Is making a difference important to you? Would you enjoy the challenge of inventing sustainable energy devices, leading computer-aided product design, or biomedical research? Does creating new designs for the hybrid electric vehicle industry, or new airplanes in the fields of aeronautics and aerospace sound interesting? Would designing or doing research and development in a wide range of industrial and governmental enterprises appeal to you? Does studying thermal sciences and the integration of electronic and mechanical devices interest you? Do you like putting ideas and designs to work? Are you interested in collaborating and working in teams with others? If your answer to any of these questions is “yes,” then a major in Mechanical Engineering may be for you.
Mechanical engineers are creative problem solvers who design, develop, and manufacture the machines and instrumentation that run energy, building, environmental, and transportation systems. Examples include biomedical devices, ground/air/space vehicles, robots, environmental control equipment, and power plants.
In Mechanical Engineering, students take basic science and mathematics courses while beginning their engineering studies in design and computing. A broad spectrum of classes is designed to sharpen problem-solving skills. The senior year focuses on a year-long capstone design course to help students in the transition from college to an engineering career. Students also choose technical electives from the energy, automotive, material science, manufacturing, dynamic systems, robotics and controls, simulation and modeling, and biomedical engineering areas. Participation in labs provides an active learning environment and further develops design, modeling, and analytical skills.
Mechanical Engineering at CSU is dedicated to graduating ethical mechanical engineers who:
- Make an impact on society’s global, grand engineering challenges
- Act as innovative and creative engineering designers who identify, analyze, and solve complex problems
- Function as accomplished thinkers with hands-on practical skills
- Serve as local, regional, and global collaborators and communicators
- Commit to life-long learning
- Uphold the CSU Principles of Community which encompass inclusion, integrity, respect, service, and social justice
Program Educational Objectives
Mechanical Engineering Bachelor of Science graduates will be able to accomplish the following within the first few years after graduation:
- Identify, analyze, formulate, and solve engineering problems associated with their professional position, both independently and in a team environment
- Manage multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary projects with significant legal, ethical, regulatory, social, environmental, and economic considerations using a broad systems perspective
- Communicate effectively with colleagues, professional clients, and the public
- Demonstrate commitment and progress in lifelong learning, professional development, and leadership
Student Outcomes
Graduates of the undergraduate Mechanical Engineering program will be prepared to:
- Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
- 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
- Communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- 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
- Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
- Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
Potential Occupations
Graduates from the Department of Mechanical Engineering are expected to have the fundamental knowledge required for the successful practice of mechanical engineering. CSU engineering graduates are well prepared for a professional career. The Department boasts a 100% pass rate on the Fundamentals of Engineering professional examination. Participating in internships, co-curricular and volunteer activities, and cooperative education opportunities is highly recommended to enhance practical training and development. Students who continue on to pursue a graduate education can attain more responsible positions with the possibility of rising to top professional levels.
Concentration
Effective Fall 2020
Freshman | |||
---|---|---|---|
AUCC | Credits | ||
CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) | 3A | 4 |
CHEM 112 | General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1) | 3A | 1 |
CO 150 | College Composition (GT-CO2) | 1A | 3 |
MATH 160 | Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1) | 1B | 4 |
MATH 161 | Calculus for Physical Scientists II (GT-MA1) | 1B | 4 |
MECH 103 | Introduction to Mechanical Engineering | 3 | |
MECH 105 | Mechanical Engineering Problem Solving | 3 | |
PH 141 | Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (GT-SC1) | 3A | 5 |
Arts and Humanities | 3B | 6 | |
Total Credits | 33 | ||
Sophomore | |||
CIVE 260 | Engineering Mechanics-Statics | 3 | |
CIVE 261 | Engineering Mechanics-Dynamics | 3 | |
ECE 204 | Introduction to Electrical Engineering | 3 | |
MATH 261 | Calculus for Physical Scientists III | 4 | |
MATH 340 | Intro to Ordinary Differential Equations | 4 | |
Select one group from the following: | 3 | ||
Group A: | |||
Introduction to Manufacturing Processes | |||
Group B: | |||
Introduction to Manufacturing Processes: Lecture | |||
Introduction to Manufacturing Processes : Laboratory | |||
MECH 201 | Engineering Design I | 2 | |
MECH 202 | Engineering Design II | 3 | |
MECH 231 | Engineering Experimentation | 3 | |
PH 142 | Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (GT-SC1) | 3A | 5 |
Total Credits | 33 | ||
Junior | |||
CIVE 360 | Mechanics of Solids | 3 | |
MECH 301A | Engineering Design III: Finite Element Analysis | 1 | |
MECH 301B | Engineering Design III: Computational Fluid Dynamics | 1 | |
MECH 307 | Mechatronics and Measurement Systems | 4 | |
MECH 324 | Dynamics of Machines | 4 | |
MECH 325 | Machine Design | 3 | |
MECH 331 | Introduction to Engineering Materials | 4 | |
MECH 337 | Thermodynamics | 4 | |
MECH 338 | Thermal/Fluid Sciences Laboratory | 1 | |
MECH 342 | Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Flow Processes | 3 | |
MECH 344 | Heat and Mass Transfer | 4B | 3 |
Advanced Writing | 2 | 3 | |
Total Credits | 34 | ||
Senior | |||
Select one group from the following: | 8 | ||
Group A: | |||
Engineering Design Practicum: I | 4A,4C | ||
Engineering Design Practicum: II | 4C | ||
Group B: | |||
Engineering Research Practicum: I | 4A,4C | ||
Engineering Research Practicum: II | 4C | ||
Diversity and Global Awareness | 3E | 3 | |
Historical Perspectives | 3D | 3 | |
Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3C | 3 | |
Technical Electives (See List below) | 12 | ||
Total Credits | 29 | ||
Program Total Credits: | 129 |
Mechanical Engineering Technical Electives
Select 12 credits from the following, or select 9 credits and an additional 3 credits from the Alternate Technical Electives list.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
MECH 303 | Energy Engineering | 3 |
MECH 407 | Laser Applications in Mechanical Engineering | 3 |
MECH 408 | Applied Engineering Economy | 3 |
MECH 411 | Manufacturing Engineering | 3 |
MECH 417 | Control Systems | 3 |
MECH 424 | Advanced Dynamics | 3 |
MECH 425 | Mechanical Engineering Vibrations | 4 |
MECH 431 | Metals and Alloys | 3 |
MECH 432 | Engineering of Nanomaterials | 3 |
MECH 437 | Internal Combustion Engines | 3 |
MECH 460 | Aeronautics | 3 |
MECH 463 | Building Energy Systems | 3 |
MECH 468 | Space Propulsion and Power Engineering | 3 |
MECH 470/BIOM 470 | Biomedical Engineering | 3 |
MECH 502 | Advanced/Additive Manufacturing Engineering | 3 |
MECH 505 | Steam Power Plants | 3 |
MECH 507 | Laser Diagnostics for Thermosciences | 3 |
MECH 509 | Design and Analysis in Engineering Research | 3 |
MECH 513 | Simulation Modeling and Experimentation | 3 |
MECH 515 | Advanced Topics in Mechanical Vibrations | 3 |
MECH 520 | Finite Element Analysis in Mechanical Engr | 3 |
MECH 524 | Principles of Dynamics | 3 |
MECH 525/BIOM 525 | Cell and Tissue Engineering | 3 |
MECH 527 | Hybrid Electric Vehicle Powertrains | 3 |
MECH 529 | Advanced Mechanical Systems | 3 |
MECH 530 | Advanced Composite Materials | 3 |
MECH 531/BIOM 531 | Materials Engineering | 3 |
MECH 532/BIOM 532 | Materials Issues in Mechanical Design | 3 |
MECH 533 | Composites Product Development | 3 |
MECH 538 | Mechanical Engineering Thermodynamics | 3 |
MECH 539 | Advanced Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
MECH 543 | Biofluid Mechanics | 3 |
MECH 544 | Advanced Heat Transfer | 3 |
MECH 551 | Physical Gas Dynamics I | 3 |
MECH 552 | Applied Computational Fluid Dynamics | 3 |
MECH 557 | Turbomachinery | 3 |
MECH 558 | Combustion | 3 |
MECH 564 | Fundamentals of Robot Mechanics and Controls | 3 |
MECH 567 | Broad-Beam Ion Sources | 3 |
MECH 568 | Computational Methods for Mechanical Eng. | 3 |
MECH 569/ECE 569 | Micro-Electro-Mechanical Devices | 3 |
MECH 570/BIOM 570 | Bioengineering | 3 |
MECH 573/BIOM 573 | Structure and Function of Biomaterials | 3 |
MECH 574/BIOM 574 | Bio-Inspired Surfaces | 3 |
MECH 575 | Solar and Alternative Energies | 3 |
MECH 576/BIOM 576 | Quantitative Systems Physiology | 4 |
MECH 577 | Aerosol Physics and Technology | 3 |
MECH 578/BIOM 578 | Musculoskeletal Biosolid Mechanics | 3 |
MECH 579/BIOM 579 | Cardiovascular Biomechanics | 3 |
Alternate Technical Electives
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
BMS 300 | Principles of Human Physiology | 4 |
CIVE 367 | Structural Analysis | 3 |
CIVE 438 | Fundamentals of Environmental Engr | 3 |
CIVE 504 | Wind Engineering | 3 |
CIVE 560 | Advanced Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
CIVE 562 | Fundamentals of Vibrations | 3 |
CS 150 | Culture and Coding (GT-AH3) | 3 |
CS 155 | Introduction to Unix | 1 |
CS 156 | Introduction to C Programming I | 1 |
CS 157 | Introduction to C Programming II | 1 |
CS 163 | CS1---No Prior Programming Experience | 4 |
CS 164 | CS1--Prior Programming Experience | 4 |
ECE 411 | Control Systems | 4 |
ECE 465 | Electrical Energy Generation Technologies | 3 |
ENGR 422 | Technology Entrepreneurship | 3 |
HES 207 | Anatomical Kinesiology | 3 |
MATH 331 | Introduction to Mathematical Modeling | 3 |
MATH 332 | Partial Differential Equations | 3 |
MATH 369 | Linear Algebra I | 3 |
MGT 305 | Fundamentals of Management | 3 |
MGT 340 | Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship | 3 |
MKT 305 | Fundamentals of Marketing | 3 |
PH 314 | Introduction to Modern Physics | 4 |
PH 341 | Mechanics | 4 |
PH 353 | Optics and Waves | 4 |
PH 451 | Introductory Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
STAT 315 | Intro to Theory and Practice of Statistics | 3 |
SYSE 501 | Foundations of Systems Engineering | 3 |
Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:
TO DECLARE MAJOR: Competitive entry controls required and capped enrollment in place. Incoming students please see the Office of Admissions to declare. Current CSU students please see your assigned advisor for information about the waitlist.
TO PREPARE FOR FIRST SEMESTER: The curriculum for this major assumes students enter college prepared to take calculus.
Freshman | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Semester 1 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) | X | 3A | 4 | |
CHEM 112 | General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1) | X | 3A | 1 | |
CO 150 | College Composition (GT-CO2) | X | 1A | 3 | |
MATH 160 | Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1) | X | 1B | 4 | |
MECH 103 | Introduction to Mechanical Engineering | X | 3 | ||
Total Credits | 15 | ||||
Semester 2 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
MATH 161 | Calculus for Physical Scientists II (GT-MA1) | X | 1B | 4 | |
MECH 105 | Mechanical Engineering Problem Solving | X | 3 | ||
PH 141 | Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (GT-SC1) | X | 3A | 5 | |
Arts and Humanities | X | 3B | 6 | ||
CO 150 must be completed by the end of Semester 2. | X | ||||
Total Credits | 18 | ||||
Sophomore | |||||
Semester 3 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
CIVE 260 | Engineering Mechanics-Statics | X | 3 | ||
MATH 261 | Calculus for Physical Scientists III | X | 4 | ||
Select one group from the following: | 3 | ||||
Group A: | |||||
Introduction to Manufacturing Processes | X | ||||
Group B: | |||||
Introduction to Manufacturing Processes: Lecture | X | ||||
Introduction to Manufacturing Processes : Laboratory | X | ||||
MECH 201 | Engineering Design I | X | 2 | ||
PH 142 | Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (GT-SC1) | X | 3A | 5 | |
Total Credits | 17 | ||||
Semester 4 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
CIVE 261 | Engineering Mechanics-Dynamics | X | 3 | ||
ECE 204 | Introduction to Electrical Engineering | X | 3 | ||
MATH 340 | Intro to Ordinary Differential Equations | X | 4 | ||
MECH 202 | Engineering Design II | X | 3 | ||
MECH 231 | Engineering Experimentation | X | 3 | ||
Total Credits | 16 | ||||
Junior | |||||
Semester 5 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
CIVE 360 | Mechanics of Solids | X | 3 | ||
MECH 307 | Mechatronics and Measurement Systems | X | 4 | ||
MECH 324 | Dynamics of Machines | X | 4 | ||
MECH 337 | Thermodynamics | X | 4 | ||
MECH 342 | Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Flow Processes | X | 3 | ||
Total Credits | 18 | ||||
Semester 6 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
MECH 301A | Engineering Design III: Finite Element Analysis | 1 | |||
MECH 301B | Engineering Design III: Computational Fluid Dynamics | 1 | |||
MECH 325 | Machine Design | X | 3 | ||
MECH 331 | Introduction to Engineering Materials | X | 4 | ||
MECH 338 | Thermal/Fluid Sciences Laboratory | X | 1 | ||
MECH 344 | Heat and Mass Transfer | X | 4B | 3 | |
Advanced Writing | X | 2 | 3 | ||
Total Credits | 16 | ||||
Senior | |||||
Semester 7 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
Select one course from the following: | 4 | ||||
Engineering Design Practicum: I | X | 4A,4C | |||
Engineering Research Practicum: I | X | 4A,4C | |||
Diversity and Global Awareness | X | 3E | 3 | ||
Social and Behavioral Sciences | X | 3C | 3 | ||
Technical Elective (See List on Requirements Tab) | 6 | ||||
Total Credits | 16 | ||||
Semester 8 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
Select one course from the following: | 4 | ||||
Engineering Design Practicum: II | X | 4C | |||
Engineering Research Practicum: II | X | 4C | |||
Historical Perspectives | X | 3D | 3 | ||
Technical Electives (See List on Requirements Tab) | X | 6 | |||
The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study. | X | ||||
Total Credits | 13 | ||||
Program Total Credits: | 129 |