Degree Requirements & Plans for Completion
Several plans for completing the B.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering and the B.S. Degree in Engineering have been developed and are briefly described below. If you wish copies of these programs, contact the Department Chair at capobian@gonzaga.edu . If you intend to follow a program of study that does not adhere to one of these plans, you must take extra care not to compromise the course prerequisite structure. Since most upper division courses are taught only once each year, poor planning can result in an additional semester or year. We therefore strongly recommend that any plan that deviates from the standard ones be worked out in detail with your advisor.
In addition to the course requirements, all students seeking the B.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering must take the nationally administered Fundamentals of Engineering Examination prior to graduation. A packet of information regarding this examination, and the associated preparation course (free to our majors) offered by NSPE and the School of Engineering, is distributed each fall to all fourth year students in Mechanical Engineering.
FOUR-YEAR PLANS FOR THE B.S. DEGREE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Two plans are recommended:
• If you start the mathematics sequence with calculus, and intend to complete the degree in four years, you would follow the plan listed in the Catalog (Plan A).
• If you are starting the mathematics sequence with precalculus, it is best to take precalculus during the summer before entering our Program. Next best is to take MATH 258 and PHYS 103 during the summer between your first and second years, either at Gonzaga or at another institution. If you are able to do either, then follow Plan A. If summer work is not feasible, and you intend to complete the degree in four years, then follow the plan we have laid out as Plan B.
COMBINING THE B.S. WITH A BUSINESS MINOR AND/OR PREPARATION FOR THE MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (M.B.A)
If you are contemplating a career in management or hope to own your own firm, you may wish to eventually undertake education in a business area. Many Gonzaga students combine their undergraduate studies in Mechanical Engineering with preparatory coursework that allows them to enter an M.B.A. program upon graduation. Plan C is a plan for integrating your studies for the B.S., a minor in Business Administration, and preparatory coursework for the M.B.A.
FIVE YEAR PLANS AND MINORS
Education of the whole person is implicit in the University's Mission Statement and consequently we encourage the exploration of other disciplines, especially those often thought to be far afield from engineering. Students accomplish this through coursework, minors, second majors, and studies abroad, such as the Gonzaga-in-Florence program. Historically, our Department has more minors in art and music than in biology, mathematics or computer science. Nevertheless, our majors are also often interested in minors (and second majors) in more technical areas, such as biology or chemistry; physics is our most popular minor, with business a close second (see the previous section for a discussion of the Business minor).
It may be possible for you to complete the extra coursework required for a minor through summer courses, in which case you should follow one of the four-year plans. On the other hand, studies combining the B.S. with minors in fields such as music or art may more practically be spread over five years. Furthermore, it is not unusual for some students to prefer a slower pace in proceeding through the B.S. program. This is due to a variety of reasons, including employment, athletics, service programs, and student government or other extra-curricular activities. If a five-year plan fits your needs, you will wish to follow Plan D.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GENERAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM (B.S. IN ENGINEERING) WITH A MECHANICAL ENGINEERING FOCUS
Gonzaga's School of Engineering offers a general engineering degree program leading to a B.S. in Engineering. It is designed for those individuals whose interests are broader than conventional engineering design and analysis. This is not a degree for those interested in standard engineering practice, and is not yet accredited. There are several versions of this program, one of which incorporates a focus on Mechanical Engineering. Plan E is our recommended plan for completing this program.
STUDIES ABROAD
Study abroad for a semester or a year will normally add a year to your time at Gonzaga. Many of our Mechanical Engineers have attended the Gonzaga-in-Florence Program. In the last few years the University has made available several other programs in London, Spain, Tokyo, China, France, and Mexico. If you attend one of these programs, follow any of the plans, but add an additional year for the foreign study.
SUGGESTIONS FOR EDUCATION IN AEROSPACE AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
Two fields that are closely allied to Mechanical Engineering are Aerospace Engineering and Biomedical Engineering. We have worked out plans for you to use in preparing yourself for practice in these fields while completing your B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Again, for copies of these plans, contact the Department Chair at capobian@gonzaga.edu.
