Senior Design

SYLLABUS AND SCHEDULE | Winter Quarter 2017

Course description/rationale
Group design project focusing on the integrative aspects of engineering subject matter. The
project focuses on: (1) philosophy of design, a creative approach, and a comprehensive design
project; planning, organizing and leading an engineering project; exercising judgment and
considering economic factors; and (2) integrated aspects of creative design and analysis; case
studies; design of a novel device or system. Format consists of classroom lectures and
individual design team meetings each week. The three courses must be taken as a continuous
sequence. Fulfills the senior synthesis core requirement. Prerequisite: MEGR 487.

Course information Instructor information

Course code: MEGR-4880 Instructor: Greg Mason, PhD
# credits: 4 Phone: (206) 296-5538
Location: ENGR 312 Email: mason@seattleu.edu
Class times: MWF 7:45 - 9:10 Office: E406A
Office hours: 11:30-12:30 M,T,F (tentative)
First session: Jan 8 Contact me to arrange appointments outside
Last session: Mar 22 (final) office hours.

You can email me at any time, but you may not receive a response outside of my regular hours
(6:30am – 3:30pm Monday–Friday, except for holidays).

Learning outcomes

At the completion of this course you will be able to:

1. Work in teams
2. Solve an open-ended engineering problem
3. Use engineering judgment
4. Consider economic factors
5. Manage a project
6. Create written documents
7. Give oral presentations
8. Communicate with people of various technical backgrounds
9. Incorporate environmental, economic and social constraints into the project solution
10. Integrate knowledge obtained in mechanical engineering and CORE classes
11. Apply various mechanical engineering courses into creating a solution
12. Integrate knowledge obtained in college with possible future work, service, personal and public life
13. Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary issues
14. Demonstrate knowledge of engineering ethics
15. Demonstrate a need for lifelong learning
16. Demonstrate understanding of impact that engineering has on society.

MEGR 4880 | Winter 2018 | G. Mason | Seattle University 1

Instructional methods
This is a project course. You will work with your project team, advisor and liaison to complete
your design project. The class will nominally meet once a week to discuss project progress,
engineering ethics and report writing.

Evaluation/Grading: Overview of assignments

45% Individual project contribution (assigned by advisor)

5% Project Day Abstract
15% In Class Assignments
5% Ethics Assignment
10% Report Outline
20% Comprehensive Exam

Required readings and materials

Recommended resources for additional exploration

The Craft of Scientific Writing, 3rd Edition, Michael Alley
ISBN-13: 978-0387947662 ISBN-10: 0387947663

Academic resources
The following are resources you may find useful for this or other courses.

LIBRARY AND LEARNING COMMONS

http://www.seattleu.edu/learningcommons/

WRITING CENTER
The Writing Center employs undergraduate writing consultants who assist students at all
stages of the writing process. Consultants will help students begin writing tasks, organize and
develop first drafts, and revise and edit later drafts.

LEARNING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Learning Assistance Programs provide peer tutoring, facilitated study groups, and learning
strategy development through scheduled workshops and individual meetings with a learning
specialist.

RESEARCH SERVICES
Need help finding research? Save time by starting with your Research Services Librarians. We
are eager to help you at any stage of the research process. Contact us if you need help
brainstorming keywords, using our databases, finding articles and books or sorting through the
information you find on the internet. Students can receive help in person, by chat, phone, or
email, or by scheduling a research consultation.
MEGR 4880 | Winter 2018 | G. Mason | Seattle University 2
MATH LAB
The Math Lab is a drop-in service available to students enrolled in lower division mathematics
courses. Students can stop by the lab to work with a tutor who will assist them with their
particular mathematics assignments.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY TUTORIAL

https://www.seattleu.edu/academicintegrity/

General course and university policies

SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

If you have, or think you may have, a disability (including an “invisible disability” such as a
learning disability, a chronic health problem, or a mental health condition) that interferes with
your performance as a student in this class, you are encouraged to arrange support services
and/or accommodations through Disabilities Services staff located in Loyola 100, (206) 296-
5740. Disability-based adjustments to course expectations can be arranged only through this
process.

CLASSROOM NORMS
 Start and end on time
 Come to class prepared
 Participate actively in discussion
 Show one another courtesy, including when we disagree.

MISSED CLASSES
If you must be absent from a test or presentation contact me in person at least two weeks
before the test date. I will attempt to accommodate you if you have a valid reason for missing
class.

CELL PHONES, LAPTOPS, AND RECORDING DEVICES

Don’t disrupt class.

MEGR 4880 | Winter 2018 | G. Mason | Seattle University 3

Academic policies on the Registrar website
https://www.seattleu.edu/registrar/academics/performance/

Be sure that you understand the following university academic policies, posted on the
Registrar’s website:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY

ACADEMIC GRADING GRIEVANCE POLICY

Grading procedures and policies

GRADING SCALE (TYPICAL)

A 100–94 Superior B– 82–80 D+ 69–67

A– 93–90 C+ 79–77 D 66–63 Poor
B+ 89–87 C 76–73 Adequate D– 62–60
B 86–83 Good C– 72–70 F 59 or less Failing

SUBMITTING YOUR ASSIGNMENTS

All assignment must be submitted online through the Canvas LMS or as paper document per
the assignment instructions. You are responsible for learning how to use Canvas
(http://seattleu.instructure.com ).

ASSIGNMENT DEADLINES AND EXTENSIONS

All assignments must be submitted by the published due date.

MEGR 4880 | Winter 2018 | G. Mason | Seattle University 4

 Tentative Schedule
Deliverables

Mon: Jan 8 Wed: Jan 10 Fri: Jan 12

Engineering with Engineers Introduction

Mon: Jan 15 Wed: Jan 17 Fri: Jan 19

Martin Luther King Day Presentations Presentations
No Class ME 18.1 - 18.5 ME 18.6 – 18.8 + INT

Mon: Jan 22 Wed: Jan 24 Fri: Jan 26

Ethics 8:00 Advisory Board Interviews.

Mon: Jan 29 Wed: Jan 31 Fri: Feb 2 Ethics Essays Due Jan 29
Presentations Presentations
ME 18.1 - 18.4 ME 18.5 – 18.8 + INT

Mon: Feb 5 Wed: Feb 7 Fri: Feb 9 Project Abstract due to the
Abstracts faculty advisor on Feb 9

Mon: Feb 12 Wed: Feb 14 Fri: Feb 16

Critical Design Review (CRD) Critical Design Review (CRD)
Workshop ME 18.1 - 18.5 Workshop ME 18.6 – 18.8 + INT

Mon: Feb 19 Wed: Feb 21 Fri: Feb 23 CDR week. Each team’s CDR
President’s Day Critical Design Review (CDR) Critical Design Review (CDR) schedule and location may vary
No Class Week Week based on the availability of the
reviewer. No lectures.
Mon: Feb 26 Wed: Feb 28 Fri: Mar 2 Project Abstract due to Dr.
Comp Exam II – part 1 Comp Exam II – part 2 Mason Feb 26
Team Photo Approval Mar 2

Mon: Mar 5 Wed: Mar 7 Fri: Mar 9 Draft outline to advisor on Mar
Final Report Outline Final Report Outline Abstract Updates as needed 7 ; Team Photos to Project
Center Mar 9

Mon: Mar 12 Wed: Mar 14 Fri: Mar 16

Final Report Outline Final Report Outline

Mon: Mar 19 Thurs: Mar 22 Final report outline due to

Final Report Outline As Needed faculty advisor on Tues, Mar 20

MEGR 4880 | Winter 2018 | G. Mason | Seattle University 5