Undergraduate program

The Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) program is a 2+2 program. Students spend their first two years taking lower-division courses in math, science, and engineering.  At the end of their sophomore year, students apply for admission into the BSME upper-division program.  

Students admitted to the BSME upper-division program will be placed on one of two course plans for their junior year. These two course plans are the ME 313 First Course Plan and the ME 320 First Course Plan. These course plans are designed to maintain a healthy class size and help make sure that seats are available for newly admitted students. All juniors will complete the same courses, just in a different order, and still meet prerequisites. 

MECOP students are placed on the course plan that aligns with MECOP program requirements.

By following the assigned course plan, a student is able to complete the BSME in four years. As a reminder, the Department requires students to complete all highlighted classes with a grade of 'C' or better, prior to applying for admission into the upper-division program.

 
Our BSME program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 415 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201; telephone 410-347-7700. ABET is the national organization that sets standards for engineering education defined in terms of curricular content, quality of faculty, and adequacy of facilities. 

Degree Maps and Learning Outcomes

Program Objectives

Admission requirements

Mechanical Engineering B.S.

Honors Track

Bachelor's Plus Master's Pathway

MME Admission Requirements

  For students applying for 300-level MME course admission FALL 2023

Terms of Admission & Deadlines


Minimum Eligibility for Consideration

  • All required/shaded classes on the BSME course plan completed prior to fall 2023 with a grade of C or better. A C- will not count as meeting admission criteria.

  • A Selective Admission GPA of 2.25 or higher. The Selective Admission GPA is calculated using only the required/shaded courses on the BMSE course plan, excluding Freshman Inquiry or, for transfers, Wr 121 and Comm 220.

  • Freshman Inquiry (for those who began PSU as freshman) or Wr 121 and Comm 220 (for transfer students) must be completed prior to fall


Selective Admission

  • All students who meet the minimum grade requirement and have no more than 6 required/shaded

  • Selective Admission GPA courses outstanding as of April 15, 202 will be considered. The outstanding courses must be completed prior to the start of fall term. Examples:

  • Selective Admission GPA will not be calculated for any student until winter grades are received by the MME Department. Students with a Selective GPA of 2.25 or above will be conditionally admitted into the program. Conditions will be the completion of outstanding required courses, outlined in the admission letter. A ‘pending spring grades’ decision will be relayed to students with a Selective GPA below 2.25. Transfer students who do not provide unofficial transcripts with winter grades may be denied admission. Transcripts can be sent to mmedept@pdx.edu.

  • Admission will be offered to the top students (approximately 120), including conditionally admitted students, based on their Selective Admission GPA.

    • If a conditionally admitted student does due diligence and cannot locate the necessary

 course(s) at PSU or local community colleges, it is possible the condition may be extended through end of fall. Extension must be approved by the MME Academic Advisor. Official transcripts must be provided to both PSU Admissions Office and MME Department once grades post to determine if the conditions were met.

  • Admission decisions will generally be communicated to students via email by May 15, 2023. Decisions will be:

    • Admit

    • Conditionally Admit

    • Pending spring Grades (official decision will be sent after spring grades are evaluated)

    • Deny (students may request a meeting with the MME Academic Advisor to review decision)


Repeated Classes

  • Standard PSU repeat/replace policy applies to Selective Admission GPA:

    • If a student earned a D+ or below in a class the first time, then only the repeated (second) grade will be used in the Selective GPA calculation

    • If a student earned a C- or above in a class the first time, then both the first grade and the second (repeated) grade will be used in the Selective GPA calculation

    • Should a class be taken a third time it does not replace the second attempt regardless of either grade


Additional Testing

  • No test required


Pass/No Pass

  • Required classes must be taken for a grade (not P/NP)

    • Note: Due to COVID-19, P grades will be accepted for courses completed during spring 2020 through spring 2021 only. Please reach out to mmedept@pdx.edu for additional information.

  • If a student earns a NP in a required class it will be calculated in selective admission GPA as an F and the course must be taken for a grade

    • Note: There is no COVID-19 exception to the NP policy


Additional Information (exceptions, preferences, etc.)

  • No preference given to PSU students versus students who completed required/shaded courses elsewhere


Department Communication

  • The MME Department (mmedept@pdx.edu) will communicate to students via email. If the student has a pdx.edu email, all email communications will be sent to that address.

  • Fall 2024 admission requirements available spring 2023 (in time for fall 2024 registration in May 2023)

Eligibility

Students must complete the following required/shaded courses with a minimum grade of C:

Ch 221General Chemistry I

4

Ch 222General Chemistry II

4

Ch 227General Chemistry Laboratory

1

Ch 228General Chemistry Laboratory

1

EAS 211Statics

4

EAS 212Strength of Materials

4

EAS 215Dynamics

4

ECE 241Introduction to Electrical Engineering

4

ECE 241LIntroduction to Electrical Engineering Lab

0

ME 120An Introduction to Engineering

3

ME 121Introduction to Systems and Control

3

ME 122Introduction to Design

3

Mth 251Calculus I

4

Mth 252Calculus II

4

Mth 254Calculus IV

4

Mth 256Applied Ordinary Differential Equations

4

Mth 261Introduction to Linear Algebra

4

Ph 211General Physics (with Calculus) I

4

Ph 212General Physics (with Calculus) II

4

Ph 213General Physics (with Calculus) III

4

Ph 214Lab for Ph 201 or Ph 211 or Ph 221 or Ph 231

1

Ph 215Lab for Ph 202 or Ph 212 or Ph 222 or Ph 232

1

Ph 216Lab for Ph 203 or Ph 213 or Ph 223 or Ph 233

1

Freshman Inquiry

15

Ph 221, Ph 222, and Ph 223 also accepted, if completed prior to Fall 2018.

Freshman Inquiry: Comm 220 and Wr 121 for transfer students.

Continuation Criteria

After admission to the BSME Program students will be expected to make satisfactory progress toward their declared degree and will be subject to the following rules:

  1. The term GPA in all courses taken at PSU must be 2.00 or higher. 

  2. At the conclusion of each term of the academic year, full-time students are normally expected to complete a minimum of 12 credits applicable toward their degree program. Part-time students are expected to complete a minimum of 12 credits per year applicable toward their degree program.

  3. Students will be placed on probation when their term GPA as described in (1) is below 2.00, or their progress toward the degree is less than that described in (2).

  4. Students placed on probation for two consecutive terms or for a total of three terms will be suspended from the BSME program. Students also will be suspended if not enrolled in engineering and/or computer science courses for three consecutive terms.

  5. Students who are suspended must meet with an advisor to determine whether and under which conditions readmission is feasible.

  6. Students must have a major GPA of at least 2.0 in order to graduate with their BSME.


Appeals

Students denied admission or suspended may request reconsideration by submitting a petition. The petition and supporting materials will be reviewed by the Undergraduate Advisor of the Mechanical & Materials Engineering Department; a recommendation will be forwarded to the Chair.  The Advisor's decision can be appealed by the Chair.  Appeals must be made within 30 days of denial of admission or suspension notification.

Pass/No Pass Grading Policy

All courses specifically required by the University or by the Department must be taken for a letter grade unless a required course is only offered with a pass/no pass option.