Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

The required courses provide a thorough grounding in the essentials of mechanical engineering. Elective courses taken as part of one of the areas of emphasis allow for specialization. The areas of emphasis currently offered are mechanical design, thermal-fluid systems, and robotics and controls. Graduates of the Mechanical Engineering program are expected to have, within a few years of graduation:

  • Established themselves as practicing professionals or engaged in graduate study in mechanical engineering or a related area.
  • Demonstrated an ability to be productive and responsible professionals. 
  • Acted as representatives of their profession in their communities.

The number of units required for graduation and the G.E. requirements are described in the Undergraduate Education section of this Bulletin.

Courses are scheduled during the day as well as the late afternoon and evening. Other information and assistance in selecting courses can be obtained from a major advisor, by calling (415) 338-1174, by emailing engrasst@sfsu.edu, or by writing to:

School of Engineering
San Francisco State University
Science Building
1600 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132.

Applicants

Freshman applicants should have completed four years of high school mathematics, one year of high school chemistry, and one year of high school physics. Students are also encouraged to include courses in mechanical drawing and computer programming.

Community college transfers should complete the sequence of mathematics, chemistry, physics, and engineering courses listed in freshman and sophomore years under the “sample sequence of courses” at the community college.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering a student will be able to demonstrate:

  1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
  2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
  3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
  5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
  6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Mechanical Engineering (B.S.) — 95 units minimum

All courses for the major must be completed with a letter grade.

General Education Requirements Met in the Major

The requirements below are deemed “met in the major” upon completion of the courses listed (even though the courses and their prerequisites are not approved for GE). This is true whether or not the student completes the major.

  • Area A3 (Critical Thinking) is satisfied upon completion of ENGR 205 and either ENGR 201 or ENGR 213.
  • Area E (Lifelong Learning and Self-Development) is satisfied upon completing ENGR 100.
  • Upper-Division General Education, Physical and Life Sciences (UD-B) is satisfied upon completion of ENGR 300 and either ENGR 301 or ENGR 302.

Lower-Division Math and Science Courses (30-31 units)

Select One:3-4
General Chemistry I
Chemistry for Energy and the Environment
MATH 226Calculus I4
MATH 227Calculus II4
MATH 228Calculus III4
MATH 245Elementary Differential Equations and Linear Algebra3
PHYS 220
PHYS 222
General Physics with Calculus I
and General Physics with Calculus I Laboratory
4
PHYS 230
PHYS 232
General Physics with Calculus II
and General Physics with Calculus II Laboratory
4
PHYS 240
PHYS 242
General Physics with Calculus III
and General Physics with Calculus III Laboratory
4

Lower-Division Engineering Courses (18 units)

ENGR 100Introduction to Engineering3
ENGR 101Engineering Graphics1
ENGR 102Statics3
ENGR 103Introduction to Computers1
ENGR 200Materials of Engineering3
ENGR 201Dynamics3
ENGR 205Electric Circuits3
ENGR 206Circuits and Instrumentation Laboratory1

Upper-Division Engineering Courses (31 units)

ENGR 300Engineering Experimentation3
ENGR 302Experimental Analysis1
ENGR 303Engineering Thermodynamics3
ENGR 304Mechanics of Fluids3
ENGR 307Systems Dynamics and Mechanical Vibrations3
ENGR 309Mechanics of Solids3
ENGR 364Materials and Manufacturing Processes3
ENGR 463Thermal Power Systems3
ENGR 464Mechanical Design3
ENGR 467Heat Transfer3
ENGR 696Engineering Design Project I1
ENGR 697GWEngineering Design Project II - GWAR2

Lower-Division Modular Electives (3 units)

Select a total of 3 units from:

ENGR 271Introduction to MATLAB1
ENGR 272Engineering Project Management1
ENGR 291Introduction to Creo Parametric1
ENGR 292Introduction to Solid Works - Level I1
ENGR 294Introduction to Microcontrollers1
ENGR 295Design Methodology1

Controls Electives (4 Units)

Courses selected for the controls elective may not be double-counted as upper-division electives. Units selected from the following, depending on career goals:

ENGR 410
ENGR 411
Process Instrumentation and Control
and Instrumentation and Process Control Laboratory
4
ENGR 447
ENGR 446
Control Systems
and Control Systems Laboratory
4

Upper-Division Engineering Electives (9 Units)

Choice of upper-division electives must present a clearly identifiable educational objective and ensure that the program requirements in engineering science and design are met by all students. Distribution of credit units among engineering science and design is given in the Advising Guide. A study plan of intended upper-division electives must be approved by the student’s advisor and the program coordinator prior to the seventh semester of the engineering program.

A total of 9 units from the following list of courses is required, subject to the minimum number of units specified for each group. Courses selected for the controls (emphasis) elective may not be double-counted as upper-division electives.

ENGR 306Electromechanical Systems3
ENGR 410Process Instrumentation and Control3
ENGR 411Instrumentation and Process Control Laboratory1
ENGR 415Mechatronics4
ENGR 441Fundamentals of Composite Materials3
ENGR 446Control Systems Laboratory1
ENGR 447Control Systems3
ENGR 462Failure Mechanics and Prevention3
ENGR 465Principles of HVAC3
ENGR 466Gas Dynamics and Boundary Layer Flow3
ENGR 469Alternative and Renewable Energy Systems3
ENGR 470Biomechanics3
ENGR 610Engineering Cost Analysis3
ENGR 820Energy Resources and Sustainability3
ENGR 860Applied Engineering Analysis3
ENGR 863Advanced Thermal-Fluids3
ENGR 864Transport Phenomena3
ENGR 865Energy-Efficient Buildings3
ENGR 866Air Quality Engineering3
ENGR 867Energy Auditing and Measurement and Verification3
ENGR 868Advanced Control Systems3
ENGR 869Robotics3
ENGR 870Robot Control3
ENGR 871Advanced Electrical Power Systems3

General Education Requirements

Requirement Course Level Units Area Designation
Oral Communication LD 3 A1
Written English Communication LD 3 A2
Critical Thinking LD 3 A3
Physical Science LD 3 B1
Life Science LD 3 B2
Lab Science LD 1 B3
Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning LD 3 B4
Arts LD 3 C1
Humanities LD 3 C2
Arts or Humanities LD 3 C1 or C2
Social Sciences LD 3 D1
Social Sciences: US History LD 3 D2
Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (LLD) LD 3 E
Ethnic Studies LD 3 F
Physical and/or Life Science UD 3 UD-B
Arts and/or Humanities UD 3 UD-C
Social Sciences UD 3 UD-D
SF State Studies
Courses certified as meeting the SF State Studies requirements may be upper or lower division in General Education (GE), a major or minor, or an elective.
American Ethnic and Racial Minorities LD or UD 3 AERM
Environmental Sustainability LD or UD 3 ES
Global Perspectives LD or UD 3 GP
Social Justice LD or UD 3 SJ

Note: LD = Lower-Division; UD = Upper-Division.

First-Time Student Roadmap (4 Year)

The roadmaps presented in this Bulletin are intended as suggested plans of study and do not replace meeting with an advisor. For a more personalized roadmap, please use the Degree Planner tool found in your Student Center.

First-Time Student Roadmap

SF State Scholars

The San Francisco State Scholars program provides undergraduate students with an accelerated pathway to a graduate degree. Students in this program pursue a bachelor’s and master’s degree simultaneously. This program allows students to earn graduate credit while in their junior and/or senior year, reducing the number of semesters required for completion of a master’s degree.

SF State Scholars Roadmap

General Advising Information for Transfer Students

  1. Before transfer, complete as many lower-division requirements or electives for this major as possible.
  2. The following courses are not required for admission but are required for graduation. Students are strongly encouraged to complete these units before transfer; doing so will provide more flexibility in course selection after transfer.
    • a course in U.S. History
    • a course in U.S. & California Government

For information about satisfying the requirements described in (1) and (2) above at a California Community College (CCC), please visit http://www.assist.org. Check any geographically accessible CCCs; sometimes options include more than one college. Use ASSIST to determine:

  • Which courses at a CCC satisfy any lower-division major requirements for this major;
  • Which courses at a CCC satisfy CSU GE, US History, and US & CA Government requirements.

Remedial courses are not transferable and do not apply to the minimum 60 semester units/90 quarter units required for admission.

Additional units for courses that are repeated do not apply to the minimum 60 units required for upper-division transfer (for example, if a course was not passed on the first attempt or was taken to earn a better grade).

Before leaving the last California Community College of attendance, obtain a summary of completion of lower-division General Education units (IGETC or CSU GE Breadth). This is often referred to as a GE certification worksheet. SF State does not require delivery of this certification to Admissions, but students should retain this document for verifying degree progress after transfer.

Credit for Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or College-Level Examination Program courses: AP/IB/CLEP credit is not automatically transferred from the previous institution. Units are transferred only when an official score report is delivered to SF State. Credit is based on the academic year during which exams were taken. Refer to the University Bulletin in effect during the year of AP/IB/CLEP examination(s) for details regarding the award of credit for AP/IB/CLEP.

Students pursuing majors in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines often defer 6-9 units of lower-division General Education in Areas C and D until after transfer to focus on preparation courses for the major. This advice does not apply to students pursuing associate degree completion before transfer.

Transferring From Institutions Other Than CCCs or CSUs

Review SF State's lower-division General Education requirements. Note that, as described below, the four basic skills courses required for admission meet A1, A2, A3, and B4 in the SF State GE pattern. Courses that fulfill the remaining areas of SF State’s lower-division GE pattern are available at most two-year and four-year colleges and universities.

Of the four required basic skills courses, a course in critical thinking (A3) may not be widely offered outside the CCC and CSU systems. Students should attempt to identify and take an appropriate course no later than the term of application to the CSU. To review more information about the A3 requirement, please visit bulletin.sfsu.edu/undergraduate-education/general-education/lower-division/#AAEL.

Waiting until after transfer to take a single course at SF State that meets both US and CA/local government requirements may be an appropriate option, particularly if transferring from outside of California.