Courses

Mechanical Engineering

Technical Elective Courses

The purpose of technical elective courses is to undertake advanced study in selected areas of Mechanical Engineering in order to prepare for careers in industry or graduate study. Students must take 12 credits of technical electives, divided in three categories as follows:

3 Credits of Mechanical Engineering Technical Elective (METE): 400-level ME course excluding ME 410, ME 440W, ME 441W, ME 442W, ME 443W, ME 450, ME 494, and ME 496.

6 Credits of Engineering Technical Elective (ETE): 400-level courses in the College of Engineering not required for the major. The courses can be in ME or another Engineering program. ME 494H or 496 can be used for the ETE.

3 Credits of General Technical Elective (GTE): Math, science, or engineering courses beyond the level of required courses in the program. Co-op and internship credits are accepted after completion of a combination of three Co-op rotations or internships (ENGR 195A ENGR 295A, ENGR 395A, and ENGR 495A). An E-Petition must be submitted and approved for all General Technical Electives.

Students are not permitted to take more than 6 credits of any combination of ME 494H (Senior Thesis) and ME 496 (Independent Study).
Students completing Basic ROTC may substitute six of these credits for 3 credits of GHA and 3 credits of General Technical Elective.
You can find an incomplete list of courses appropriate for the GTE on the undergrad web site at http://www.mne.psu.edu/students/undergraduate/curriculum-electives.aspx.

Courses Requiring at least “C” Grades for Mechanical Engineering

In addition to entrance to major requirements, students admitted into Mechanical Engineering are required to earn a minimum of a C grade in each course designated by the major as a C-required course. These are listed below:

M E 300, E MCH 211, E MCH 212, E MCH 213, M E 370, M E 345, M E 340, M E 360, M E 320, M E410, M E 450

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With more than 60 faculty members, 330 graduate students, and 1,000 undergraduate students, the Penn State Department of Mechanical Engineering embraces a culture that welcomes individuals with a diversity of backgrounds and expertise. Our faculty and students are innovating today what will impact tomorrow’s solutions to meeting our energy needs, homeland security, biomedical devices, and transportation systems. We offer B.S. degrees in mechanical engineering as well as resident (M.S., Ph.D.) and online (M.S.) graduate degrees in mechanical engineering. See how we’re inspiring change and impacting tomorrow at me.psu.edu.