What is MENG 287?
MENG 287: Intermediate Mechanical Design is a hands-on, project-based course where students are exposed to a variety of manufacturing processes and have the opportunity to develop their own engineering design portfolios, which are all hosted on this website.
MENG 287 is a new course. Why was it created?
MENG 287 was created when Will Johnson and Joran Booth applied to the Associates in Teaching Program through the Poorvu Center. The program allows a PhD student and a faculty member to co-design and co-teach a new course together. After their course was selected in the competitive application process, Will and Dr. Booth taught MENG 287 for the first time in the spring 2024 semester. Their inspiration for creating the course was to give students a breadth of hands-on design experiences to prepare them for more advanced design courses later in the curriculum.
What kinds of hands-on manufacturing experiences do students get in this course?
Students got to use a variety of machines, including the laser cutter, CNC mills, 3D printers, and the water jet cutter. They even made their own molds for casting plastic and metal. Check out all their projects to learn more about their design and manufacturing experiences.
Why does the course emphasize building an engineering portfolio?
Engineering portfolios are a useful way to demonstrate engineering skills when applying to jobs and internships by showcasing past projects. By requiring students to build an engineering portfolio throughout the semester, this course gives students tangible job market materials in addition to the new skills and experiences they will gain.
Should I take this course?
Yes! Students rated the course 4.6/5.0 on average, making it one of Yale’s top-rated courses in mechanical engineering. Here’s what students have said in their end-of-semester evaluations:
- “It’s without a doubt the most fun I’ve had in a course at Yale”
- “I loved the opportunities for hand-on (sic) work. I think it taught me more useful skills in a shorter period of time than any other book heavy class I’ve taken.”
- “Honestly, wish every course was like this”
- “It is one of the few hands-on project-based courses the engineering department offers, and there is a big emphasis on building a portfolio that you can submit to internships and jobs”
- “This class is the epitome of hands on engineering”
- “My favorite course at Yale so far”