Mechanical Engineering - Bachelor of Science 2023-24 Degree Map

Requirements (REQ) of a Bachelors Degree

Degree Maps show one way how you can earn a degree in four years. Talk with your advisor regularly to develop a personalized plan that works best for you, especially if you have any earned transferrable academic credit.

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. If you transfer credit to PSU, the number of credits you need per year will vary accordingly.

Talk with Advisor

This guide outlines the requirements in the 2023-24 catalog. 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. Talk with your advisor about which catalog requirements make sense for you.

PSU Bulletins (2015-present)

First Year

Fall Courses	Fall Credits	Winter Courses	Winter Credits	Spring Courses	Spring Credits
Freshman Inquiry	5	Freshman Inquiry	5	Freshman Inquiry	5
MTH 251	4	MTH 252	4	MTH 261	4
CH 221	4	CH 222	4	ME 122	3
CH 227	1	CH 228	1	Science Elective	4
ME 120	3	ME 121	3
Total Fall Credits	17	Total Winter Credits	17	Total Spring Credits	16

Second Year

Fall Courses	Fall Credits	Winter Courses	Winter Credits	Spring Courses	Spring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry	4	Sophomore Inquiry	4	PH 213	4
MTH 254	4	MTH 256	4	PH 216	1
PH 211	4	PH 212	4	EAS 215	4
PH 214	1	PH 215	1	ECE 241/241L	4
EAS 211	4	EAS 212	4
Total Fall Credits	17	Total Winter Credits	17	Total Spring Credits	13

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 Courses	Fall Credits	Winter Courses	Winter Credits	Spring Courses	Spring Credits
ME 213/213L	4	ME 240/240L	2	ME 322	4
ME 250/250L	2	ME 314	4	ME 323	4
ME 313	4	ME 320/320L	4	WR 327	4
ME 321	4	ME 351	4	BA 306U or EC 314U	4
ME 350	2
Total Fall Credits	16	Total Winter Credits	14	Total Spring Credits	16

Third Year: 'ME 320 First' Course Plan

Fall Courses	Fall Credits	Winter Courses	Winter Credits	Spring Courses	Spring Credits
ME 213/213L	4	ME 313	4	ME 250	2
ME 240/240L	2	ME 322	4	ME 314	4
ME 320/320L	4	ME 323	4	ME 351	4
ME 321	4	ME 350	2	BA 306U or EC 314U	4
WR 327	4
Total Fall Credits	18	Total Winter Credits	14	Total Spring Credits	14

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

Fourth Year

Fall Courses	Fall Credits	Winter Courses	Winter Credits	Spring Courses	Spring Credits
ME 491	4	ME 492	4	ME 493	4
ME 488	4	ME 411/411L	4	Approved ME Elective	4
Approved ME Elective	4	Approved ME Elective	4	Upper Division Cluster	4
Approved ME Elective	4	Upper Division Cluster	4
Total Fall Credits	16	Total Winter Credits	16	Total Spring Credits	12

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), Chicano/Latino 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, ME 492, and ME 493: These courses constitute the Capstone and must be taken in the same academic year.
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

Talk to Advisor

Visit Department

Apply to Program