Mechanical Engineering, BS

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at San José State University is the major provider of engineering talent to Silicon Valley’s high-tech and cross-disciplinary industries. Our curriculum is designed to prepare our graduates for the future needs of society. The department is supported by its world class faculties, state-of-the-art laboratories–sponsored by industry–and an integrated network of professionals and alumni who provide opportunities for our students to prepare and succeed in their career. The Mechanical Engineering Bachelor of Science degree program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the General Program Criteria and the Mechanical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs Program Criteria.

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Roadmaps

The 4-Year Roadmap is available online. Roadmaps should be used in consultation with the catalog and your advisor to identify additional requirements for completing the major (for example, course grade minimums). Associate Degrees (ADT) Pathways are also available online.

Major-Specific Graduation Requirements

All courses required in the major (all courses in preparation for the major, core, required, capstone, and technical electives) must be completed with a grade of “C- or better”. The following course in Major Requirements must be completed with a “C or better”: ENGR 100W . The following required courses must be completed with a C average or better to earn UD Area 3 and UD Area 4 credit: ME 195A , ME 195B , ENGR 195A , ENGR 195B .

1. Complete the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Students must satisfy the specific degree requirements for their undergraduate major and fulfill the following University degree requirements:

Academic (program total units with an average 2.0 GPA - “C” or better)
General Education (GE) (34 Lower Division + 9 Upper Division)
American Institutions (AI) (0-6 units) (may be satisfied in GE Areas 3B, 4, UD 3, UD 4)
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) (3 units)
Physical Education (PE) (0-2 units)
Units in Residence (30 units, including 24 upper division and 12 in major)
Upper Division Units (40 units, including 12 upper div in major for BA, 18 upper div in major for BS)
Undergraduate Policies & Procedures
Apply for Graduation
Information about the Commencement Ceremony and Conferral of the Degree

Exceptions for University Graduation Requirements including exemptions and waivers, are approved for specific majors and on a case-by-case evaluation only.

Summary of Degree Units

Core Lower Division GE: 12 (10 units may be satisfied by major coursework: Areas 5A, 5C, 2, 3B; 3 units of 1B waived, 3 units of 5B waived)

6 required units of American Institutions/US123 may be satisfied by selecting applicable GE courses in Areas 3B and/or 4

Upper Division GE: 0 (9 units may be satisfied by major coursework: UD Areas 2or5, 3, 4)

Physical Education: 0 (waived)

GWAR / WID: 0 (3 units satisfied by ENGR 100W )

Major Preparation: 33

Major Requirements: 74

Total: 125

2. Major Preparation (33 units)

CHEM 1A - General Chemistry 5 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)
ENGL 1B - Argument and Analysis 3 unit(s) (GE Area 3B / Formerly Area C2) (or equivalent second semester composition course.)
MATH 30 - Calculus I 3 unit(s) (GE Area 2 / Formerly Area B4)
MATH 31 - Calculus II 4 unit(s) (GE Area 2 / Formerly Area B4)
MATH 32 - Calculus III 3 unit(s) (GE Area 2 / Formerly Area B4)
MATH 33A - Ordinary Differential Equations for SCI & ENGR 3 unit(s)
PHYS 50 - General Physics I: Mechanics 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)
PHYS 51 - General Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)
PHYS 52 - General Physics III: Waves, Light, Heat 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)

3. Major Requirements (74 units)

Core Courses (18 units)

CE 95 - Theory and Application of Statics 3 unit(s)
EE 98 - Introduction to Circuit Analysis 3 unit(s)
ENGR 10 - Introduction to Engineering 3 unit(s)
MATE 25 - Introduction to Materials 3 unit(s)
ME 20 - Design and Graphics 2 unit(s)
ME 30 - Computer Applications 3 unit(s)
ME 41 - Machine Shop Operations and Safety 1 unit(s)

Major Courses (47 units)

CE 112 - Mechanics of Materials 3 unit(s)
ENGR 100W - Engineering Reports 3 unit(s) [WID + (GE UD Area 2/5 / Formerly Area R)]
ENGR 195A - Global and Social Issues in Engineering 1 unit(s) (GE UD Area 4 / Formerly Area S)
ENGR 195B - Global and Social Issues in Engineering 1 unit(s) (GE UD Area 3 / Formerly Area V)
ME 101 - Dynamics
OR ME 101H - Honors Dynamics 3 unit(s)
ME 106 - Fundamentals of Mechatronics Engineering 4 unit(s)
ME 111 - Fluid Mechanics 3 unit(s)
ME 113 - Thermodynamics 4 unit(s)
ME 114 - Heat Transfer 3 unit(s)
ME 115 - Thermal Engineering Laboratory 1 unit(s)
ME 120 - Experimental Methods 2 unit(s)
ME 130 - Applied Engineering Analysis 3 unit(s)
ME 131 - Artificial Intelligence in Mechanical Engineering 3 unit(s)
ME 147 - Dynamic Systems Vibration and Control 3 unit(s)
ME 154 - Mechanical Engineering Design 4 unit(s)
ME 195A - Senior Design Project I 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 4 / Formerly Area S)
ME 195B - Senior Design Project II 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 3 / Formerly Area V)

Required Capstone Courses (3 units)

Complete one course from:

ME 157 - Mechanical System Design 3 unit(s)
ME 182 - Thermal Systems Design 3 unit(s)
ME 190 - Mechatronics System Design 3 unit(s)

Technical Electives (6 units)

Technical electives can be chosen from designated courses for breadth or focus in one of the three areas of mechanical design, mechatronics, or thermal/fluids, with advisor approval.

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