Undergraduate program
The BSME curriculum at Portland State University is distinguished by its emphasis on the design process culminating in the Capstone project in the Senior year. The curriculum allows specialization in fluid systems, mechanical systems, thermal systems, and machine design.
The mechanical engineering curriculum is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012 - telephone: (410) 347-7700. This national organization sets standards for engineering education defined in terms of curricular content, quality of faculty, and adequacy of facilities.
The mechanical engineering department is engaged in a continuous program improvement process in which the educational needs of our students have the utmost importance. The goal of the department is to ensure that all of our graduates receive a balanced education that makes them highly desirable to employers.
Mechanical Engineering B.S.
Majors in mechanical engineering must complete the following University and departmental degree requirements. Any deviation from the required courses, including engineering and mathematics course substitutions, must be approved in writing by the chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Requirements
Freshman year
ME 120 | An Introduction to Engineering | 3 |
ME 121 | Introduction to Systems and Control | 3 |
ME 122 | Introduction to Design | 3 |
Ch 221 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
Ch 222 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
Ch 227 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
Ch 228 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
Mth 251 | Calculus I | 4 |
Mth 252 | Calculus II | 4 |
Mth 261 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 4 |
| Freshman Inquiry | 15 |
Total Credit Hours: | 46 |
Sophomore year
EAS 211 | Statics | 4 |
EAS 212 | Strength of Materials | 4 |
EAS 215 | Dynamics | 4 |
ME 213 | Properties of Materials | 4 |
ME 241 | Manufacturing Processes | 4 |
ECE 241 | Introduction to Electrical Engineering | 4 |
Mth 254 | Calculus IV | 4 |
Mth 256 | Applied Differential Equations I | 4 |
Ph 221 | General Physics (with Calculus) | 3 |
Ph 222 | General Physics (with Calculus) | 3 |
Ph 223 | General Physics (with Calculus) | 3 |
Ph 214 | Lab for Ph 201 or Ph 211 or Ph 221 | 1 |
Ph 215 | Lab for Ph 202 or Ph 212 or Ph 222 | 1 |
Ph 216 | Lab for Ph 203 or Ph 213 or Ph 223 | 1 |
| Sophomore Inquiry | 12 |
Total Credit Hours: | 57 |
Junior year
ME 313 | Analysis of Mechanical Components | 4 |
ME 314 | Analysis and Design of Machine Elements | 4 |
ME 320 | Fluid Mechanics | 4 |
ME 320L | Fluid Mechanics Lab | 0 |
ME 321 | Engineering Thermodynamics I | 4 |
ME 322 | Applied Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics | 4 |
ME 323 | Heat Transfer | 4 |
ME 350 | Programming and Numerical Methods | 2 |
ME 351 | Vibrations and System Dynamics | 4 |
ME 370 | Mechanical Engineering Profession | 2 |
Stat 451 | Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists I | 4 |
Wr 327 | Technical Report Writing | 4 |
Ec 314U | Private and Public Investment Analysis | 4 |
Total Credit Hours: | 47 |
Senior year
ME 411 | Engineering Measurement and Instrumentation Systems | 4 |
ME 411L | Engineering Measurement and Instrumentation Systems Lab | 0 |
ME 488 | Design of Experiments | 2 |
ME 491 | Design Process | 2 |
ME 492 | Conceptual Design Project | 4 |
ME 493 | Detailed Design Project | 4 |
| Approved mechanical engineering electives | 16 |
Total Credit Hours: | 32 |
Approved mechanical engineering electives.
The total may include any regular upper-division mechanical engineering course, except that no more than 4 credits be taken from:
MECOP students are allowed 2 credits of ME 407.