Program Description

Mechanical engineers apply hands-on physics to model, analyze, and design mechanical and energy systems such as automobiles, aircraft, ships, heating and cooling systems, prosthetics, robots, household appliances, or industrial equipment and machinery. In this major, you’ll learn to think critically and solve quandaries through multiple, extended hands-on projects.

The BS in Mechanical Engineering degree is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Entering and Completing the Major

In order to earn a degree, you must complete at least one academic major. SPU encourages students to explore various academic paths, so if you change your mind about a major, or want to include an additional program, you are able to do so, as outlined below.

Note that the University encourages you to enter your chosen major(s) as soon as you have determined it and are eligible to join it, especially by the start of your junior year. Students who transfer as juniors and seniors should enter a major within their first two quarters at SPU.

• If this is your first quarter at SPU and you identified a major in this department as your first choice on your application for admission to the University, you have gained entry to the major. To change or add a major, follow these instructions.
• If you are an SPU student with an SPU cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better, follow these instructions to enter a major in this department.
• The University requires a grade of C- or better in all classes that apply to a major; however, programs may require higher minimum grades in specific courses. You may repeat an SPU course only once for a higher grade.
• To advance in this program, meet with your faculty advisor regularly to discuss your grades, course progression, and other indicators of satisfactory academic progress. If your grades or other factors indicate that you may not be able to successfully complete the major or minor, your faculty advisor can work with you to explore options, which may include choosing a different major.
• You must complete the major requirements that are in effect in the SPU Undergraduate Catalog for the year you enter the major.

Mechanical Engineering (BS)

124 Credits Minimum, Including 45 Upper Division (UD)

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Engineering Requirements
CSC 2230	Computer Programming for Engineers	5
EE 2726	Electric Circuits I	5
EGR 1501	Computer Aided Design Applications for Engineers	1
EGR 1502	Machining and Fabricating	1
EGR 1503	Engineering Tools and Systems	1
EGR 3311	Experimental Methods I	3
EGR 3810	General Engineering Design	5
EGR 4811	Engineering Senior Design I	3
EGR 4812	Engineering Senior Design II	3
EGR 4899	Engineering Capstone and Senior Design	3
EGR 4941	Engineering Professional Experience 1	1
GS 3001	Internship and Job Search Strategies	1
ME 2891	Statics	4
ME 3300	Properties of Materials	3
ME 3310	Mechanics of Materials	4
ME 3400	Dynamics	5
ME 3430	System Dynamics	5
ME 3500	Thermal Science I: Thermodynamics	5
ME 3501	Thermal Science II: Fluid Mechanics	5
ME 3502	Thermal Science III: Heat Transfer	5
ME 4410	Mechanical Design	4
Section Credits Required		72
Mathematics Requirements
MAT 1234	Calculus I	5
MAT 1235	Calculus II	5
MAT 1236	Calculus III	5
MAT/EGR 2200	Engineering Probability and Statistics	3
MAT 2401	Linear Algebra	3
MAT 3237	Differential Equations	3
MAT 3238	Vector Calculus	3
Section Credits Required		27
Science Requirements
CHM 1211	General Chemistry I	5
or CHM 1310	Survey of General Chemistry
PHY 1121	Physics for Science and Engineering	5
PHY 1122	Physics for Science and Engineering	5
PHY 1123	Physics for Science and Engineering	5
Section Credits Required		20
Technical Electives
Select 5 credits of the following:		5
EE 3500	Power Systems Fundamentals
EGR 3250	Introduction to Robotics
EGR 3611	Appropriate and Sustainable Engineering I: Alternative Energy Systems
EGR 4450	Control Systems Design
EGR 4950	Special Topics: General Engineering
Section Credits Required		5
Total Credits		124

¹

An approved tech internship or professional experience must be completed before passing EGR 4941.

Suggested Course Sequences

Four Year Plan Starting with Calculus

Plan of Study Grid

Freshman
Variable		Credits
Take one of each per quarter		15
WRI 1000 & WRI 1100	Academic Inquiry and Writing Seminar and Disciplinary Research and Writing Seminar
UFDN 1000	The Christian Faith
	Credits	15
Autumn
EGR 1502	Machining and Fabricating 1	1
MAT 1234	Calculus I	5
PHY 1121	Physics for Science and Engineering	5
UCOL 1000	University Colloquium 2	1
	Credits	12
Winter
EGR 1501	Computer Aided Design Applications for Engineers	1
MAT 1235	Calculus II	5
PHY 1122	Physics for Science and Engineering	5
	Credits	11
Spring
EGR 1503	Engineering Tools and Systems	1
MAT 1236	Calculus III	5
PHY 1123	Physics for Science and Engineering	5
	Credits	11
Sophomore
Variable
Common Curriculum and Exploratory Curriculum
GS 3001	Internship and Job Search Strategies 3	1
	Credits	1
Autumn
ME 2891	Statics	4
EE 2726	Electric Circuits I	5
MAT 3238	Vector Calculus	3
CSC 2230	Computer Programming for Engineers	5
	Credits	17
Winter
MAT 3237	Differential Equations	3
ME 3310	Mechanics of Materials	4
ME 3400	Dynamics	5
CHM 1211 or CHM 1310	General Chemistry I or Survey of General Chemistry	5
	Credits	17
Spring
MAT 2200	Engineering Probability and Statistics	3
MAT 2401	Linear Algebra	3
ME 4410	Mechanical Design 7	4
	Credits	10
Junior
Variable
Common Curriculum and Exploratory Curriculum as needed
Tech Electives 4		0-5
	Credits	0-5
Autumn
ME 3430	System Dynamics 5	5
PHY 3311	Experimental Methods I	3
GS 3001	Internship and Job Search Strategies 6	1
ME 3500	Thermal Science I: Thermodynamics	5
	Credits	14
Winter
ME 3501	Thermal Science II: Fluid Mechanics	5
ME 3300	Properties of Materials 5	3
	Credits	8
Spring
ME 3502	Thermal Science III: Heat Transfer	5
EGR 3810	General Engineering Design	5
ME 4410	Mechanical Design 6, 7	4
	Credits	14
Senior
Variable
Tech Electives 4		0-5
Common Curriculum and Exploratory Curriculum as needed
	Credits	0-5
Autumn
ME 3430	System Dynamics 5,6	5
EGR 4811	Engineering Senior Design I	3
EGR 4941	Engineering Professional Experience 8	1
	Credits	9
Winter
EGR 4812	Engineering Senior Design II	3
ME 3300	Properties of Materials 5, 6	3
	Credits	6
Spring
EGR 4899	Engineering Capstone and Senior Design	3
	Credits	3
	Total Credits	148-158

¹

Can be taken later in the year.

²

Engineering majors should take a UCOL taught by an engineering faculty member, if one is available.

³

Or Fall of junior year.

⁴

These credits can spread over junior and senior year. See link at the bottom of this page for a list.

⁵

ME 3430 System Dynamics and ME 3300 Properties of Materials are offered alternate years.

⁶

If not already completed.

⁷

ME 4410 can be taken in the Spring of the sophomore year or the junior year.

⁸

Must be taken AFTER completing or WHILE pursuing an approved internship or an approved certification. 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Tech Elective
Select tech elective(s). See bottom of page for link to the list.		5
Common Curriculum
UCOR 2000	The Emergence of the Modern Global Systems	5
UFDN 2000	Christian Scripture	5
UCOR 3000	Faith, Philosophy, and Science	5
UFDN 3100	Christian Theology	5
Exploratory Curriculum
with DTA or AA see Advisor
Ways of Knowing in the Arts		20
Cultural Understanding and Engagement
Ways of Knowing in the Social Sciences
Ways of Engaging
Ways of Knowing in the Humanities

Four Year Plan Starting with Algebra or Trigonometry

Four Year Plan with Study Abroad

Two Year Plan for Transfer Students with or without a DTA 

¹

May be taken the first or second year.

²

See the Requirements tab for a complete list of technical electives. Pay attention to pre-reqs. Spread between first and second year. See link at the bottom of this page for a list.

³

Spread between first and second year.

⁴

Offered alt years. May be taken in year 2.

⁵

If not already completed.

⁶

Must be taken AFTER completing or WHILE pursuing an approved internship or an approved certification. 

⁷

If not already completed. Offered alt years.

Prerequisites for the Two Year Plan

The following courses must be completed before coming to SPU in order to finish at SPU in two years.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Calculus Equivalent to SPU's
MAT 1234	Calculus I
MAT 1235	Calculus II
MAT 1236	Calculus III
Additional Math Equivalents to SPU's
MAT 2401	Linear Algebra
MAT 3237	Differential Equations
MAT 3238	Vector Calculus
Physics Equivalent to SPU's
PHY 1121	Physics for Science and Engineering
PHY 1122	Physics for Science and Engineering
PHY 1123	Physics for Science and Engineering
Chemistry Equivalent to SPU's
CHM 1310	Survey of General Chemistry (or a similar class)
or CHM 1211	General Chemistry I
Engineering Courses Equivalent to SPU's
EGR 1501	Computer Aided Design Applications for Engineers
ME 2891	Statics
ME 3310	Mechanics of Materials
ME 3400	Dynamics
A Programming Course Equiivalent to SPU's
CSC 2230	Computer Programming for Engineers
or CSC 1230	Problem Solving and Programming
A Circuits I Class with Lab		0-5

Technical Electives List

See the Requirements tab for a complete list of technical electives.