Apr 02, 2025  
2024-2025 University Catalog 
    
2024-2025 University Catalog

Mechanical Engineering


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OFFICE: Engineering 326
TELEPHONE: 619-594-6067
E-MAIL: mech.engineering@sdsu.edu
WEBSITE: https://mechanical.sdsu.edu


The College of Engineering undergraduate programs in aerospace, civil, computer, construction, electrical, environmental, and mechanical engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

Transfer Credit

No credit will be given for upper division engineering coursework taken at an institution having an engineering program which has not been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET, unless the student successfully completes the first 12 units of engineering work attempted at this university. At that time, and upon recommendation of the department, credit will be given for the unaccredited work.

The Major

Global engineering challenges include the pressing need to deliver healthcare effectively and efficiently, generate and deliver clean energy and water, and make the environment that we live in sustainable. Mechanical engineers are actively involved in finding solutions to address these challenges. Finding solutions requires the integration of science, engineering, and socioeconomic knowledge. Mechanical engineering students study a broad range of topics to prepare them for successful engineering careers. Upon graduation, mechanical engineering students will be able to apply principles of basic science, engineering, and mathematics (including differential equations and multivariate calculus) to analyze and interpret data; analyze, design, model, and realize physical systems, components or processes; apply techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice; collaborate on multidisciplinary teams; communicate effectively; design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs; design and conduct experiments; formulate, identify, solve engineering problems; identify contemporary issues; recognize the need for an ability to engage in life-long learning; understand impacts of engineering solutions in a global and societal context; understand professional and ethical responsibility; work professionally in both thermal and mechanical systems areas.

Mechanical engineers are employed by a wide range of industries which focus on such engineering tasks as designing and fabricating machinery for power generation; renewable energy systems; medical equipment including implantable devices; land, air, and space transportation systems; heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems for buildings; advanced manufacturing processes; novel materials and their mechanical characterization; robotics and control systems; and, applications of AI to engineering systems. A mechanical engineer, now more than ever, is someone who can translate scientific theories into real products and processes to improve the quality of life.

Design methodology and design projects are integrated throughout the curriculum, culminating in a capstone design experience in the senior year where students work on a design project as part of a design team which is structured like an engineering team in industry. Many of the projects are funded by industry and involve work at industry sites.

The emphasis in bioengineering prepares students for employment in industry, or for higher professional degrees in bioengineering, engineering, or medicine.

In addition to the majors in mechanical engineering with the B.S. degree and emphasis in bioengineering, the department offers two BS/MS 4 +1 degrees: The BS/MS 4+1 degree program with B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and the BS/MS 4+1 degree program with B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and M.S. in Bioengineering. These degrees are for SDSU mechanical engineering students who wish to gain expertise in a specialization of mechanical engineering or bioengineering prior to employment in industry, government, or as preparation for further training.

Program Educational Objectives

The educational objectives of the mechanical engineering program are to prepare students who, after they graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree, are committed to:

  1. Applying an open-minded, critical, and pragmatic approach to the analysis of problems and the design of innovative and sustainable engineering solutions in professional practice (Professional Practice).

  2. Actively participating in continuous professional development (Professional Development).

  3. Responsible, professional, and ethical conduct with a broad appreciation of the world and the role that engineering plays in society (Service and Citizenship).

Retention Policy

The engineering program expects all majors will make reasonable academic progress toward the degree. Engineering premajors who have earned 60 units, but have not completed major preparatory courses or have less than a 2.7 cumulative GPA may be removed from the premajor and placed in undeclared.

Impacted Program

The mechanical engineering major is an impacted program. To be admitted to the mechanical engineering major, students must meet the following criteria:

  1. Complete with a grade of C (2.0) or better: M E 200  [or A E 200 ]; CHEM 202  (or CHEM 200 ); MATH 150 , MATH 151 ; PHYS 195 , PHYS 196 . These courses cannot be taken for credit/no credit (Cr/NC);
  2. Have an overall cumulative GPA of 2.7.

Registration in upper division (300- and higher level) courses is restricted to students who have already met the impaction criteria (a) and (b). To complete the major, students must fulfill the degree requirements for the major described in the catalog in effect at the time they are accepted into the premajor at SDSU (assuming continuous enrollment).

Major Academic Plans (MAPs)

Visit https://www.sdsu.edu/mymap for the recommended courses needed to fulfill your major requirements. The MAPs website was created to help students navigate the course requirements for their majors and to identify which General Education course will also fulfill a major preparation course requirement.


Faculty

Chair: Abraham, John, Professor of Mechanical Engineering (B.Tech., Indian Institute of Technology; M.A., Princeton University; Ph.D. Princeton University)

Graduate Advisor: Katira, Parag, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering (B.S., University of Mumbai, India; Ph.D., University of Florida)

Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty:

Beyene, Asfaw, Professor of Mechanical Engineering (M.S., Warsaw University of Technology; Ph.D., Warsaw University of Technology)

Bhattacharjee, Subrata, Professor of Mechanical Engineering (B.Tech. Indian Institute of Technology; M.S. Washington State University; Ph.D. Washington State University)

Kassegne, Samuel, Professor of Mechanical Engineering (B.S. Anna University; M.S. Middle East Technical University; Ph.D. Virginia Polytechnic Institute)

May-Newman, Karen, Professor of Mechanical Engineering (B.S. University of California, San Diego; M.S. University of California, San Diego; Ph.D. University of California, San Diego)

Miller, Fletcher, Professor of Mechanical Engineering (B.S. Columbia University; M.S. University of California, Berkeley; Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley)

Moon, Kee S., Professor of Mechanical Engineering (B.S. Korea University; M.S. Korea University; M.S. University of Illinois, Chicago; Ph.D.University of Illinois, Chicago)

Morsi, Khaled, Professor of Mechanical Engineering (M.E. University of London; Ph.D. University of Oxford)

Olevsky, Eugene A., Dean of College of Engineering; Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering (B.S./M.S. Kiev Institute of Technology; B.S./M.S. National University of Kiev; Ph.D. Ukraine National Academy of Sciences)

Youssef, George, Professor of Mechanical Engineering (B.S. California State University, Northridge; M.S. California State University, Northridge; M.S. University of California, Los Angeles; Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles)

Bhalla, Amneet Pal S., Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering (B.Tech. Indian Institute of Technology; M.Tech. Indian Institute of Technology; Ph.D. Northwestern University)

Camacho, Joaquin, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering (B.S. University of California, San Diego; M.S. University of Southern California; Ph.D. University of Southern California)

Naseradinmousavi, Peiman, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering (B.S. University of Tabriz; M.S. University of Guilan; Ph.D. Villanova University)

Park, Sung-Yong (Sean), Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering (B.S. Yeungnam University; M.S. University of Utah; Ph.D University of California, Los Angeles)

Xu, Wenwu, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering (B.S. Jishou University; M.S. Guilin University of Technology; Ph.D. Beijing University of Technology)

Adibi, Sara, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering (B.S. Isfahan University of Technology, M.S. Isfahan University of Technology, Ph.D. National University of Singapore)

Heydari Gharahcheshmeh, Meysam, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering (B.S. University of Tabriz, M.S. University of Tehran, Ph.D. University of Houston)

Kang, Sungbum (John), Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering (B.S. Kyungpook National University; M.S. Seoul National University; M.S. Georgia Institute of Technology; Ph.D. Georgia Institute of Technology)

Kong, Lingping, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering (B.E. Shangqiu Normal University; Ph.D. East China University of Science and Technology)

Nili Ahmadabadi, Zahra, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering (B.S. University of Tehran; M.S., Tarbiat Modares University; Ph.D., University of Quebec)

Torresani, Elisa, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering (B.S. University of Trento; M.S. University of Trento; Ph.D. University of Trento)

Yang, Yang, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering (B.S. Wuhan University; Ph.D. Wuhan University)

Lecturers:

Alroomi, Louay, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering

Ayala, Richard, M.S., Mechanical Engineering

Lehman, Alexander T., Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering

Murthy, Vanita., M.S., Mechanical Engineering

Nacy, Somar, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering

Nourollahi, Hamid, M.S. Mechanical Engineering

Pakravan, Alireza, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering

Saghafi, Cyrus, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering

Shaffar, Scott W., Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering

Uskokovic, Vuk, Ph.D., Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies

Wield, P. Jeff, M.S. Mechanical Engineering

Emeritus Faculty: 

Bailey, Greg W., Ed.D., 1982-2002, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, College of Engineering; Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Mechanical Engineering

German, Randall M., 2008 - 2016, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Associate Dean of College of Engineering

Hussain, Nihad A., Ph.D., 1969-2000, Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Impelluso, Thomas J., 1998-2013, Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Johnston, Thomas, M.S., 1993 - 2020, Lecturer of Mechanical Engineering

Kline, Ronald A., 1997-2021, Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Lybarger, Alvin E., Ed.D., 1970-1992, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Mansfield, George A., 1994-2014, Lecturer of Mechanical Engineering

Murphy, Robert J., Ph.D., 1964-1999, Professor of Mechanical Engineering


Programs

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