Wichita State University, College of Engineering
College of Engineering
100 Wallace Hall
Dean's Office
1845 N. Fairmount
Wichita, KS 67260-0044
(316) 978-3400
FAX (316) 978-3853
Contact: William J. Wilhelm, Ph.D., P.E.,
Dean of Admissions
E-Mail: bwilhelm@engr.twsu.edu
Wichita State University’s College of Engineering offers four graduate programs leading to the award of the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. Courses of study are available in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, and Electrical and Computer Engineering.
The Department of Aerospace Engineering program provides specialization in aerodynamics and fluid mechanics; solid mechanics and structures; flight dynamics and control; and multidisciplinary design, analysis, and optimization.
The programs’ research and instructional facilities are among the finest in the nation, including six wind tunnels, a water tunnel, and a structural-testing laboratory. Students may also use the research facilities in the University’s National Institute for Aviation Research, including a composite lab and a crash dynamics lab.
Wichita’s aviation heritage and the presence of major aerospace companies in the city, including Boeing, Cessna, Learjet and Raytheon enhance the graduate aerospace program.
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering program provides specialization and laboratories for experimental work in control theory; signal processing; power quality; digital systems; embedded computer systems; instrumentation electronic circuits; avionics; optics; computer architecture and computer engineering; and neural networks.
Excellent computing capabilities for research and teaching are provided through the computing and telecommunications services and the department’s DOS-based PC’s and UNIX-based stations. The EE LAN is tied into the university network for both on-campus and off-campus networking.
The Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering program is committed to instruction and research. Research emphases are centered on three fields:
Engineering Systems with specialization in optimization; multi-criteria decision making; modeling and analysis of manufacturing/services systems; management of engineering enterprises; decision analysis; total quality management; application of intelligent systems and simulation in manufacturing; and activity-based costing.
Ergonomics/Human Factors with specialization in industrial ergonomics, human-machine systems; occupational safety and other industrial hygiene issues; and ergonomics and human factors in aviation/space systems. Another area of continued research involvement is rehabilitation engineering, especially dealing with persons with severe physiological disabilities.
Manufacturing Systems Engineering with specialization in planning, design, and control of manufacturing systems, CAD/CAM/CIM systems, measurement/inspection; GD&T; manufacturing processes; forming; tools/jigs design; assembly; and free-form surfaces manufacturing.
The Mechanical Engineering program and research efforts are influenced by the concentration of technology-oriented industries in the city of Wichita. Program faculty have developed research activities in including engineering materials properties and failure modes; intelligent controls, robotics, and automation; multibody and impact dynamics, mechanical engineering design and manufacturing; thermodynamics and transport processes; combustion; and heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) and energy conservation.
Many Mechanical Engineering faculty members are associates of the university located National Institute for Aviation Research.
NIAR and department facilities include a scanning electron microscope located in the materials laboratory, the crash dynamics laboratory, the shock and vibration laboratory, the propulsion laboratory, the computer integrated laboratory and the mechatronics laboratory.