The Mechanical Engineering Program Educational Objectives are to prepare our graduates to make a positive impact on society by being successful in:

• careers as mechanical engineers

• graduate studies

• professional careers of their choice outside of mechanical engineering

The curriculum is structured so that most of the required courses in mathematics and the basic sciences (physics and chemistry) are completed during the first two years. In addition, two four-unit courses, an Introduction to Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Graphics & Design are offered in the first year. These classes focus on basic engineering concepts and computational engineering tools required for mechanical engineers. 

Several ME courses, including laboratory courses, incorporate design. Design addresses real-world problems whose solution requires creativity and consideration of alternatives to achieve stated objectives. The design component can occupy a significant fraction of course time and is usually conducted in teams. The culmination of the students' design experience is a three-quarter capstone design course, in which students draw upon various aspects of their previous engineering science and design knowledge to address a meaningful design problem.