Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor of Science College of Engineering

Valeria La Saponara, Ph.D., Vice Chairperson for Undergraduate Studies

The Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Undergraduate Programs

The Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering administers two undergraduate programs in the College of Engineering: (1) Mechanical Engineering, (2) Aerospace Science & Engineering.

For more information about our programs, see Undergraduate Majors.

Mission

The Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering is committed to educating future engineers so that they may contribute to the economic growth and well-being of the state, the nation, and the world, and to the advancement of knowledge in the mechanical and aerospace sciences.

Objectives

The objectives of the Mechanical Engineering & Aerospace Science and Engineering programs are to produce graduates who do one or more of the following: a. Practice mechanical engineering and/or aerospace engineering in a broad range of agencies, industries, and institutes; b. Pursue graduate education; c. Participate in research and development, and other creative and innovative efforts in science, engineering, and technology; d. Pursue entrepreneurial endeavors.

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Program

The Mechanical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

The mechanical engineer uses basic science in the design and manufacture of complex engineering systems, requiring the application of physical and mechanical principles to the development of machines, energy conversion systems, materials, and equipment for guidance & control.

Work in this broad field of engineering requires a thorough knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry, material science, applied mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, mass transfer, electricity, manufacturing  processes, and economics.

The Mechanical Engineering program is designed to provide knowledge in mechanical engineering and associated applied sciences so that graduates may practice in a broad range of industries, pursue graduate studies, participate in research & development, and/or pursue entrepreneurial endeavors.

Areas of Interest

Students spend their third year in further study of fundamental courses, and in the fourth year they may tailor their studies to their interests by selecting courses in controls and systems analysis, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, mechanical design or thermodynamics. Students can either prepare for graduate study in mechanical engineering or obtain a broad background for entering engineering practice.

Students may select elective courses from among the areas of interest listed below.

Mechanical Design

The creation and improvement of products, processes, or systems that are mechanical in nature are the primary activities of a professional mechanical engineer. The development of a product from concept generation to detailed design, manufacturing process selection and planning, quality control and assurance, and life cycle considerations are areas of study and specialization in the area of mechanical design.

Solutions to such major social problems as environmental pollution, the lack of mass transportation, the lack of raw materials, and energy shortages, will depend heavily on the engineer's ability to create new types of machinery and mechanical systems.

The engineer-designer must have a solid and relatively broad background in the basic physical and engineering sciences and have the ability to synthesize the information from such a background in creative problem solving. In addition to having technical competence, the designer must be able to consider the socioeconomic consequences of a design and its possible impact on the environment. Product safety, reliability, and economics are other considerations.

Suggested Restricted Electives
ENG 122Introduction to Mechanical Vibrations4
EMS 180Materials in Engineering Design4
EMS 182Failure Analysis4
EME 121Engineering Applications of Dynamics4
EME 134Vehicle Stability4
EME 139Stability of Flexible Dynamic Systems4
EME 150BMechanical Design4
EME 151Statistical Methods in Design & Manufacturing4
EME 152Computer-Aided Mechanism Design4
EME 154Mechatronics4
EME 161Combustion & the Environment4
EME 163Internal Combustion Engines & Future Alternatives4
EME 164Introduction to Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Systems4
EME 171Analysis, Simulation & Design of Mechatronic Systems4
Suggested Advisors

H.H. Cheng, R.T. Farouki, M.R. Hill, B.S. Linke, B. Ravani, J. Schofield, M. Soshi

Engineering & Biomedical Fluid Mechanics

This field of study is based on the fundamentals of fluid mechanics and their broad range of applications in the biomedical and engineering areas. Areas of current research include blood circulation and its potential role in the regulation of normal physiological function and in the development of disease; groundwater and atmospheric flows and their implications for pollutant transport and environmental concerns; aerodynamic flow around transportation vehicles and its impact on vehicle performance; flow in combustion engines and other energy systems with considerations of efficiency and environmental impact; compressible flows in aircraft engine or gas turbine; and computational fluid dynamics. These areas are investigated both experimentally and computationally.

Suggested Restricted Electives
EAE 126Theoretical & Computational Aerodynamics4
EAE 127Applied Aircraft Aerodynamics4
EAE 138Aircraft Propulsion4
EME 161Combustion & the Environment4
EME 163Internal Combustion Engines & Future Alternatives4
EME 164Introduction to Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Systems4
Suggested Advisors

R.C. Aldredge, J.P. Delplanque, M. Hafez, S. Lee, S.K. Robinson, B.D. Shaw, C.P. van Dam, A.S. Wexler

Combustion & the Environment

Combustion is widely used for energy generation, propulsion, heating, and waste disposal, as well as for many other applications. Mechanical engineers are often heavily involved with the design of combustion systems (internal combustion engines, gas turbines, furnaces, etc.) and deal with aspects of combustion ranging from increasing efficiencies to reducing pollutant emissions. This specialization is for those who would like to work in fields that use combustion, or that deal with pollution related to combustion. With the current increased emphasis on reducing pollutants while maintaining or increasing efficiency, the efforts of mechanical engineers in designing and improving combustion systems are becoming more important.

Suggested Technical Electives
EME 161Combustion & the Environment4
EME 163Internal Combustion Engines & Future Alternatives4
Suggested Advisors

R.C. Aldredge, P. A. Erickson, B.D. Shaw

Heat Transfer, Thermodynamics, & Energy Systems

This specialization emphasizes the fundamentals of heat transfer and thermodynamics, and their application to the design of advanced engineering systems. The objective of the program is to introduce students to the fundamental processes of heat transfer and thermodynamics in complex engineering systems so that they are able to design more efficient, cost-effective, and reliable systems with less environmental pollution and impact. An understanding of heat transfer and thermodynamics is required for the design of efficient, cost-effective systems for power generation, propulsion, heat exchangers, industrial processes, refining, and chemical processing. This area of specialization is important to many industries—aerospace, defense, automotive—as well as to the thermal design of electronic and computer packages.

Suggested Restricted Electives
EAE 138Aircraft Propulsion4
EME 161Combustion & the Environment4
EME 163Internal Combustion Engines & Future Alternatives4
EME 164Introduction to Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Systems4
Suggested Advisors

R.C. Aldredge, P.A. Erickson, J.K. Kissock, V. Narayanan, J.W. Park, B.D. Shaw

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is concerned with the conversion of raw materials into finished products by a variety of processes, such as machining, forming, casting, and molding. Modern manufacturing technology is increasingly dependent upon integration with computer-aided design systems and precision computer controls. State-of-the-art laboratories offer the opportunity for hands-on experience with a wide spectrum of manufacturing equipment. Manufacturing engineers must have expertise in design, materials, controls, statistical methods, computer software, and microprocessor applications.

Suggested Restricted Electives
EMS 180Materials in Engineering Design4
EME 150BMechanical Design4
EME 151Statistical Methods in Design & Manufacturing4
EME 154Mechatronics4
Suggested Advisors

H.H. Cheng, R.T. Farouki, B.S. Linke, D.A. Horsley, V. La Saponara, M. Soshi, B. Ravani

System Dynamics & Control

Engineers are increasingly concerned with the performance of integrated dynamics systems in which it is not possible to optimize component parts without considering the overall system.

System dynamics and control specialists are concerned with the modeling, analysis, and simulation of all types of dynamic systems and with the use of automatic control techniques to change the dynamic characteristics of systems in useful ways. The emphasis in this program is on the physical systems that are closely related to mechanical engineering, but the techniques for studying these systems apply to social, economic, and other dynamic systems.

Ongoing research includes projects on continuously variable transmissions, active and semi-active suspension systems, modeling and control of vehicle dynamics, electromechanical actuator design, electronically controlled steering, the analysis of fuel management systems, and the design of flight-control systems with humans in the loop.

Suggested Restricted Electives
EAE 129Stability & Control of Aerospace Vehicles4
EAE 142Orbital Mechanics4
EAE 143ASpace Vehicle Design4
EAE 143BSpace Mission Design4
ENG 111Electric Machinery Fundamentals4
ENG 121Fluid Power Actuators & Systems4
ENG 122Introduction to Mechanical Vibrations4
EME 121Engineering Applications of Dynamics4
EME 134Vehicle Stability4
EME 139Stability of Flexible Dynamic Systems4
EME 152Computer-Aided Mechanism Design4
EME 154Mechatronics4
EME 171Analysis, Simulation & Design of Mechatronic Systems4
Suggested Advisors

F. Assadian, D.A. Horsley, S. Joshi, Z. Kong, X. Lin, S. Nazari, J. Schofield, I. Soltani

Ground Vehicle Systems

An important aspect of mechanical engineering is the design of more environmentally benign surface vehicles that provide efficient individual and public transportation. Innovations in the field require competence in vehicle dynamics, control of vehicle dynamics, power sources & power transmission, lightweight structures & systems, alternatively fueled power systems, including electrical drives & fuel cells, and mechanical systems.

Suggested Restricted Electives
ENG 122Introduction to Mechanical Vibrations4
EME 121Engineering Applications of Dynamics4
EME 134Vehicle Stability4
EME 139Stability of Flexible Dynamic Systems4
EME 152Computer-Aided Mechanism Design4
EME 171Analysis, Simulation & Design of Mechatronic Systems4
Suggested Advisors

F. Assadian, P. A. Erickson, M. Hill, X. Lin, J. Moore, J. Park, N. Sarigul-Klijn

Transportation Systems

As society recognizes the increasing importance of optimizing transportation systems to minimize environmental degradation and energy expenditure, engineers will need to consider major innovations in the way people and goods are moved. Such innovations will require competence in vehicle dynamics, propulsion and control, and an understanding of the problems caused by present-day modes of transportation. Vehicle control requires an understanding of sensors and actuators, and the integration of yet-to-be-proposed concepts into overall vehicular dynamics. Competence in these areas allows for the development of alternative propulsion concepts, such as electric, hybrid, and fuel cell.

Suggested Restricted Electives
EAE 129Stability & Control of Aerospace Vehicles4
ENG 122Introduction to Mechanical Vibrations4
EME 134Vehicle Stability4
EME 150BMechanical Design4
EME 161Combustion & the Environment4
EME 163Internal Combustion Engines & Future Alternatives4
EME 171Analysis, Simulation & Design of Mechatronic Systems4
Suggested Advisors

F. Assadian, P.A. Erickson, X. Lin, S. Nazari, J.W. Park, I. Soltani

Students are encouraged to adhere carefully to all prerequisite requirements. The instructor is authorized to drop students from a course for which stated prerequisites have not been completed.

Exclusive of General Education units, the minimum number of units required for the Mechanical Engineering major is 148.

Lower Division Required Courses
CMN 001Introduction to Public Speaking4
or ENG 003 Introduction to Engineering Design
or ENG 003Y Introduction to Engineering Design
Mathematics
MAT 021ACalculus4
MAT 021BCalculus4
MAT 021CCalculus4
MAT 021DVector Analysis4
MAT 022ALinear Algebra3
MAT 022BDifferential Equations3
Physics
PHY 009AClassical Physics5
PHY 009BClassical Physics5
PHY 009CClassical Physics5
Chemistry
CHE 002AGeneral Chemistry5
or CHE 002AH Honors General Chemistry
CHE 002BGeneral Chemistry5
or CHE 002BH Honors General Chemistry
Engineering
ENG 004Engineering Graphics in Design3
ENG 017Circuits I4
ENG 035Statics4
EME 050Manufacturing Processes4
EME 005Computer Programming for Engineering Applications (Discontinued)4
or ENG 006 Engineering Problem Solving
ENG 045Properties of Materials4
or ENG 045Y Properties of Materials
Lower Division Composition/Writing; choose one; a grade of C- or better is required:4
Major Works of the Ancient World
Major Works of the Medieval & Early Modern World
Major Works of the Modern World
Major Works of the Contemporary World
Introduction to Literature
Introduction to Literature
Introduction to Native American Literature
Introduction to Academic Literacies (Recommended)
Introduction to Academic Literacies: Online (Recommended)
Introduction to Academic Literacies (Recommended)
Lower Division Required Courses Subtotal78
Upper Division Required Courses
Engineering
ENG 100Electronic Circuits & Systems3
ENG 102Dynamics4
ENG 103Fluid Mechanics4
ENG 104Mechanics of Materials4
ENG 105Thermodynamics4
ENG 190Professional Responsibilities of Engineers3
Mechanical Engineering
EME 106Thermo-Fluid Dynamics4
EME 108Measurement Systems4
EME 109Experimental Methods for Thermal Fluids4
EME 150AMechanical Design4
EME 165Heat Transfer4
EME 172Automatic Control of Engineering Systems4
Choose a series:8
Mechanical Engineering Systems Design Project
and Mechanical Engineering Systems Design Project (taken in consecutive quarters)
Aircraft Performance & Design
and Aircraft Performance & Design (taken in consecutive quarters)
Space Vehicle Design
and Space Mission Design (taken in consecutive quarters)
Applied Mathematics Electives
Choose one:4
Mathematical Methods in Biochemical & Chemical Engineering
Probabilistic Systems Analysis for Civil & Environmental Engineers
Scientific Computation
Engineering Analysis
Partial Differential Equations: Elementary Methods
Numerical Analysis
Numerical Analysis in Solution of Equations
Introduction to Numerical Analysis & Methods
Statistical Methods in Design & Manufacturing
Mathematical Statistics: Brief Course
Introduction to Probability Theory
System Dynamics/Mechanical Design Electives
Choose one:4
Introduction to Mechanical Vibrations
Engineering Applications of Dynamics
Stability of Flexible Dynamic Systems
Mechanical Design
Mechatronics
Analysis, Simulation & Design of Mechatronic Systems
Restricted Electives
Choose two: 18
Stability & Control of Aerospace Vehicles
Aircraft Propulsion
Rocket Propulsion
Orbital Mechanics
Space Vehicle Design
Space Mission Design
Science & Technology of Sustainable Power Generation
Materials in Engineering Design
Failure Analysis
Vehicle Stability
Computer-Aided Mechanism Design
Combustion & the Environment
Internal Combustion Engines & Future Alternatives
Introduction to Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Systems
Upper Division Composition Requirement
Choose one; a grade of C- or better is required:0-4
Advanced Composition
Advanced Composition
Advanced Composition
Writing in the Disciplines: Engineering
Writing in the Professions: Business Writing
Writing in the Professions: Business Writing
Writing in the Professions: Business Writing
Writing in the Professions: Science
Writing in the Professions: Technical Writing
Passing the Upper Division Composition Exam
Upper Division Required Courses Subtotal70-74
Total Units148-152
1

Students may also choose from EAE 130A, EAE 130B, EME 121, EME 139, EME 150B, EME 151, EME 154, EME 171, ENG 122 if these courses are not used in satisfaction of other degree requirements.