Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Capstone Design (Face-to-Face)

ME 4055-03

Course: ME 4055-03
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: ET
CRN: 33635

Course Description

Application of engineering design principles to a team-based capstone project in the student’s specialty area. Emphasis on creative and critical thinking, planning, design, execution and statistical evaluation of experiments, as well as teamwork, project management, and communication. Students will use engineering, systems engineering and project-management principles and concepts learned to-date to execute the project, complete a design report, and present results. Should be taken in the last semester before graduation.  Prerequisite(s): ME 3055 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: D- Registration Restriction(s): Senior standing required Equivalent Course(s): CE 4055, EE 4055

Required Texts

None

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes for a Mechanical Engineering Capstone Course

By the end of the capstone experience, students will be able to:

1. Apply Engineering Knowledge

  • Integrate and apply knowledge from core mechanical engineering courses (mechanics, thermodynamics, materials, manufacturing, controls) to a real-world engineering design problem.

2. Conduct Problem Definition and Requirements Analysis

  • Identify client needs and define engineering problems in terms of functional requirements, constraints, and performance criteria.

3. Design a Mechanical System or Process

  • Develop, analyze, and refine a design solution that meets specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, welfare, and global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.

4. Utilize Modern Engineering Tools

  • Select and apply appropriate computational, simulation, and experimental tools (e.g., CAD, FEA, CFD, DAQ systems) to support design and decision-making.

5. Perform Testing and Validation

  • Design and conduct experiments or prototype tests to validate design assumptions, analyze performance, and recommend improvements.

6. Manage Projects Effectively

  • Apply project management principles including scheduling, budgeting, resource allocation, and risk assessment.

7. Communicate Professionally

  • Prepare professional engineering reports and deliver technical presentations to both technical and non-technical audiences.

8. Collaborate in Multidisciplinary Teams

  • Work effectively in a team environment, demonstrating leadership, conflict resolution, and collaborative problem-solving skills.

9. Address Ethical and Societal Impacts

  • Identify and analyze ethical considerations, sustainability issues, and societal impacts associated with the design solution.

10. Engage in Lifelong Learning

  • Reflect on the learning process, identify skill gaps, and plan for continued professional growth after graduation.

Course Requirements

Course Requirements – Capstone Design

1. Prerequisites

  • Successful completion of all junior-level core mechanical engineering courses (e.g., Mechanics of Materials, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Machine Design).

  • Senior standing in the Mechanical Engineering program.

2. Attendance & Participation

  • Mandatory attendance at all scheduled class meetings, team work sessions, and project review meetings.

  • Active participation in design discussions, peer reviews, and presentations.

  • Attendance at design reviews with faculty and/or industry partners.

3. Team Collaboration

  • Work as part of a multidisciplinary design team.

  • Maintain a team logbook documenting meetings, decisions, task assignments, and progress.

  • Adhere to agreed-upon team roles and responsibilities.

4. Project Deliverables

  • Project Proposal – Problem statement, background, objectives, requirements, constraints.

  • Design Review Documents – Preliminary and detailed design packages including CAD drawings, analysis, and BOM.

  • Prototype or Proof-of-Concept Build – Physical or virtual model demonstrating design feasibility.

  • Testing & Validation Plan – Experimental procedures, data collection, and performance verification.

  • Final Technical Report – Comprehensive documentation of the project, including design iterations, calculations, and test results.

  • Oral Presentations – Midterm progress presentation and final project presentation to faculty/industry reviewers.

5. Use of Engineering Tools

  • Demonstrated use of CAD (SolidWorks, Inventor, etc.), FEA/CFD analysis, and lab instrumentation as appropriate to the project.

  • Application of project management software/tools for scheduling and tracking.

6. Safety & Compliance

  • Compliance with all SUU lab and shop safety requirements.

  • Completion of any required safety certifications before beginning fabrication.

7. Professional Conduct

  • Adherence to ABET professional and ethical standards.

  • Proper citation of sources and avoidance of plagiarism.

  • Respectful, professional communication with teammates, faculty, and external stakeholders.

8. Assessment Criteria

  • Technical Quality – Sound engineering analysis and design decisions.

  • Innovation & Creativity – Novel approaches within constraints.

  • Project Management – Timely completion of milestones and deliverables.

  • Communication Skills – Quality of reports, presentations, and documentation.

  • Teamwork – Collaboration effectiveness and contribution balance.

Course Outline

Course Outline – Capstone Design

Week 1 – Course Orientation & Team Formation

  • Introduction to capstone objectives, deliverables, and assessment.

  • Review of ABET outcomes and professional expectations.

  • Team formation and project selection.

  • Overview of project management tools.

Week 2 – Problem Definition & Requirements Gathering

  • Identifying the problem statement.

  • Gathering client/user requirements.

  • Defining scope, constraints, and success criteria.

  • Introduction to engineering ethics and safety considerations.

Week 3 – Background Research & Feasibility Study

  • Literature review and competitive benchmarking.

  • Technical feasibility assessment.

  • Preliminary cost and resource estimation.

  • Risk analysis introduction.

Week 4 – Concept Generation

  • Brainstorming and creativity techniques.

  • Morphological charts and decision matrices.

  • Selection of top design concepts.

  • Initial project schedule (Gantt chart).

Week 5 – Preliminary Design

  • Development of rough CAD models.

  • Preliminary engineering calculations and simulations.

  • Review of standards, codes, and regulations.

  • First design review meeting.

Week 6 – Detailed Design Development

  • Refinement of CAD models and engineering drawings.

  • FEA/CFD analysis as needed.

  • Bill of materials (BOM) creation.

  • Update on project budget and timeline.

Week 7 – Midterm Design Review

  • Formal presentation of design progress.

  • Peer and faculty feedback.

  • Refinement of project plan based on review.

Week 8 – Prototyping Preparation

  • Procurement of materials and components.

  • Fabrication planning and manufacturing process selection.

  • Safety plan approval.

Week 9 – Prototype Fabrication

  • Building physical or virtual prototypes.

  • Iterative adjustments during build.

  • Documentation of fabrication steps.

Week 10 – Testing & Validation Planning

  • Development of test procedures.

  • Selection of measurement tools and sensors.

  • Prediction of expected performance.

Week 11 – Prototype Testing

  • Conducting experimental tests.

  • Data acquisition and analysis.

  • Comparison to design requirements.

Week 12 – Design Refinement

  • Modifications based on test results.

  • Optimization for performance, cost, or manufacturability.

  • Preparation for final build (if applicable).

Week 13 – Final Documentation

  • Drafting the final technical report.

  • Compilation of CAD files, drawings, and calculations.

  • Review of ethical and societal impact statements.

Week 14 – Final Project Presentation

  • Oral presentation to faculty, peers, and industry stakeholders.

  • Live demonstration of the prototype (if applicable).

  • Submission of final report and supporting documents.

Week 15 – Reflection & Wrap-Up

  • Team self-assessment and peer evaluations.

  • Lessons learned discussion.

  • Closing remarks and next steps for project continuation.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

No late work, this is capstone

Attendance Policy

No missed classes. If you have extenuating circumstances, please contact the professor.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.