Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Capstone Design (Face-to-Face)

ME 4055-02

Course: ME 4055-02
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Engineering and Technology
CRN: 30791

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. (Fall, Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)]

Required Texts

Textbook: NA

Learning Outcomes

After taking this class, students should be able to:

  • Use project management tools to plan and execute an engineering project.
  • Develop, test and analyze a prototype, and write a report documenting the results.
  • Use creativity and critical thinking to solve real-world engineering problems, considering ethical, societal, environmental, and economic issues.
  • Communicate ideas and project outcomes to diverse audiences using oral, written, and graphical methods.
  • Function as an effective team member in a variety of roles such as leadership, administrative and/or technical support.

Course Requirements

Grading: Grades will be based on the following breakdown (300 pts):

Course Outline and Schedule

  • Scope (5%):
    The scope shall be error-free and clear.
    Submit the scope in Microsoft Word.
  • Weekly meeting (10%):
    Please come to my office to set up a weekly meeting time.
    I will create a Google Folder for your group. Update what you have accomplished and what you are going to do.
  • Mid-term presentation (15%):
    • The date will be finalized soon. (It will be mid-Feb.)
    • Your group will submit the presentation (Microsoft) the night before the presentation date. Mid-term presentation
  • Poster (10%): (Department requirement)
    Groups are required to do a poster for the Festival of Excellence
    Registration Opens:
    Registration Closes:
    Day of Event (Daytime classes are suspended so all students and faculty can attend.)
    Website
    Registration Link:
  • Final paper-1 submission (40%): Use Microsoft Word.
    Note that I review papers independently. If I do not catch errors, I may catch them the next time you submit the paper. Just accepting the changes I suggest does not guarantee the full grade.
  • Final paper-2 submission (20%):
    Use Microsoft Word.
    Note that I review papers independently. If I do not catch errors, I may catch them the next time you submit the paper. Just accepting the changes I suggest does not guarantee the full grade.

Homework

Assigned homework will be due at the beginning of class. Note: 20 points out of 100 points of each HW assignment is for format. No Late Homework. You must complete the assignments to understand the material and prepare for the exams. Homework guidelines are as follows:

  • Homework should be legible, professional in appearance, and use only one side of the paper.
  • Your name, date, course title, and assignment number must appear at the top of each page.
  • Include enough information so that you will be able to understand the problem, what is desired, the solution approach, and the answer, without relying on the textbook.
  • Include a problem statement (what information is given and what is to be found)
  • Include a sketch, picture of the process, etc., to help you visualize
  • Show the equation and its number.
  • Show ALL work – outline the solution approach that was taken. How you get your answer is often more important than if you get the correct answer.
  • Answers must include units. It is a must to carry units throughout the problem.
  • Identify the final answer (underline, put a box around, etc.)

Course Outline

Students work in teams to solve an open-ended mechanical engineering problem through the complete design process: problem definition, requirements development, concept generation, engineering analysis, detailed design, fabrication, testing, validation, and final communication. 

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

Exams

  1. Exams must be taken as scheduled.
  2. Any absence not excused in advance will result in a zero for that exam.
  3. A week after HW/quizzes assignments and exams are graded, they will be shredded.
  4. No exams will be returned to students.
  5. Students may come to the instructor’s office and go over their exams within a week after exams are graded.
Homework: No Late Homework.
Note: Exams and HW assignments will be shredded a week after the due date. I will not discuss grades when they are shredded.

Attendance Policy

A student is responsible for attending the courses for which they are enrolled, and may only attend courses in which they are enrolled. Further, according to standards set by the Department of Education, the University is required to identify a starting date for each student for each of these courses. Students are also responsible for making up any work missed by failing to attend class, even if the absence was approved by the University (see ), necessitated by illness, or personal emergency. In this sense, then, there are no “excused” absences.

Student Responsibility: Attendance, good attitude, and class participation are all part of your grade. Please come prepared to class. Students will further be encouraged to read material from magazines and journals to obtain current information in their chosen field of engineering.

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.

Religious / Conscience Belief Accommodation

RELIGIOUS / CONSCIENCE BELIEF ACCOMMODATION: In accordance with SUU Policy 6.7 Student Belief Accommodation, students may request, in writing, that their faculty accommodate their sincerely held religious or conscience beliefs. Students should provide their faculty with sufficient advanced notice, if possible within the first five (5) business days of the semester or session, or thereafter with good cause for requesting an accommodation after the first five (5) business days.

Faculty must provide a schedule accommodation or excuse an absence, in any course, for students to observe or participate in religious holidays or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of the student’s religious tradition or religious organization.

In courses that are required for graduation or for an academic major, a faculty member may accommodate a religious or conscience belief by modifying an assignment or examination if its content conflicts with the student’s belief. Faculty may decline the accommodation if it would fundamentally alter the course requirements. If declined, the student may request review by a neutral arbiter using the Belief Accommodation Request Form: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv&layout_id=5

Questions go to Assistant Provost Jake Johnson at johnsonj@suu.edu.

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.