Mechanical Engineering with Third Assistant Engineer’s License option, B.S.

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 Educational Objectives (PEO)

The PEO process includes assessment tools such as industry 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 identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics
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
an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgements, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental and societal contexts
an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives
an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data and use engineering judgement to draw conclusions
an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

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.

License Option

The ME license option is designed for students who wish to use their engineering degree as a licensed marine engineer. The curriculum consists of the core ME courses, and additional courses intended to provide additional training for a marine engineer, much of which is required to obtain the merchant marine Third Assistant Engineer’s license. Students are required to obtain experience at sea through three summer cruises, two of them aboard the Training Ship Golden Bear, and one aboard a commercial vessel.

In addition, students in the license option must pass a qualifying examination, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard, to obtain a Third Assistant Engineer, Steam, Motor and Gas Turbine Vessels, Unlimited Horsepower license.

This is clearly a very demanding option. Nonetheless, many of the ME students at Cal Maritime choose this option. For these students, sailing is the reason they choose to study at Cal Maritime, and this option serves them well.

Mechanical Engineering Major Third Assistant Engineer’s License Option Curriculum

(Subject to Change)

TOTAL UNITS: 179

Third Assistant Engineer’s/OICEW (Officer In Charge of Engineering Watch) License required for graduation.

Third Assistant Engineer’s License Courses are bolded.

Writing Proficiency Requirement: All Junior students must demonstrate upper division writing competency as a graduation requirement. This may be fulfilled by passing either the Graduation Writing Exam or EGL 300 - Advanced Writing .