Space permitting, the Department of Mechanical Engineering welcomes transfer applications from other colleges and universities. The Mechanical Engineering Student Handbook (linked below) contains detailed information on transferring into the ABET-accredited BSME degree program, particularly sections 6.2 (Off-Campus Transfer), and 13 (Transfer Credit). Some of the details are highlighted below. It should be noted that admitted students typically have grade point averages (GPA's) significantly higher than the minimum GPA estabilished for eligibility.
Mechanical Engineering Student Handbook
Contact Professor Greg Mason, ME department chair, if you have questions about transferring into the program.
Off-Campus Transfers
If you have prior post-secondary educational experience, you may apply to enter the Mechanical Engineering program directly by submitting an application to the Admissions Office. Be sure to specify Mechanical Engineering as the intended field of study.
Minimum qualifications for admission to the Department are an overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or better on a scale of 4.0 and a composite GPA of 2.5 in all of your technical courses. The technical courses include all mathematics, science, and engineering courses that you have taken. In both cases, the GPA calculation is based on all courses that are transferable to Seattle University regardless of whether or not they apply to the BSME degree. The decision to admit off-campus transfers directly into any program within the College of Science and Engineering is made by the Associate Dean.
Transfer Credits
Upon admission, transfer students receive a degree audit that indicates the number of transfer credit granted. A few courses from the other institutions (school specific) may not be applicable to the BSME degree at Seattle University, particular in few mathematics, science, and engineering courses where course contents may differ. Community college specific Transfer Guides list Washington state community college courses and their Seattle University equivalent.
Mathematics and Science
Mathematics: The BSME curriculum requires three quarters (15 credits) of basic calculus (MATH 134, 135, 136), 3 credits of multivariable (advanced) calculus (MATH 232), 3 credits of linear algebra (MATH 233), and 4 credits of differential equations (MATH 234).
Physics: Each of the required engineering-oriented physics courses (PHYS 121, 122, 123) contains a laboratory component. Students transferring physics without laboratories will be required to take separate one-credit laboratories - PHYS 296, 297, 298. These are taken pass/fail (credit/no credit).
Chemistry: The required engineering-oriented chemistry course (CHEM 121) contains a laboratory component (CHEM 131). Students transferring chemistry without laboratories will be required to take the one-credit laboratory CHEM 131.
Engineering
CAD: The engineering graphics course (MEGR 105) includes sketching, tolerancing and 3D parametric modeling. Transfer courses that use software such as SolidWorks, SolidEdge, ProEngineer or AutoCAD Inventor usually contain the required content. Courses that use traditional AutoCAD do not meet these requirements.
Mechanics: Statics (MEGR 210), Dynamics (MEGR 230) and Mechanics of Materials (CEEGR 221) provide the foundation for many mechanical engineering upper division courses. Most courses taught as part of the engineering transfer tracks of the Washington State Community and Technical College system meet the transfer requirements for these courses.
Programming: No transferable courses are currently taught in the community college system for the department’s programming and numerical analysis course (MEGR 281). The Department does encourage transfer students to take a programming course prior to attending Seattle University, but it will typically not satisfy the department’s requirements.
Materials Science, Thermodynamics, and Electric Circuits: These three courses are taught in the junior year and contain laboratory components. Theses do not have equivalent courses in the community college system. Students who have taken equivalent courses at a 4-year institution may be asked to participate in the laboratory. Approval of the department chair is required on a case-by-case basis to receive transfer credit.