Program Overview

Introduction to the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

The Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission's General Criteria and Program Criteria for Mechanical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Program Overview

The ME Department offers a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) degree. Mechanical engineering majors may elect one of the following specialization areas:

• Aerospace
• Automotive
• Energy and power
• Mechanical design
• Mechatronics and robotics
• Thermal-fluids

All mechanical engineering majors must complete the same set of requirements, but each specialization area will consist of a different set of senior electives.

Program Structure

The program includes the study of modern topics including lab courses in contemporary measurement. The freshmen and sophomore years provide the student with a breadth of knowledge that is required in specialized courses and the career work of a mechanical engineer. During these years, students take courses in mathematics, chemistry, physics, engineering materials, engineering mechanics, and electrical systems. The junior year courses include engineering economics, engineering dynamics, strength of materials, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, mechanical design, and the numerical analysis of engineering systems.

Senior Design Program

The Mechanical Engineering Department takes a practical approach to engineering, offering hands-on design experience as well as theoretical knowledge. A key to this practical training is the department's senior design program, which is modeled on the industry workgroups that students will encounter on the job. Like professional engineers, our students design and develop a project, from conception through manufacture. In the process, they gain valuable experience in working as a team, overcoming technical and management challenges, and developing communication skills.

Objectives and Outcomes

BSME Program Objectives

The CSUN undergraduate mechanical engineering program should prepare students to enter the engineering profession as a skilled practitioner who can make a solid contribution to the field, find job satisfaction, and have a lifelong career. To accomplish these overall goals, during the first few years following graduation, a CSUN graduate is expected to:

1. Have an engineering job or a position that utilizes the application of their engineering education in the workplace
2. Demonstrate a record of professional development activities related to the successful practice of engineering
3. Accept additional responsibilities to meet evolving workplace needs and be regarded by colleagues and supervisors as an effective member of their organization

Student Outcomes

The program must have documented student outcomes that support the program educational objectives. Attainment of these outcomes prepares graduates to enter the professional practice of engineering. The 7 student outcomes are listed below.

1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

Degree Requirements

Total Units in the Major: 99

General Education: 27

Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in this Catalog, including 3 units of coursework meeting the Ethnic Studies (ES) graduation requirement. 21 units are satisfied by coursework in the major. Completion of the Mechanical Engineering major satisfies A3 Critical Thinking. 6 units of Physical Science may be used to satisfy sections B1-3. MATH 150A satisfies Basic Skills B4 Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning; ME 370 satisfies B5 Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning; MSE 304 satisfies 3 units of upper division D1 Social Sciences; and ME 101/L and ME 209 satisfy E Lifelong Learning.

Total Units Required for Degree: 126

Senior Design Projects

Each design project has its own application process. If you are interested in registering or volunteering for one of these projects, you should contact the appropriate faculty advisor for information.

• Enrollment for Senior Design projects in the Mechanical Engineering department is approved and issued by the respective faculty advisor.

College of Engineering Grade Requirements

1. No transfer grade lower than a "C" will be accepted from another institution to satisfy College of Engineering and Computer Science requirements.
2. A grade of "C-" or better is required in all courses in the major. More stringent prerequisite requirements may apply to some courses.
3. Senior year courses cannot be taken unless the student has previously completed, or is concurrently completing, all freshman-, sophomore- and junior-year requirements. The Mathematics department requires a grade of "C" in prerequisite courses.

Course Substitution Policy

Effective May 19, 2014, the Mechanical Engineering Department at CSUN only accepts course substitution requests from matriculated students (those enrolled in a CSUN degree program) who must repeat a course after their third attempt at CSUN, or in cases where the student has exhausted his/her grade forgiveness and averaging units. Mechanical Engineering majors may take lower division, articulated courses at colleges offering such courses without the need for pre-approval. Course substitution forms are not required for articulated courses as these classes will be automatically incorporated into the student's record after an official transcript is provided to and processed by the Office of Admissions and Records. For a list of articulated courses, visit the assist.org website.

Course Substitutions/Updating your DPR

The Mechanical Engineering department policy requires that prerequisite courses appear on a student's Degree Progress Report (DPR) with a passing grade prior to a student being able to enroll in the subsequent courses. A course that is not articulated with CSUN courses requires prior approval and the submission of a detailed syllabus for the determination of whether such course could be substituted on a student's DPR. Transfer coursework requires a grade of "C" or higher in order to be used as part of the BSME program.

Long Range Course Schedule

Tentative Long Range Schedule Fall 23 - Spring 27 is available.

Sample Four-Year Program

A sample four-year curriculum plan is available in the CSUN Catalog.

Senior Design Projects: Fall 2024

The following projects are available:

• Smart Morphing Wing/Smart Prosthetics Design Projects
• Formula SAE Design Project
• AERO Design Project
• Robotics Design Project
• Human Powered Vehicle Design Project
• Solar and Wind Energy Engineering Project
• Intelligent Ground Vehicle
• In-Space Servicing, Assembly & Manufacturing

Senior Design Projects: Spring 2025

The following projects are available:

• Smart Morphing Wing/Smart Prosthetics Design Projects
• Formula SAE Design Project
• AERO Design Project
• Robotics Design Project
• Human Powered Vehicle Design Project
• Intelligent Ground Vehicle Design Project
• Energy and Sustainability Design Project
• In-Space Servicing, Assembly & Manufacturing