Page Content

ENGINEERING- MECHANICAL

College of Engineering and Computer Science

• COMPLETE COURSE LISTING
• BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
• MASTER OF SCIENCE
• CAREER POSSIBILITIES
• FACULTY
• CONTACT

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Mechanical Engineering involves the design of all types of machines and equipment including vehicles used in ground, air, and space transportation; machines for the conversion of fuels into energy; consumer products; robots; biomedical devices; the machines used to manufacture all of the above; and the climate control of buildings. Mechanical engineers bring together the fields of design graphics, manufacturing, engineering materials, thermodynamics and heat transfer, and the principles of mathematics and science to find solutions to human needs. They often work directly in the design and operation of food processing plants, power plants, manufacturing plants, refineries, and other industrial operations. A major goal of the curriculum is to provide the graduates with the analytical and practical skills needed to perform mechanical design in a variety of fields, thus taking advantage of the many employment opportunities.

The Mechanical Engineering Program includes courses on design, energy conversion, manufacturing, properties and selection of materials, and the application of computers to these topics. The curriculum maintains a balance among basic fundamentals, analytical methods, and design applications of current knowledge, preparing the graduates for both entry into the profession and a life-long career.

The employers of Mechanical Engineering graduates include aircraft and automobile companies, food processing companies, machinery and equipment companies, gas and electric utilities, architectural and engineering firms, and many agencies in federal, state, and local governments. Some graduates continue their education by completing advanced degrees in Engineering or Management.

Specializations

• MS: Design and Dynamic Systems; Manufacturing; Thermal and Fluid Systems

Special Features

• The Mechanical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (EAC/ABET), 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, (410) 347-7700. In keeping with its accreditation, the Mechanical Engineering program has strong engineering design content. In particular, the program includes a four-semester sequence on modern design and manufacturing methods.

• Faculty members have backgrounds in Mechanical, Aeronautical, Manufacturing, and Materials Science engineering. The faculty has a variety of research interests; the majority has industrial experience which contributes to the applied emphasis in the Mechanical Engineering program. Most of the faculty has doctorates; some are registered engineers.

• With most lecture classes having enrollments of 30 to 35, students can participate in meaningful discussions and a real exchange of ideas between students and faculty.

• Upper division students do cooperative work on team projects and often develop study groups in other courses.

• Courses taken in the freshman and sophomore years form a foundation for the upper division (Junior-Senior) program; e.g., the dynamics and strength of materials studied in the junior year depend on the sophomore statistic, calculus, and physics courses. Building on analytical and communications skills learned in the lower division, students take a four semester design-project sequence which includes the study of design methods, and the procedures for developing a design solution from concept through a fully-developed design and finally to production. The courses in mechanics, energy transformation, manufacturing, and materials support this sequence.

• Students can achieve a level of specialization through elective courses in computer analysis, heating, ventilating and air-conditioning, manufacturing methods, and systems and materials engineering.

Program Educational Objectives

The objectives of this program are to prepare graduates to:

• enter professional employment and/or graduate study in the following areas of mechanical engineering practice: machine design, thermal and fluid systems, materials, and manufacturing;
• identify, formulate, and solve practical problems, making use of appropriate computer technology;
• apply creativity in the design process, functioning cooperatively within multi-disciplinary teams;
• communicate effectively through speaking, writing, and graphics; and
• use their understanding of professional, ethical, and social responsibilities and the importance of life-long learning in the conduct of their professional careers.

Academic Policies and Procedures

Course Repeat Policy - Undergraduate engineering and mechanical engineering courses that are used to meet the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree requirements may be repeated only twice (for a total of three attempts). Grades of the second and third attempts will be averaged in grade point calculations.

Incomplete Grades - Incomplete grades are issued only in accordance with University policy. The student must be passing the course at the time an "Incomplete" is requested. An Incomplete Petition must be submitted to the Department with the student's and the course instructor's signature. The Incomplete Petition (obtained in the Department Office) must specify the work to be completed, the basis by which the student's final grade will be determined, and the last date for completion of the incomplete work. An incomplete grade that is not cleared by the set date will lapse to an "F" grade.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

Sequence of Study: Courses taken in the Freshman and Sophomore years, either at Sacramento State, or at a Community College or transfer college, directly contribute to the upper division (Junior-Senior) program. For example, upper division work in Computer-Aided Design (CAD) develops skills introduced in freshman graphics and CAD courses; upper division analytical courses depend on the freshman and sophomore statistic, calculus, and physics courses. Communication skills learned in the lower division are developed through the writing of memoranda and reports, and oral presentations.

Mechanical Engineering design involves far more than solving the types of problems found in chemistry, physics, and calculus courses; design work involves a large measure of intuitive and creative work. The principles of mathematics and science are extremely useful when developing a detailed design solution but contribute little to the critical issues of correctly defining the problem, listing needed concepts, and locating and organizing needed information. In addition, the design cannot violate fundamental physical laws and must be built from real materials using real manufacturing methods at a reasonable cost while satisfying safety and environmental factors.

The work in the four semester design-project sequence and other courses addresses these issues by including the study of design methods, procedures for developing a design solution from concept through a fully-developed design, and construction of a prototype. The courses in mechanics, thermodynamics, manufacturing, and materials, complement the design sequence. The design work includes a mixture of problem and project work in individual courses; some of the course-level projects are team projects to help the student develop the ability to efficiently and effectively work with other engineers making decisions, use the abilities of different people, and distribute the work of large projects. The second and third design sequence, and other courses include classical and computer aided design analysis techniques. The work in the two-semester, capstone, senior project sequence involves team effort on a significant design problem. Students interested in furthering their skills in analysis, including finite element analysis, and dynamic modeling of systems, can choose from a number of elective courses which rely heavily on computer methods.

Advising: Each student has a faculty advisor who meets with him/her at least once a semester to discuss academic progress, plan the following semester, explain University requirements, and answer questions about the Mechanical Engineering program.

Requirements - Bachelor of Science Degree

Units required for Pre-Major: 64
Units required for Major: 65
Minimum total units required for the BS: 129
A grade of "C-" or better is required in all courses applied to a Mechanical Engineering major.
Additional units may be required to meet the Sacramento State foreign language requirement.

Courses in parentheses are prerequisites.

A. Required Lower Division Courses (Pre-Major)

Lower division requirements are essentially common for Civil, Electrical and Electronic, and Mechanical Engineering.

First Semester Freshman Year (15 units)

(5)	CHEM 1A*	General Chemistry I (High school chemistry and college algebra; sufficient performance on the college algebra diagnostic test, or equivalent)
(3)	ENGR 6	Engineering Graphics and CADD--Computer Aided Drafting and Design
(4)	MATH 30*	Calculus I (MATH 29 or four years of high school mathematics which includes two years of algebra, one year of geometry, and one year of mathematical analysis; completion of ELM requirement and Pre-Calculus Diagnostic Test)
(3)	General Education course

Second Semester Freshman Year (17 units)

(4)	MATH 31*	Calculus II (MATH 30 or appropriate high school based AP credit)
(3)	ME 37	Manufacturing Processes
(4)	PHYS 11A*	General Physics: Mechanics (MATH 30, MATH 31; or equivalent certificated high school courses. MATH 31 may be taken concurrently)
(3)	General Education course
(3)	General Education course

First Semester Sophomore Year (17 units)

(3)	ENGL 20	College Composition II (ENGL 1A or ENGL 2 or equivalent with a C- or better; sophomore standing [must have completed 30 units prior to registration])
(3)	ENGR 45	Engineering Materials (CHEM 1A and MATH 30)
(4)	MATH 32	Calculus III (MATH 31)
(4)	PHYS 11C*	General Physics: Electricity and Magnetism, Modern Physics (MATH 31, PHYS 11A)
(3)	General Education course

Second Semester Sophomore Year (15 units)

(3)	ENGR 17	Introductory Circuit Analysis (PHYS 11C, MATH 45; either the math or physics may be taken concurrently, but not both)
(3)	ENGR 30	Analytic Mechanics: Statistic (PHYS 11A, MATH 31 and CE 4 or ENGR 6)
(3)	MATH 45	Differential Equations for Science and Engineering (MATH 31)
(3)	General Education course
(3)	General Education course

*Course may also satisfy General Education requirements. A second year foreign language course may also satisfy 3 units of GE when the course is being taken to comply with the Sacramento State foreign language requirement. Students should consult with an advisor for exact GE eligibility of these courses.

Note: Courses are listed in a recommended sequence, and may be interchanged among semesters to accommodate the student's schedule, as long as prerequisites are met.

B. Required Upper Division Courses (Major)

Students are allowed to enroll in upper division Engineering or Mechanical Engineering courses with the Department's approval. Pre-Major students must complete a Change of Major form and submit it to the Mechanical Engineering Department Office during the application filing period.

First Semester Junior Year (17 units)

(3)	ENGR 110	Analytic Mechanics - Dynamics (ENGR 30, MATH 32, MATH 45)
(3)	ENGR 112	Mechanics of Materials (ENGR 30, ENGR 45, MATH 45)
(3)	ENGR 124	Thermodynamics (CHEM 1A, MATH 32, PHYS 11A)
(2)	ME 116	Machinery Design I (ENGR 6, ENGR 112 and, ME 37; ENGR 112 may be taken concurrently)
(3)	ME 105	Introduction to Technical Problem Solving (ENGR 17 and ENGR 30)
(3)	General Education course

Second Semester Junior Year (16 units)

(3)	ENGR 132	Fluid Mechanics (ENGR 110)
(2)	ME 108	Professional Topics for Mechanical Engineers (MATH 31)
(2)	ME 117	Machinery Design II (ME 116)
(3)	ME 138	Concurrent Product and Process Design (ME 37 and ME 116)
(3)	ME 171	Modeling and Simulation of Mechatronics and Control Systems (ENGR 110, ME 105)
(3)	ME 180	Mechanical Properties of Materials (ENGR 112)

First Semester Senior Year (18 units)

(3)	ME 126	Heat Transfer (ENGR 124 and ENGR 132)
(3)	ME 128	Thermal-Fluid Systems (ENGR 124)
(3)	ME 172	Control System Design (ME 171)
(3)	ME 190*	Project Engineering I (ME 117; GWAR certification before Fall 09, or WPJ score of 80+, or 3-unit placement in ENGL 109 M/W, or 4-unit placement in ENGL 109 M/W and co-enrollment in ENGL 109X or WPJ score 70/71 and ENGL 109X)
(3)	General Education course
(3)	General Education course

Second Semester Senior Year (14 units)

(2)	ME 191*	Project Engineering II (ME 190)
(3)	ME elective
(3)	ME elective
(3)	General Education course
(3)	General Education course

*Course may also satisfy General Education requirements.

C. Mechanical Engineering Electives

	ME 136	Numerical Control Programming (ME 37 and ME 105; ME 105 may be taken concurrently)
	ME 137	Product Design for Manufacturing and Automation (ME 117)
	ME 143	Vehicle Dynamics and Design (ENGR 110, ME 117)
	ME 151	Fundamentals of Combustion
	ME 152	Turbomachinery Design (ME 105)
	ME 153	Thermodynamics of Combustion Engines (ENGR 124, ENGR 132, ME 105)
	ME 155	Gas Dynamics (ME 105)
	ME 156	Heating and Air Conditioning Systems (ENGR 124, ENGR 132)
	ME 157	Solar Energy Engineering (ME 126; may be taken concurrently)
	ME 159	High Efficiency HVAC (ME 156 or instructor permission)
	ME 165	Introduction to Robotics (ME 114, ME 115)
	ME 173	Applications of Finite Element Analysis (ENGR 112, ME 105)
	ME 176	Product Design and Pro/Engineer (ENGR 6, ME 105, ME 116)
	ME 182	Introduction to Composite Materials (ME 180)
	ME 184	Corrosion and Wear (ME 180)
	ME 186	Fracture Mechanics in Engineering Design (ME 180)
OR upper division courses in Engineering, Mathematics, and Science may be selected with prior approval by the student's advisor.

Note: Elective courses are offered on a four semester rotation. The Mechanical Engineering Department Office maintains a listing showing when particular courses will be offered.

COOPERATIVE EDUCATION (Pre-work Experience)

The Department of Mechanical Engineering encourages students to participate in the Cooperative Education Program, which provides alternate periods of university study and major-related, off-campus, paid employment in industry. Most students who elect to participate in cooperative education will complete the equivalent of two 6-month work periods before graduation. Students interested in the Cooperative Education Program should apply in the satellite office in Riverside Hall 2004, or the main office in Lassen Hall 2008. For information, call (916) 278-7234.

GRADUATE PROGRAM

The Master of Science program in Mechanical Engineering prepares students for leadership in the practice of Mechanical Engineering. The program includes the study of scientific and technical principles underlying modern engineering practice and advanced mathematical techniques needed for their application in research and design.

Specializations

Three areas are offered as specializations: Design and Dynamic Systems; Manufacturing; and Thermal and Fluids Systems. In each area there are specific course requirements to be met; all three specializations encompass Engineering Design.

Elective courses allow for the development of each student’s particular interests. An individual’s applied research or design study, presented in a Master's thesis or project, complements the formal class work and completes the program.

Admission Requirements

Admission as a classified graduate student in Mechanical Engineering requires:

• a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or Computer Science;
• a minimum GPA of 3.0 in upper division engineering courses; and
• (for foreign students only) a TOEFL score of 550.

Applicants who do not meet the three admission requirements listed above because they have a Baccalaureate degree in a field other than Engineering or Computer Science, and/or because their GPA is below 3.0 but above 2.5 in the last 60 units of undergraduate work, may be admitted with conditionally classified status. Any deficiencies will be noted in a written response to the applicant.

If a student lacks some of the undergraduate courses needed for successful completion of the graduate program, such prerequisite courses must be taken before the student can be fully accepted to the program.

Admission Procedures

Applications are accepted as long as space for new students exists. All prospective graduate students, including Sacramento State graduates, must file the following with the Office of Graduate Studies, River Front Center 206, (916) 278-6470:

• an online application for admission;
• two sets of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended other than Sacramento State; and
• (for foreign students only) TOEFL scores.

For more admissions information and application deadlines, please visit http://csus.edu/gradstudies/.

Approximately six weeks after receipt of all items listed above, a decision regarding admission will be mailed.

Advancement to Candidacy

Each student must file an application for Advancement to Candidacy, indicating a proposed program of graduate study. This procedure should begin as soon as the classified graduate student has:

• removed any deficiencies in admission requirements;
• completed at least 12 units in the graduate program with a minimum 3.0 GPA, including at least 9 units at the 200 level;
• obtained approval of a thesis/project topic using the Department of Mechanical Engineering Master's Thesis/Project Approval Form; and
• taken the Writing Placement for Graduate Students (WPG) or taken a Graduate Writing Intensive (GWI) course in their discipline within the first two semesters of coursework at California State University, Sacramento or secured approval for a WPG waiver.

Advancement to Candidacy forms are available in the Office of Graduate Studies. The student fills out the form after planning a degree program in consultation with a faculty advisor. After approval by the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Coordinator, the form is then returned to the Office of Graduate Studies for approval.

Requirements - Master of Science Degree

Units required for MS: 30
Minimum required GPA: 3.0

A minimum semester and cumlative grade point average of 3.0 for all graded work is required for master's degree students. Up to six units of grade "C" or better may be credited toward fulfillment of the requirements for the master's degree. All other graded units must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. Grades of "C-", "D", "F", "WU", "I", "W" and "NC" may not be used to fulfill any MS degree requirements.

A. Required Core Courses (8 units)

(3)	ENGR 201	Engineering Analysis I (MATH 45)
(3)	ENGR 202	Engineering Analysis II (MATH 45) OR
	ME 206	Stochastic Modeling for Engineers (MATH 45 or equivalent)
(2)	ME 209	Research Methodology (Graduate status in Mechanical Engineering)

B. Additional Requirements for Specializations (9 units)

Select at least three courses from one of the three following areas of study:

Design and Dynamic Systems
This area focuses on the design of products and on the manufacturing systems needed for their production. Classical and computer-aided techniques are studied to provide

	ME 240	Mechanical Design Analysis (ENGR 201; ENGR 201 may be taken concurrently)
	ME 241	Optimum Mechanical Design (ENGR 201; ENGR 201 may be taken concurrently)
	ME 270	Advanced Computer-Aided Design of Dynamic Systems (ME 114 or ME 171)
	ME 272	Finite Element Modeling in Computer-Aided Design (ME 105, ME 173)
	ME 276	Advanced Vibration Theory (ME 114, ME 171, or CE 166)

a strong background in mechanical design theory and practice. Industrial software tools are used to perform finite-element modeling, dynamic system analysis, and optimum design.

Manufacturing

This area includes the use of mathematical methods as well as current computer techniques to solve problems encountered in planning, designing, and/or controlling manufacturing systems. Study of the techniques for product design and Manufacturing, Neural Networks, Artificial Intelligence, and Industrial Management is conducted.

	ME 233	Intelligent Product Design and Manufacturing (ME 105, ME 138)
	ME 236	Computer Controlled Manufacturing Processes (ME 105, ME 138)
	ME 237	Digital Control of Manufacturing Processes (ME 105, ME 138, MATH 45)
	ME 238	Automated Inspection (ME 105, ME 138)

Thermal and Fluid Systems

This area concentrates on the principles of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics as applied to such products as heat exchangers, internal combustion engines, gas turbines, and solar energy systems. Courses make use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and finite element analysis (FEA) software tools to explore the behavior of a variety of thermal energy conversion systems and components. In this area of interest, innovative system design is becoming more important as progress is made toward increasing the efficiency of thermal systems while reducing the adverse effects on the environment.

	ME 250	Heat Transfer: Conduction (ME 126, ENGR 202; ENGR 202 may be taken concurrently)
	ME 251	Heat Transfer: Convection (ME 126, ENGR 201; ENGR 201 may be taken concurrently)
	ME 252	Heat Transfer: Radiation (ME 126, ENGR 202)
	ME 253	Advanced Fluid Mechanics (ENGR 132, graduate status)
	ME 256	Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Compressible Flow (ENGR 201 or ENGR 202; ENGR 201 or ENGR 202 may be taken concurrently)
	ME 258	Advanced Thermodynamics (ENGR 202)
	ME 259	Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics (ENGR 132, ME 105 and ME 126)

C. Electives (7-9 units)

Selected in consultation with advisor. May include two undergraduate courses.

D. Culminating Requirement (4-6 units)

Master's Thesis (4-6 units) program consists of the following minimum requirements:

	Core courses	(8 units)
	Specialty Area	(9 units)
	Electives	(7-9 units)
	ME 500	(4-6 units)
	Thesis Defense/Presentation: The Thesis must be orally presented and defended, approved by the student's Thesis Committee and approved by the ME Graduate Coordinator or the Department Chair prior to submittal of the thesis to the Office of Graduate Studies.

Note

• The student cannot register for the culminating experience (ME 500), until he/she has taken the Writing Placement for Graduate Students (WPG) or taken a Graduate Writing Intensive (GWI) course in their discipline within the first two semesters of coursework at California State University, Sacramento or secured approval for a WPG waiver, and has been advanced to candidacy. Prior to registering for ME 500, the student must submit a proposed topic form to the Department Office. In subsequent semesters, students will enroll in ME 299, after qualifications for enrollment have been verified. As soon as possible after the student has registered for ME 500, it is expected that the student will select a committee appropriate to the chosen plan of study.
• The Thesis Committee consists of the student's Thesis Advisor, who is the Chairperson of the Thesis Committee, and two other faculty members.
• Advising: The Department of Mechanical Engineering has a Graduate Coordinator who is the liaison between each graduate student and the Office of Graduate Studies. After Advancing to Candidacy (see above), the student proceeds with research for the thesis. Guidance of this phase of study is done by a faculty member with expertise in the particular thesis topic.

Career Possibilities

Aeronautical Engineer · Automotive Engineer · Design Engineer · Development Engineer · Energy Management Engineering Manager · Environmental Engineer · Food Processing Machine Designer · Manufacturing Engineer · Plant Engineer · Project Engineer · Research Engineer · Technical Sales Engineer

COMPLETE COURSE LISTING | RETURN TO TOP |