Mechanical Engineering (ME) Major
The Mechanical Engineering curriculum provides a sound foundation for the practice of engineering through instruction in sciences and mathematics, computer applications, design, laboratory experiences, communication, the humanities, and the social sciences. The curriculum requires a core set of mechanical engineering courses in each of the two stems: energy design and mechanical design stems. A required two-course capstone design experience starts in the fall of the senior year. Computer applications and design experiences are integrated into several required courses and stem-specific electives.
Excellent facilities in circuits, instrumentation and measurements, controls, electromechanical machinery, materials/mechanical, manufacturing processes, and fluids/thermal laboratories further strengthen the instructional Mechanical Engineering program. Through selection of electives, students can choose to specialize in either the energy design stem or the mechanical design stem.
Students should visit the department’s web page https://www.csum.edu/web/academics/me/assessment for a description of its assessment system. The assessment system includes a Program Educational Objectives (PEO) process and a Student Outcomes (SO) process.
Program Education Objectives (PEO)
The PEO process includes assessment tools such as external advisory board assessment, alumni survey assessment, employer survey assessment, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) assessment.
Mechanical Engineering graduates of the California State University Maritime Academy will:
- be well educated professionals who utilize their intellectual learning, applied technology experience, leadership skills, and global awareness in successful careers, and continue to improve their skills through lifelong learning and advanced studies
- effectively practice as professional engineers, managers, and leaders in the maritime and energy industries and a wide variety of other fields, and as licensed engineers in the merchant marine
- successfully combine fundamental engineering knowledge, core leadership skills, and the practical experience gained at Cal Maritime to turn ideas into reality for the benefit of society
- be influential members of multidisciplinary teams, creatively and effectively contributing to the design, development, and objective evaluation of engineering components, systems, and products, and clearly communicating the work in an appropriate manner to their customers and colleagues
- personally assume and actively encourage peers to uphold the professional, ethical, social and environmental responsibilities of their profession
Student Outcomes (SO)
The SO process includes instructor class assessment, student evaluations of instructor/course, cruise/co-op report assessment, senior project design assessment, graduating senior survey assessment, and course portfolios. These assessment tools are used to ensure that the ME program’s educational mission and constituency needs are met. The results are further used to develop and improve the program.
Mechanical Engineering graduates will have:
- an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
- an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
- an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economics, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
- an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
- an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
- an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
- an ability to communicate effectively
- the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
- a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
- a knowledge of contemporary issues
- an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice
- an ability to apply principles of engineering, basic science, and mathematics (including multivariate calculus and differential equations) to model, analyze, design, and realize physical systems, components or processes
- an ability to work professionally in both thermal and mechanical systems areas
- an ability to apply the “hands-on” knowledge to solve/understand engineering design problems/systems
- an ability to demonstrate leadership roles
- an ability to comprehend and convey technical information
Options Within the Mechanical Engineering Program
The ME program at Cal Maritime has two options that students may follow to obtain their degree: a license option and a non-license option. Both options result in a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, and provide students with strong, hands-on experiences, along with an international experience to complement their engineering education. Both options have the same core ME curriculum, and were defined to maintain the mission of Cal Maritime and the four objectives of intellectual learning, applied technology, global awareness and leadership. Also, both options are essentially identical in the first year, allowing students to explore their interests before deciding upon an option. All students, regardless of their option, are part of the Corps of Cadets, which is the focal point for the leadership facet of our mission.