Program Overview

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Program

The Mechanical Engineering undergraduate program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in the fundamentals of sciences, mathematics, and engineering. The program concentrates on the basics of sciences, mathematics, and engineering in the first two years, while the last two years provide increased depth in the engineering sciences, including fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and systems analysis.

Program Objectives

The major objectives of the program are to:

• Demonstrate successful application of mechanical engineering knowledge and skills for societal benefit through industry, public sector, or private practice.
• Pursue life-long learning through advanced professional degrees, graduate studies in mechanical engineering, professional training, or engineering certification.
• Demonstrate continuous professional and intellectual growth as leaders in their engineering profession and/or community.
• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate in an intra-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary manner to identify issues and opportunities, and create solutions likely exceeding individual capabilities alone.

Curriculum

The curriculum includes coursework in the social sciences and humanities to enhance the student's awareness of the importance of social, political, and economic problems in the practice of engineering. The program requires students to complete:

• 128 passed units for graduation, all of which must be taken with the letter-grade option.
• Five mechanical engineering technical electives, one engineering elective, six humanity and social science electives, and one communication skills elective.

Technical Electives

Students are required to satisfactorily complete five of the following mechanical engineering technical elective courses, for a total of 15 units. The courses are presented by subject area to assist students who wish to choose courses from an area of personal interest. At least one of the five technical electives must be from the Dynamic Systems subject area.

Technical Electives by Subject Area

• Dynamic Systems
  • MEMS 1020: Vibrations (3 units)
  • MEMS 1045: Automatic Controls (3 units)
  • MEMS 1049: Mechatronics (3 units)
  • MEMS 1082: Electromechanical Sensors and Actuators (3 units)
  • ME 2027: Advanced Dynamics (3 units)
  • ME 2045: Linear Control Systems (3 units)
  • ME 2046: Digital Control Systems (3 units)
  • ME 2080: Introduction to Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) (3 units)
  • ME 2082: Principles of Electromechanical Sensors and Actuators (3 units)
• Engineering Mathematics and Computation
  • MEMS 1047: Finite Element Analysis (3 units)
  • MEMS 1055: Computer Aided Analysis in Transport Phenomena (3 units)
  • ME 2001: Differential Equations (3 units)
  • ME 2002: Linear and Complex Analysis (3 units)
  • ME 2060: Numerical Methods (3 units)
• Fluid/Thermal Systems
  • MEMS 1055: Computer Aided Analysis in Transport Phenomena (3 units)
  • MEMS 1065: Thermal Systems Design (3 units)
  • ME 2003: Introduction to Continuum Mechanics (3 units)
  • ME 2056: Introduction to Combustion Theory (3 units)
• Manufacturing
  • MEMS 1032: Automotive Fabrication (3 units)
  • MEMS 1033: Fracture Mechanics for Manufacturing and Performance (3 units)
  • MEMS 1045: Automatic Controls (3 units)
  • MEMS 1047: Finite Element Analysis (3 units)
  • MEMS 1049: Mechatronics (3 units)
  • MEMS 1057: Micro/Nano Manufacturing (3 units)
• Nuclear Engineering
  • ENGR 1700: Introduction to Nuclear Engineering (3 units)
  • ENGR 1701: Fundamentals of Nuclear Reactors (3 units)
  • ENGR 1702: Nuclear Plant Technology (3 units)
• Solid Mechanics
  • MEMS 1033: Fracture Mechanics for Manufacturing and Performance (3 units)
  • MEMS 1047: Finite Element Analysis (3 units)
  • ME 2003: Introduction to Continuum Mechanics (3 units)
  • ME 2022: Applied Solid Mechanics (3 units)
• Special Projects
  • MEMS 1097: Engineering Research Special Projects 1 (1-3 units)
  • MEMS 1098: Engineering Research Special Projects 2 (1-3 units)

Accreditation

The Mechanical Engineering Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the General Criteria and the Mechanical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs Program Criteria.

Course Requirements

The program requires students to complete a series of courses, including:

• MATH 0240: Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3
• MATH 0280: Intro to Matrices & Linear Alg
• ENGR 0022: Materials Structure and Properties
• ENGR 0135: Statics & Mechc of Materials 1
• MEMS 0024: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Design
• MEMS 1085: Departmental Seminar

Term Requirements

The program is divided into eight terms, each with its own set of course requirements. The terms are:

• Third Term
  • MATH 0240: Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3
  • MATH 0280: Intro to Matrices & Linear Alg
  • ENGR 0022: Materials Structure and Properties
  • ENGR 0135: Statics & Mechc of Materials 1
  • MEMS 0024: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Design
  • MEMS 1085: Departmental Seminar
• Fourth Term
  • MATH 0290: Differential Equations
  • ENGR 0145: Statics & Mechc of Materials 2
  • MEMS 0031: Electrical Circuits
  • MEMS 0051: Introduction to Thermodynamics
  • Humanities/Social Science Elective
  • MEMS 1015: Rigid-Body Dynamics
  • MEMS 1085: Departmental Seminar
• Fifth Term
  • MEMS 0071: Introduction to Fluid Mechanics
  • MEMS 1014: Dynamic Systems
  • MEMS 1028: Mechanical Design I
  • Engineering Elective
  • Humanities/Social Science Elective
  • MEMS 1085: Departmental Seminar
• Sixth Term
  • MEMS 0040: Materials and Manufacturing
  • MEMS 1029: Mechanical Design II
  • MEMS 1041: Mechanical Measurements 1
  • Open Elective
  • Humanities/Social Science Elective
  • MEMS 1085: Departmental Seminar
• Seventh Term
  • MEMS 1042: Mechanical Measurements 2
  • MEMS 1052: Heat and Mass Transfer
  • ME Technical Elective
  • Dynamic Systems Elective
  • Humanities/Social Science Elective
  • MEMS 1085: Departmental Seminar
• Eighth Term
  • MEMS 1043: Senior Design Project
  • ME Technical Elective
  • ME Technical Elective
  • ME Technical Elective
  • Humanities/Social Science Elective
  • MEMS 1085: Departmental Seminar

Notes and Restrictions

• Co-op students can earn three units for completing three co-op rotations and a written technical report on their co-op experience, which may be substituted for one of the technical electives.
• Upper-level engineering courses from other engineering departments may be substituted for mechanical engineering technical electives, subject to the approval of the undergraduate director.
• Students must complete the proper prerequisites before enrolling in any of the technical electives.
• Transfer students may be required to take ENGCMP 0200: Seminar in Composition, which does not count as one of the six required elective courses.
• No more than two of the six required Humanities and Social Science elective courses can be satisfied via advanced standing credit from AP exam scores.
• Courses that are cross-listed with other departments may be taken under either course number and may be used to satisfy the depth requirement in either department.
• Students are strongly encouraged to use language courses to partially satisfy the humanities and social science elective requirements, with certain restrictions.