Skip to main content

Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Programs

Wide shot of Kennedy Hall Of engineering in the fall

Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Programs

Sparks fly as mechanical engineering major Scott Strayer, center, grinds a sword for a video crew at the Kennedy Hall of Engineering on March 21. Workaholic Productions is producing a video of GVSU students making a sword for the Cast in Steel competit...
(Clockwise from bottom left) Mechanical engineering major Aidan Ward, mechanical engineering major Briquell Jipping, product design and manufacturing engineering major Logan Weisner and mechanical engineering major Jake Kimsella  work during the GVSU F...

Mechanical Engineering (ME) is the oldest and broadest engineering, focusing on the production, transfer, and manipulation of energy and matter, through innovative systems, machines, and methods, for the benefit of humanity.

Our mission is to equip students with the scientific and technical background, the experiential and professional training, and the problem-solving skills, needed to enable them to perform with excellence, and lead, in their engineering careers, and in changing the world into a better place. GVSU-ME offers accredited programs at the Bachelor and Master levels, leading to entry into the full ME range of careers, from Graduate Studies and R&D to Industrial and Manufacturing careers, and; from Nanotechnology to Aerospace applications. Cooperative education and project-based education are two of the main strength elements of the ME program at GVSU. The program offers electives in the areas of:

Machine Design, Energy and Fluids, Control and Automation, and Emerging Technologies (e.g. Alternative Energy, Human Biomechanics, Nanotechnology, etc!).

Product design and manufacturing engineering involves the study of the design methodologies, engineering materials, and the selection and control of manufacturing processes used in the development, design, and manufacturing of engineering products. Emphasis is on quantitative and systematic analytical techniques and methodologies that are used to solve real-life industrial product design, manufacturing controls, product failure, and materials and process selection problems. A degree in product design and manufacturing engineering involves coursework in materials science and engineering, manufacturing processes, advanced product design, manufacturing control, modeling of production systems, statistics, mathematics, chemistry, and physics.

Product design and manufacturing engineers are innovators whose designs enhance people’s lives. They integrate new concepts and prototypes and devise methods and systems to develop desirable products, from design and planning to production and delivery, for a globally competitive marketplace. When you enroll in the product design and manufacturing engineering program in Grand Valley State University you can expect to graduate with an engineering degree accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Students are prepared for engineering careers and leadership roles through B.S.E. and M.S.E programs that integrate academic and studies with hands-on learning and paid professional experiences in actual engineering companies.

Some of the career options for Product Design and Manufacturing Engineers include product design and development, manufacturing, research and development, production engineer, manufacturing engineer, systems engineer, quality engineer, test engineer, entrepreneur. 

Page last modified August 13, 2025