2024-2025 Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Undergraduate Study

student-built robots

Student-built robots on display in professor Dennis W. Hong’s Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory (RoMeLa).

Aerospace Engineering BS

The aerospace engineering program is concerned with the design and construction of various types of fixed-wing and rotary-wing (helicopter) aircraft used for air transportation and national defense. It is also concerned with the design and construction of spacecraft, the exploration and utilization of space, and related technological fields.

Aerospace engineering is characterized by a very high level of technology. The aerospace engineer is likely to operate at the forefront of scientific discoveries, often stimulating these discoveries and providing the inspiration for the creation of new scientific concepts. Meeting these demands requires the imaginative use of many disciplines, including fluid mechanics and aerodynamics, structural mechanics, materials and aeroelasticity, dynamics, control and guidance, propulsion, and energy conversion.

The aerospace engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Capstone Major

The Aerospace Engineering major is a designated capstone major. Within their capstone courses, Aerospace Engineering students are exposed to the conceptual and design phases for aircraft development and produce a structural design of a component, such as a lightweight aircraft wing. Graduates should be able to apply their knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering in technical systems; design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs; function as productive members of a team; identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems; and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Educational Objectives

In consultation with its constituents, the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department has set its educational objectives as follows: within a few years after graduation, the students will be successful in careers in aerospace or mechanical or other engineering fields, and/or in graduate studies in aerospace or mechanical or other engineering fields, and/or in further studies in other fields such as medicine, business, and law.

Learning Outcomes

The Aerospace Engineering major has the following learning outcomes:

Preparation for the Major

Complete the following 14 courses and either Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering M20 or Computer Science 31:

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering M20 or Computer Science 31

Select one course from:

The Major

Complete 23 courses as follows:

Required Courses

Complete the following 11 courses:

Departmental Breadth Courses

Complete the following two departmental breadth courses (if one or both of these courses are taken as part of the technical breadth requirement, students must select a replacement upper-division course or courses from the department—except for Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 156A—or, by petition, from outside the department).

Tracks

Select one of the following tracks:

Aeronautics
Space

Technical Breadth

Complete three technical breadth courses (12 units) selected from approved lists available on the technical breadth web page.

Capstone Design

Complete the following course:

Major Field Elective

Select one major field elective course (4 units) from the track not chosen:

Aeronautics
Space

Additional Major Field Elective

Select one major field elective course (4 units) from the following. Courses applied as a required course may not be applied.

Policies

The Major Policies

Approved lists of technical breadth courses are available on the technical breadth web page.

For information on UC, school, and general education requirements, see Requirements for BS Degrees or the GE Requirement web page.

Mechanical Engineering BS

The mechanical engineering program is designed to provide basic knowledge in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, solid mechanics, mechanical design, dynamics, control, mechanical systems, manufacturing, and materials. The program includes fundamental subjects important to all mechanical engineers.

The mechanical engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Capstone Major

The Mechanical Engineering major is a designated capstone major. Within their capstone courses, Mechanical Engineering students work in teams to propose, design, analyze, and build a mechanical or electromechanical device. Graduates should be able to apply their knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering in technical systems; design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs; function as productive members of a team; identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems; and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Educational Objectives

In consultation with its constituents, the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department has set its educational objectives as follows: within a few years after graduation, the students will be successful in careers in aerospace or mechanical or other engineering fields, and/or in graduate studies in aerospace or mechanical or other engineering fields, and/or in further studies in other fields such as medicine, business, and law.

Learning Outcomes

The Mechanical Engineering major has the following learning outcomes:

Preparation for the Major

Complete the following 14 courses and either Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering M20 or Computer Science 31:

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering M20 or Computer Science 31

Select one course from:

The Major

Complete 22 courses as follows:

Required Courses

Complete 13 courses as follows:

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 131A or 133A

Select one course from:

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 183A or M183B

Select one course from:

Departmental Breadth Courses

Complete the following two departmental breadth courses (if one or both of these courses are taken as part of the technical breadth requirement, students must select a replacement upper-division course or courses from the department—except for Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 166A—or, by petition, from outside the department).

Technical Breadth Courses

Complete three technical breadth courses (12 units) selected from approved lists available on the technical breadth web page.

Capstone Design

Complete the following two courses:

Major Field Electives

Select two major field elective courses (8 units) from the following list. Courses applied as a required course may not be applied.

Policies

The Major Policies

Approved lists of technical breadth courses are available on the technical breadth web page.

For information on UC, school, and general education requirements, see Requirements for BS Degrees or the GE Requirement web page.