Master of Science - Mechanical Engineering

The graduate program leading to a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, at California State University, Los Angeles, is designed for engineers who wish to obtain proficiency in their particular field of specialization and for those who want to broaden their perspective and acquire new scientific and practical knowledge. With a Master’s degree you will excel in your professional career and be prepared to continue your education, if you decide, toward a doctoral degree in Mechanical Engineering.

The graduate program is organized especially to accommodate the needs of engineers employed full time. The classes applicable toward the graduate degree are offered during evenings or late afternoon hours.

Instruction is offered year round on the quarter system. Each of the four quarters that comprise the academic year (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer ) is 11 weeks in duration.

The University is located at the eastern edge of Los Angeles and adjacent to the western part of the San Gabriel Valley. The convenient location allows easy access by freeway and major surface streets, as well as by bus and Metrolink, from all parts of the Greater Los Angeles Area.

Admission to the Graduate Program

Admission to the program, in classified graduate standing, requires possession of a degree equivalent to Cal State L.A.’s Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a minimum 2.75 grade point average in the last 90 quarter units attempted for the baccalaureate.

Applicants who have a minimum 2.50 grade point average in their last 90 units may be admitted to post-baccalaureate unclassified standing until prescribed qualifying courses of at least 14 units approved by the graduate advisor have been completed with a minimum 3.0 grade point average. Applicants with a grade point average of lower than 2.50 could be admitted under condition that they score 600 or higher in the GRE Engineering Subject Test.

An applicant with a Bachelor of Science degree in an allied field (physics, chemistry, mathematics, or another area of engineering) may be admitted to unclassified post-baccalaureate standing until prescribed prerequisite courses have been successfully completed.

Degree Requirements

A total of 45-quarter units are required, including at least 24 units of 500-level (graduate) courses. A minimum 3.0 grade point average is required. Completion of the program requires passing the Writing Proficiency Examination, if not passed as a requirement for the B.S. degree, and writing an acceptable thesis or completion of a comprehensive examination. Students should consult the CSULA General Catalog for further information.

Program of Study

Immediately after admission to graduate school, the new student should make an appointment to see the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Adviser in his or her area of interest. With the help of the advisor, the student should draw up a program of study choosing courses from the list below. Although it is often in the student’s interest to take classes in one area of specialty, mixing courses from different areas is allowed. The program of study can be changed during the course of study if the need arises, but only after the student submits a petition and the petition is approved. Courses which are not on the student’s program of study, will not be counted toward the M.S. degree. Upon advisor approval, a student may transfer up to 13 quarter units of classes applicable toward a graduate degree taken at another institution of higher learning or at CSULA through Open University.

LIST OF COURSES APPLICABLE TOWARD THE M.S. DEGREE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

The following courses offered by the M.E. Department are applicable toward fulfilling the requirements for an M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering provided they are not taken during the course of undergraduate study (i.e., the same course cannot be counted toward an undergraduate and a graduate degree).

A brief description of the courses and the necessary prerequisites are published in the CSULA General Catalog. Students should consult the Department Office and the Schedule of Classes for the quarter, date and time when a particular class is offered. For more information on each course and/or research opportunity in a particular area, students should contact faculty with expertise in that area.

I. MACHINE DESIGN, APPLIED MECHANICS AREA

ME 402 Advanced Mechanics of Materials (4)
ME 411 Vibrational Analysis I (4)
ME 412 Strength of Materials Laboratory II (1)
ME 414 Machine Design II (4)
ME 417 Machine Analysis Laboratory (1)
ME 421 Dynamics of Mechanisms (4)
ME 501A Advanced Mechanics of Particles (4)
ME 501B Advanced Mechanics of Rigid Bodies (4)
ME 502 Theory of Elasticity (4)
ME 503 Design of Mechanical Systems and Products (4)
ME 511 Vibrational Analysis II (4)

II. CONTROL, MANUFACTURING AND ROBOTICS AREA

ME 410 Control of Mechanical Systems (4)
ME 422 Optimization of Mechanical Engineering Systems (4)
ME 428 Automation and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (4)
EE/ME 481 Introduction to Robotics (4)
EE/ME 491 Robotics Laboratory (1)
ME 521 Dynamic Systems Analysis (4)
ME 522 Optimal Control of Mechanical Systems (4)
ME 528 Metalforming Science and Applications (4)
ME 529 Machining Science and Applications (4)

III. FLUID MECHANICS AND AERODYNAMICS AREA

ME 403 Aerodynamics (4)
ME 404 Turbomachinery (4)
ME 408 Fluid Mechanics II (4)
ME 413 Fluid Mechanics Laboratory II (1)
ME 508 Compressible Fluids (4)
ME 509 Viscous Fluids & Boundary Layer Theory (4)

IV. THERMAL AND HEAT TRANSFER AREA

ME 406 Heat Transfer II (4)
ME 407 Design of Thermal Systems (4)
ME 415 Air Conditioning (4)
ME 416 Energy Systems (4)
ME 420 Power Plants (4)
ME 425 Process Heat Transfer (4)
ME 426 Thermodynamics III (4)
ME 427 Thermal Systems Laboratory II (1)
ME 504 Thermal Radiation (4)
ME 505 Heat Conduction (4)
ME 506 Heat Convection (4)
ME 512 Advanced Topics in Thermodynamics (4)
ME 525 Process Mass and Heat Transfer (4)

ADDITIONAL COURSES

ME 454 Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering (1-4)
MATH 402A* Advanced Mathematics I for Engineers and Physicists (4)
ME 409* Mechanical Engineering Analysis (4)
ME 596 Comprehensive Examination (0)
ME 597 Graduate Research (1-5)
ME 598 Graduate Directed Study (1-4)
ME 599 Thesis (4)

* One of these courses is required of all graduate students if not completed as part of the
undergraduate program.

FACULTY AND AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

Neda S. Fabris (Ph.D., Illinois Institute of Technology)
Manufacturing; material science; mechanics; design

Stephen F. Felszeghy (Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley)
Solid Mechanics; finite element methods; mechanical vibrations; dynamics

Darrell W. Guillaume (Ph.D. University of California, Irvine)
Registered Professional Mechanical Engineer
Fluid mechanics; turbulence; thermodynamics; heat transfer

Lih-Min Hsia (Ph.D., University of California, Davis)
Registered Professional Mechanical Engineer
Kinematics of mechanisms; computer-aided design; robotics

Samuel Landsberger (Sc.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA)

Ram Manvi Emeritus Professor (Ph.D., Washington State University)
Registered Professional Mechanical Engineer
Energy conversion; thermal and environmental engineering

Majdedin Mirmirani (Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley)
Applied mechanics; control systems, robotics

Richard D. Roberto (M.S., University of California, Los Angeles) Emeritus Professor
Registered Professional Mechanical Engineer
Machine design; dynamics; vibrations

Adel Sharif (Ph.D., University of California, Irvine)
Machine Design, Structural Material

Chivey C. Wu (Ph.D., University of Illinois)
Gas dynamics; fluid mechanics; aerodynamics

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Further information about the M.S. program may be obtained from the Department of Mechanical Engineering (323) 343-4490 and at the Department’s Websites. Admission information and application forms may be obtained by writing to: Office of Admissions, CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032-8530.