Mechanical Engineering - Bachelor of Science 2024-25 Degree Map

Degree Maps & Advising


Degree maps show just one possible course plan for how to earn a degree in four years. To graduate in four years, you need an average of 45 credits per year to reach 180 total credits, including 62 upper division (300/400 level courses) credits. You may need to take electives (courses that are not used to meet specific requirements) to reach those totals. Most courses at PSU are 4 credits each. Talk with your advisor regularly to develop a personalized plan that works best for you, especially if you have any earned transferrable academic credit.

Bulletin or Catalog Year


This guide outlines the requirements in the 2024-25 Bulletin. Bulletin or Catalog year defines the specific set of requirements you need to complete a degree. Requirements occasionally change, so it may benefit you to follow a different catalog. Typically, your catalog year is the year you began at PSU, but if you are a transfer student you may be able to use an earlier catalog. Review PSU's course catalog policy and talk with your advisor about which catalog requirements make sense for you. 

 

DARS System  


Students are highly encouraged to run their own Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS) report in myPSU to track their progress through their program. You'll need to know which catalog year you'd like to use for your audit request. Students are also encouraged to contact an advisor if they have any questions about their DARS, catalog/bulletin year, or degree requirements in general. DARS audits are advising tools and are not an official record of earning a degree, major, minor, or certificate. You must apply to have a degree or certificate awarded.

View the BS-ME 4 Year Degree Map

View the BS-ME-MECOP (Multiple Engineering Cooperative Program) Degree Map

View the BS-ME Part-Time Upper Division Degree Map


BS-ME 4 Year Degree Map

In an effort to accommodate the growing enrollment to the upper-division BSME program, students are placed on course plans for their Junior/Third year. Students are required to follow their assigned course plan, to ensure enough seats in the required ME courses. All students will be completing the same Junior/Third year coursework, just in a different sequence, to maintain a healthy student to faculty ratio. Students are encouraged to scheduled an advising appointment if they have questions or concerns regarding their assigned course plan: Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Advising

 

First Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
First Year Inquiry5First Year Inquiry5First Year Inquiry5
MTH 2514MTH 2524MTH 2614
CH 2214CH 2224ME 1223
CH 2271CH 2281Science Elective4
ME 1203ME 1213  
Total Fall Credits17Total Winter Credits17Total Spring Credits16

Second Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter Courses Winter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry4Sophomore Inquiry4PH 2134
MTH 2544MTH 2564PH 2161
PH 2114PH 2124EAS 2154
PH 2141PH 2151ECE 241/241L4
EAS 2114EAS 2124  
Total Fall Credits17Total Winter Credits17Total Spring Credits13

Second Year Milestone: Apply for admission to Mechanical Engineering major by April 15th for the following Fall term.

Third Year: 'ME 313 First' Course Plan

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
ME 213/213L4ME 240/240L2ME 3224
ME 2502ME 3144ME 3234
ME 3134ME 320/320L4WR 3274
ME 3214ME 3514BA 306U or EC 314U4
ME 3502    
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits14Total Spring Credits16

Third Year: 'ME 320 First' Course Plan

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
ME 213/213L4ME 3134ME 240/240L2
ME 320/320L4ME 3224ME 2502
ME 3214ME 3234ME 3144
WR 3274ME 3502ME 3514
    BA 306U or EC 314U4
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits14Total Spring Credits16

Third Year Milestone: Students will be assigned a course plan at the time of admission to the BSME program.

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
ME 491(Capstone)4ME 492(Capstone)4ME 493(Capstone)4
ME 4884ME 411/411L4Approved ME Elective4
Approved ME Elective4Approved ME Elective4Upper Division Cluster4
Approved ME Elective4Upper Division Cluster4  
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits12

BS-ME-MECOP (Multiple Engineering Cooperative Program) Degree Map

Below is the suggested three-year MECOP Course Plan. To be eligible for MECOP selection you need to have Junior standing and be eligible to apply to the BSME program for fall term of MECOP Year 1. To remain a MECOP selectee, you must be admitted to the BSME program and complete any admission conditions prior to fall.

First Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
First Year Inquiry5First Year Inquiry5First Year Inquiry5
MTH 2514MTH 2524MTH 2614
CH 2214CH 2224ME 1223
CH 2271CH 2281Science Elective4
ME 1203ME 1213  
Total Fall Credits17Total Winter Credits17Total Spring Credits16

Second Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter Courses Winter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry4Sophomore Inquiry4PH 2134
MTH 2544MTH 2564PH 2161
PH 2114PH 2124EAS 2154
PH 2141PH 2151ECE 241/241L4
EAS 2114EAS 2124  
Total Fall Credits17Total Winter Credits17Total Spring Credits13

Second Year Milestone: Apply for admission to Mechanical Engineering major by April 15th for the following Fall term.

Third Year: MECOP Year 1

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring And Summer Terms
ME 213/213L4ME 240/240L2MECOP Internship 1 - 6 months
ME 2502ME 3144 
ME 3134ME 3514 
ME 3502WR 3274 
Total Fall Credits12Total Winter Credits14 

Third Year Milestone: Students will be assigned a course plan at the time of admission to the BSME program.

Fourth Year: MECOP Year 2

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring and Summer Terms
ME 320/320l4ME 3224MECOP Internship 2 - 6 months
ME 3214ME 3234 
BA 306U or EC 314U4ME 411/411L4 
Total Fall Credits12Total Winter Credits12 

Fifth Year: MECOP Year 3

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
ME 491(Capstone)4ME 492(Capstone)4ME 493(Capstone)4
ME 4884ME 411/411L4Approved ME Elective4
Approved ME Elective4Approved ME Elective4Upper Division Cluster4
Approved ME Elective4Upper Division Cluster4  
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits12

BS-ME Part-Time Upper Division Degree Map

Below is a modified three-year upper division course plan. This course plan is for students formally admitted into the upper division BMSE program.

First Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
First Year Inquiry5First Year Inquiry5First Year Inquiry5
MTH 2514MTH 2524MTH 2614
CH 2214CH 2224ME 1223
CH 2271CH 2281Science Elective4
ME 1203ME 1213  
Total Fall Credits17Total Winter Credits17Total Spring Credits16

Second Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter Courses Winter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry4Sophomore Inquiry4PH 2134
MTH 2544MTH 2564PH 2161
PH 2114PH 2124EAS 2154
PH 2141PH 2151ECE 241/241L4
EAS 2114EAS 2124  
Total Fall Credits17Total Winter Credits17Total Spring Credits13

Second Year Milestone: Apply for admission to Mechanical Engineering major by April 15th for the following Fall term.

Junior Year 1

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
ME 213/213L4ME 240/240L2WR 3274
ME 2502ME 3144BA 306U or EC 314U4
ME 3134ME 3514  
ME 3504    
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits10Total Spring Credits8

Third Year: 'ME 320 First' Course Plan

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
ME 320/320L4ME 3224ME 3234
ME 3214ME 411/411L4Approved ME Elective4
BA 306U or EC 314U4  Upper Division Cluster4
Total Fall Credits12Total Winter Credits8Total Spring Credits12

Third Year Milestone: Students will be assigned a course plan at the time of admission to the BSME program.

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
ME 491(Capstone)4ME 492(Capstone)4ME 493(Capstone)4
ME 4884Approved ME Elective4Approved ME Elective4
Approved ME Elective4    
Total Fall Credits12Total Winter Credits8Total Spring Credits8

Additional Map Notes:

  • Science Elective: Any course from Biology, Environmental Science & Management, Chemistry, Geology or Physics not explicitly listed as a degree requirement or Upper Division Cluster course (CH 104-106, PH 201-203, PH 221-223 are also excluded).
  • Sophomore Inquiry: At least one of the following - UNST 220, UNST 222 (preferred), UNST 239.
  • BA 306U or EC 314U: EC314U/BA 306U is a major requirement. To satisfy the PSU's General Education requirement the other upper division cluster courses must both be from one of these clusters: Design/Thinking; Community Studies; or Knowledge, Values, Rationality. Starting in the 2022-2023 catalog year, all PSU students (including transfers) must fulfill the Race & Ethnic Studies Requirement (RESR). The upper division cluster courses can also be used to meet this requirement but requires careful planning.  You are strongly encouraged to discuss with your advisor how best to meet these requirements to avoid needing extra courses. 
  • Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement: Two courses required, each minimum 3 credits: one course must focus on the U.S. experience; the second course must center the experiences of groups under European and U.S. colonialism and imperialism beyond the United States. One must be within the School of Gender, Race and Nations or be cross-listed with one of the SGRN units: Black Studies (BST), Chicanx/Latinx Studies (CHLA), Indigenous Nations Studies (NAS), or Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WS). If you choose a RESR course that can be applied towards another requirement, take an elective here instead.
  • ME 491(Capstone), ME 492(Capstone), and ME 493(Capstone): Capstone Projects: The senior capstone sequence (ME 491, ME 492 and ME 493) is the culminating experience for students in the BSME Program. Students teams work with industry partners to bring a design concept to life. Starting in the fall term, students begin exploring the design process. In winter term, capstone projects are presented to the class and students form their capstone teams. Capstone teams spend the term putting the design process into practice while ensuring they are meeting the needs of the capstone sponsor. Spring term is time for students to roll up their sleeves and build the prototypes. In the capstone course sequence, students learn about the design process, identifying and interviewing customers, developing the product design specifications, developing engineering specifications, performing benchmarking and setting performance targets, performing parametric analysis, developing house of quality, performing external and internal searches for solutions, and making decisions about best options.  
  • ME 370, ME 488, ME 492, and ME 493: May be offered in one of the following formats: In-Person, or Online Synchronous.
  • Upper Division Cluster: Choose Arts & Letters for Social Science area courses. See above notes regarding Race and Ethnic Studies requirement. See Advisor for more information.
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

Resources for Mechanical Engineering