Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering – Design Curriculum (LM-33)

Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering – Design curriculum – programme overview

The Master’s degree programme in Mechanical Engineering prepares professional figures in charge of conception, research, planning, design, develop and management and control complex products, systems, processes and services. The course trains highly professional engineers able to work in industry, even with responsibility in planning tasks, in the management of complex systems and in the activities of the Research and Development departments.

Thanks to the preparation acquired, graduates will have the ability to identify and solve different problems even in an innovative way, both autonomously or in groups.

The Master allows acquisition of:

• fundamental knowledge on advanced mechanical design both on components development and complex systems;
• deep knowledge of advanced tools like CAD/CAM design and modern numerical analysis simulation approach;
• basics on management and control of production plants, knowledge on technological-logistic issues always present in every industrial system with a particular attention to cost and timing as well as quality control, etc.

A significant laboratory activity is planned for some technical subjects in order to allow the graduate to acquire skills needed to understand customer’s needs and translate them into a specific research project.

Online degree

The MA degree in Mechanical Engineering (online) is designed for those who are unable to attend a traditional education programme due to distance or professional commitments.

Through Unicusano e-learning platform, it is possible to attend the Mechanical Engineering degree classes online, to study using computer storage media at home, at your own pace and take the exam at the nearest exam centre. Thanks to the teaching quality and to the broad number of authorised exams centres spread across Italy, Unicusano is today the best choice for students willing to earn an online degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Job profiles

Graduates have the possibility to work within manufacturing and process companies. In particular, they can perform the following functions:

• coordinators of project, research and development of mechanical components, machines and production plants;
• project engineers, dealing with the conception of the conceptual scheme, virtual modeling and prototyping, choice of components and subsystems, sizing and development and prototype testing;
• engineers for R & D functions, with ability to identify (technological scouting) and use innovative technologies for the development and improvement of mechanical products and systems.

Acquired competences:

Graduates in Mechanical Engineering will acquire specific skills to coordinate multidisciplinary work groups, when modeling and designing mechanical systems components; they should be familiar with the use of measurement and design tools and acquire the following skills:

• ability to choose the right material;
• knowledge of components (unified components, commercial components – drive systems, sensors, mechanical transmissions);
• knowledge of measurement systems and their integration with automatic control systems;
• knowledge of mathematical tools, physical and engineering principles;
• knowledge of working tools such as CAD-CAE-CAM;
• knowledge of thermo-fluid dynamic preparation.

Career opportunities

This curriculum offers new engineers a specialisation mainly oriented to the fields of mechanical design and production. In particular, engineers are requested figures by mechanics’ industries, metalworking industries, electromechanical industries, automation and robotics, plant engineering companies and manufacturing companies for the development, production and installation of testing, maintenance and management of machines. Graduates in Mechanical Engineering can also work in private and public companies, or to carry out their own job.

A Master’s degree programme in Mechanical Engineering (LM-33) – Design Curriculum prepares students to the following careers (ISTAT DATA):

1. Mechanical engineers – (2.2.1.1.1);
2. Industrial and managerial engineers – (2.2.1.7.0);
3. Researchers and technicians graduated in industrial and information engineering sciences – (2.6.2.3.2).

Entry requirements

To enroll in the Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, students must:

• have a good knowledge of methodological and operational aspects of Industrial Engineering (L-9);
• be able to conduct experiments and use specific instruments and techniques;
• be able to understand the impact of the chosen solution;
• know how companies work;
• know their own duties and responsibilities;
• be able to update their knowledge.

Accessing to the Master program in Engineering requires a Bachelor’s degree in the L-9 classes; enrollment is also possible for those who have a different bachelor’s degree, other suitable qualifications obtained abroad or a degree from the previous four-year system, as far as they meet the following curricular requirements:

• at least 24 credits in MAT/02, MAT/03, MAT/05, MAT/06, MAT/07, MAT/08, MAT/09 sectors;
• at least 12 credits in FIS/01, FIS/03, CHIM/03 e/o CHIM/07 sectors;
• at least 30 credits in ING-IND/08, ING-IND/09, ING-IND/10, ING-IND/12, ING-IND/13 ING-IND/14, ING-IND/15, ING-IND/16, ING-IND/17;
• at least 18 credits in ICAR/08, ING-IND/22, ING-IND/25, ING-IND/31, ING-IND/33 e/o ING-IND/35 sectors.

A good knowledge of English language, both written and oral (B2 level) is also required for the ammission. Any curricular supplements in terms of the CFU/ECTs must be acquired beforehand.

The procedures for admission are established by the Regulations of the degree course in Engineering.

Educational aims and course plan outline

The figure of mechanical engineer is a highly trained technician able to face problems in the field of innovation and development of industrial production, advanced design, management, maintenance, installation, testing and operation of simple or complex systems and plants in the manufacturing and mechanical industries with particular reference to the automotive sector, as well as in companies and entities for energy conversion, or in plant engineering companies. This results from a multidisciplinary approach. The course is made up by 12 exams, a curricular internship and the final thesis, to achieve a total amount of 120 CFU/ECTs credits.

The course offers 36 shared CFU/ECTs credits and a more specific part related to mechanical vibrations, mechanics and construction of machines and measurement systems.

Students can choose between an internship in a company or at University, followed by the preparation and discussion of a degree thesis. In summary, the following macro-areas are taught in the two-year course:

• energy and machinist area – providing expertise on industrial processes in the various sectors of energy production of its exploitation connected to respect for the environment;
• design area – providing advanced knowledge on mechanical modeling, on assisted design and in-depth analysis of problems related to mechanical vibrations;
• technology area – providing knowledge of the processes of transformation of materials, mechanical processing of components and assembly of complexes;
• management courses, aimed at providing the methodological knowledge related to the organisation and management of industrial processes, as well as the management of technological innovation;
• motor vehicle system courses, aimed at acquiring an in-depth knowledge of motor vehicle systems: powertrains, chassis, bodywork; the issues relating to safety, the containment of environmental emissions and electric and hybrid vehicles are also specifically addressed.

Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and comprehension skills

Graduates in Mechanical Engineering will be able to deal with high complex problems, concerning:

• the engineering of products of varying complexity;
• the design of driving and operating machines, as well as of plants that use thermofluidodynamic processes for industrial, energy and environmental applications;
• the design and management of industrial plants and processes in the various energy production sectors, with an eye for environment sustainability and, then, in the environmental management, control and requalification sectors;
• the management of product and process innovation.

In all the cases listed above, the graduate in Engineering should be able to face problems and propose solutions. The graduates should be able to:

• use working tools for the design and simulation of components and systems (CAD-CAE-CAM tools, design area and specialised aspects of design and production);
• choose traditional and non-traditional materials, with associated production technologies and test methodologies;
• dimensioning vehicles, both in relation to mechanical and aerodynamic aspects and to the motor unit.

Ability to apply knowledge and comprehension skills

At the end of the course, graduates should have a good knowledge of the methodological-operational aspects of Mechanical Engineering:

• broad knowledge of the basic scientific disciplines, aimed at developing a deeper and unifying understanding of the physical and chemical phenomena and of the mathematical techniques for machine construction design, energy and industrial production areas;
• analytical and numerical methods for modeling and measuring dynamic systems (planning area);
• advanced knowledge of mechanical materials and structures for mechanical design and verification of reliability (planning area);
• CAD / CAE mechanical design methodologies with the integrated use of traditional calculation models, solid modelers and finite element calculation packages (Planning and Automotive area).

Courses are interactive and offered through recorded video lessons, self assessment test and virtual classes. Students are evaluated through written exams or guided e-tivities. The final mark is expressed in thirthiets.

Making judgements

Graduates in Mechanical Engineers should have the ability to integrate data and information with a high degree of autonomy of judgment, having gained awareness of the ethical responsibilities of their work and social consequences of their choices.

The Master’s degree activities allow the graduate to develop managerial skills, autonomy and decision-making ability, useful at a high level of responsibility both in the technical or technological office, and in the management of production.

Communication skills

The graduate should be able to convey information, scientific data and outcomes to specialists and non-specialists using, if necessary, the English language and the necessary IT tools.

The development of communication skills is achieved through written exercises carried out in the activities of virtual classes and its verification takes place through the evaluation of the E-tivity, written exams, as well as through the dissertation.

Learning Skills

The Master’s degree in Engineering helps engineers to develop solutions to technical issues, not by only by applying theoretical formulas, but also by learning methodologies to solve any kind of engineering problems. This approach encourages the development of continuous learning and updating skills also in a post-graduate education.

Final Exam

The final dissertation is the discussion of an innovative thesis written by the student, supervised by a tutor.

The thesis can be experimental, numerical or theoretical and may be carried out in companies or external public or private bodies.

The student must also demonstrate the ability to tackle complex problems with a multidisciplinary approach. The procedures for conducting the final exam are defined in the Regulations of the study programme.