Your mechanical engineering career starts with the completion of a Kentucky mechanical engineering program. There are three schools you can choose from, and all three schools offer Bachelor’s, Master’s, and doctoral degree programs. One school, the University of Louisville, also offers an Associate’s degree program.
Earning an Associate’s degree in mechanical engineering prepares you to start a Bachelor’s degree in the same program. It takes about two years to complete, as it includes 60 credits. A Bachelor’s degree may take you between four and five years to complete, and it requires 120 to 130 credits.
Coursework at this level includes Introduction to Materials Science, Thermodynamics, and Heat Transfer Laboratory. You must take a variety of lecture courses and laboratory courses, which together give you a comprehensive education in mechanical engineering.
If you want to conduct research in the field of mechanical engineering or teach mechanical engineering courses, you may want to earn a Master’s degree or PhD in the field. A Master’s degree takes about two years, while a PhD takes a minimum of five to seven years. Some of the classes you may have to take for an advanced degree include Laser Processing, Heat Transfer, and Gas Dynamics.
The average cost of tuition in Kentucky is $12,900 per semester. Technical schools and public schools tend to be less expensive. You may also be eligible for grants and scholarships, depending on your financial need and academic merit.
One scholarship you may consider applying for is the Kentucky Society of Healthcare Engineers Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to one or two students every year.
The Kentucky Engineering Center also awards multiple scholarships every year. Many of the colleges in Kentucky also have school-specific scholarships that you may be able to apply for.
Before you can begin working as a mechanical engineer in Kentucky, you must get your license from the Kentucky Board of Engineers & Land Surveyors. You can take the Fundamentals of Engineering exam in October or April. If you pass this exam, you can apply for your engineering license. You submit an application that includes information on your engineering education and any relevant experience you may have. There are no licensing fees required.