Engineering at St. Mary’s
The Engineering programs at St. Mary’s University are known for high academic standards and innovative Senior Design Projects. The curriculum emphasizes important areas in the respective engineering fields and exposes students to state-of-the-art engineering tools including hardware and software. Students get a special blend of classroom learning and hands-on engineering practice, creating technical leaders who are able to “engineer the greater good” for society.
St. Mary’s University focuses on educating the whole individual by integrating liberal arts and professional education. Our institution promotes student development in the context of the larger community, preparing students for success not only in their engineering careers but also in all aspects of their lives.
Education of the whole person is an important trait of the Marianist education philosophy that we follow in our Engineering programs. We also offer thought-provoking lectures from a variety of experts each semester during the Engineering Seminar Series.
Drone Technology Concentration
The Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science at St. Mary’s University offers a concentration that allows students to acquire the depth and breadth of knowledge for a career in the rapidly expanding drone industry. This program was the first of its kind in Texas.
The Drone Technology Concentration combines foundational engineering principles — common to all Engineering majors — as well as 24 credit hours of technical electives related to drone technology.
The electives include a yearlong senior design project to develop drone technology for real-world applications for industry partners and a drone flight certification. Upon completion of the program, graduates will possess a competitive portfolio and be prepared for entry into the drone industry or for continuing education.
The drone education takes place in the 25-foot-tall, 1,734-square-foot Drone Lab, complete with a flight area, an observation area and workstations. The lab allows professors to incorporate drones into their curriculum and students to take on more drone-related research for industry partners.
Rattler Racing
St. Mary’s Univerity students build the Rattler race car, which looks something like a dune buggy, from the ground up. The car is taken to Baja SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) competitions and raced by student drivers.
While Engineering students are key in the development and maintenance of the race car, Rattler Racing seeks students of all majors to join the crew.
Engineering Labs and Facilities
Recently, our facilities underwent significant upgrades to accommodate both the broadening scope of research that is being carried out and the acquisition of several new pieces of machinery that will serve the Department for years to come.
The Department of Engineering’s teaching and research facilities are located in the Richter Math-Engineering Center Lab Annex and in the basement of Garni Science Hall. This commitment to the field of engineering and global technology is accomplished using first-rate teaching and research facilities specially built to accommodate research targeted toward multiple fields.
- The Wireless (WiSe) and Computer Security Laboratory is equipped to address the fast-growing need to integrate effective security features into wireless communications networks.
- The Prototyping and Development Laboratory is the Department’s definitive workshop. Here, arrays of prototypes are constructed using state-of-the-art machinery. It is also frequently used by students for Engineering Senior Design Projects.
- The CAM and Robotics Laboratory is used for high-precision engineering and manufacturing. This laboratory houses what are arguably some of the most pivotal tools of the 21st century — state-of-the-art 3-D printers and laser scanners.
Live and Learn Together
Many of our students live in the Science Living Community, a residence hall dedicated to students who are majoring in the sciences. In this community, students live down the hall from their classmates studying similar subjects and have tutors available in the dorm for some math and science courses.
This community partners with the School of Science, Engineering and Technology to host programs throughout the academic year and invites faculty to visit the halls and share their passion and experiences.
STEM Summer Camps
In the Drone Programming Summer Camp, students will program drones using Python and learn advanced concepts such as autonomous flying, computer vision, and ArUco markers identification.
In the Engineering Summer Camp, learn basic engineering concepts in computer-aided design and 3D printers, structural engineering, fluid dynamics, electrical engineering and thermodynamics.
Program Accreditation
Several of our Engineering programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Academic Programs in the Department of Engineering
Computer Engineering
Undergraduate Combined Degree
Electrical Engineering
Undergraduate Combined Degree
Engineering Management
Undergraduate Combined Degree
Engineering Science
Undergraduate Combined Degree
Industrial Engineering
Undergraduate Combined Degree
Mechanical Engineering
Undergraduate Combined Degree
Software Engineering
Undergraduate Combined Degree
Graduate Certificate in Software Engineering
Graduate Certificate
Master of Science in Software Engineering
Graduate
Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Graduate
Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management
Graduate
Faculty in the Department of Engineering
-
Vahid Emamian, Ph.D. Professor of Electrical Engineering
-
Winston Erevelles, Ph.D. University President, Professor of Industrial Engineering
-
Djaffer Ibaroudene, Ph.D. Professor of Computer Engineering
-
Wenbin Luo, Ph.D. Professor of Computer Engineering
-
Rafael Moras, Ph.D., P.E. Professor of Industrial Engineering
-
Mehran Aminian, Ph.D. Professor of Electrical Engineering
-
Ozgur Aktunc, Ph.D. Professor of Software Engineering
-
Juan D. Ocampo, Ph.D. Chair of the Department of Engineering
-
Miguel Cortina Ponton Instructor of Engineering
-
Ben Abbott, Ph.D. Instructor of Electrical Engineering
-
Momtaj Khanam, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Engineering Management
-
Juan Pablo Valenzuela Program Director of Construction Management
-
Morgan Bruns, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
-
Parker Shectman, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Engineering Management
-
Ricardo Ramirez Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Electricial Engineering
-
Mohamed Shaat, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering