish in Four Plan
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MFGE 120 | 3 | HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 |
| MFGE 205 | 3 | MFGE 271 | 3 |
| ENG 100 | 3 | Financial Selective | 3 |
| CHEM 105 & CHEM 106 | 4 | MFGE 217 | 3 |
| MATH 117 | 3 | COMM 145 | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MFGE 227 | 3 | ENG 200 | 3 |
| MFGE 371 | 3 | MFGE 342 | 3 |
| Colonnade - Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | MGT 301 or MGT 333 | 3 |
| PHYS 231 & PHYS 232 | 4 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | Colonnade - Arts & Humanities | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MFGE 328 | 3 | MFGE 390 | 3 |
| MFGE 356 | 3 | MFGE 310 | 3 |
| AGMC 371 & AGMC 372 | 3 | MFGE 343 | 3 |
| COMM Selective | 3 | MFGE 370 | 3 |
| Connections - Social and Cultural | 3 | Connections - Local to Global | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MFGE 430 | 3 | MFGE 394 | 3 |
| Connections - Systems | 3 | MFGE 490A | 3 |
| SEAS 398 | 1 | General Elective | 3 |
| ENG 300 | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 13 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
Career Opportunities
Graduates obtain employment in a wide variety of positions. Some job titles of graduates include: systems integrator, industrial engineer, production manager, production specialist, new product development engineer, manufacturing engineer, quality manager, quality engineer, production engineer, general manager, plant manager, operations manager, industrial trainer, project manager, continuous improvement manager, and technology educator.