Skip to main content
Penn State Altoona
Report a Concern Give Visit Apply
  • Academics
    • Majors
    • Academic Calendar
    • Research and Engagement
    • Eiche Library
    • Registrar
    • Academic Advising
    • Honors Program
    • Out-of-Class Learning
    • New Student Orientation
    • Commencement
  • Admissions & Financial Aid
    • Visit Us
    • Admissions Overview
    • Information for First-Year Students
    • How to Apply
    • Accepted Students
    • Find Your Admissions Counselor
    • Tuition and Financial Aid Resources
    • Financial Aid Basics
    • Tuition and Costs
  • Student Success
    • Student Success Center
    • The Help Tool
    • Tutoring
    • Student Affairs
    • Student and Civic Engagement
    • Health and Wellness
    • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
    • Safety at Penn State Altoona
    • Career Services
    • Eiche Library
  • Information For
    • Prospective Students
    • Transfer Students
    • Current Students
    • International Students
    • High School Dual Enrollment Program
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Alumni
    • Parents & Families
    • Professional Development
    • Visitors
Full site navigation menu

This dialog contains the full navigation menu for this site.

Penn State Altoona
Enter the terms you wish to search for.
Search type:
Report a Concern Give Visit Apply
  • This is Penn State Altoona
    • Welcome from the Chancellor
    • Penn State Altoona At a Glance
    • Mission, Vision, and Values
    • College Leadership
    • Our History
    • Campus Map
    • Current Weather Conditions
    • Livestream
  • Academics
    • Majors
    • Academic Calendar
    • Out-of-class Learning
    • Eiche Library
    • Registrar
    • Academic Advising
    • Honors Program
    • Campus Closures
  • Admissions
    • Visit Us
    • Information for First-Year Students
    • How to Apply
    • Accepted Students
    • Find Your Admissions Counselor
    • Experience Altoona
    • Virtual Tour
  • Tuition and Financial Aid
    • Scholarships and Awards
    • Grants
    • Loans
    • Work-study
    • Financial Aid Basics
    • Tuition and Costs
    • Financial Aid Information
  • Student Success
    • Student Success Center
    • The Help Tool
    • Tutoring
    • Student Affairs
    • Student Leadership and Involvement
    • Health and Wellness Center
    • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
    • Internships
    • Safety at Penn State Altoona
    • Study Abroad/Study Away
  • Research and Engagement
    • Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry
    • Faculty Research Resources
    • Internal Grants and Awards
  • Athletics
    • Schedule
    • Facilities
    • Recreation and Club Sports
    • Staff and Coaches Directory
    • Athletic Training and Sports Physicals
    • Athletics News
    • Camps and Clinics
    • Hall of Fame

Find Information For:

  • Prospective Students
  • Transfer Students
  • Current Students
  • International Students
  • High School Dual Enrollment Program
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Alumni
  • Parents & Families
  • Professional Development
  • Visitors

Helpful Links

  • Campus Map
  • Academic Calendar
  • Campus Calendar
  • Community Calendar
  • Student Success Center
  • The Help Tool
  • Faculty & Staff Directory
  • Offices and Divisions
  • Employment Opportunities

Connect With Us

  • facebook
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • linkedin
  • tiktok
  1. Home
  2. Academics
  3. Bachelor's Degrees
  4. Mechanical Engineering

Technical Electives

All Mechanical Engineering students need twelve technical elective credits to complete their degree requirements. The credit breakdown is listed below:

  • 3 credits of Mechanical Engineering Technical Elective (METE)
  • 6 credits of Engineering Technical Elective (ETE)
  • 3 credits of General Technical Elective (GTE)

Mechanical Engineering Technical Electives (METE)

Mechanical Engineering students must take at least three METE credits, which can be any 400-level ME course excluding ME 410, ME 435, ME 441, ME 440, ME 442, ME 443, ME 450, ME 454, ME 494 and ME 496. The use of ME 497 as an METE must be petitioned for approval. A list of 400-level ME classes can be found in the University Bulletin. METE courses can also be taken to satisfy the ETE and GTE requirements.

Engineering Technical Electives (ETE)

To satisfy the ETE credit requirement, students can take any 400-level engineering courses not required for the major. On the chart below, courses in boldface type may be taken for ETE credit. A list of 400-level engineering classes can be found in the University Bulletin.

General Technical Electives (GTE)

The General Technical Elective (GTE) provides the opportunity for a student to enhance their technical education. To satisfy the GTE credit requirement, students can take a math, science or engineering course not required for their degree. The charts below provide a breakdown of accepted electives.

Please note the following:

  1. Some 397 and 497 (temporary) courses offered outside of ME are eligible but require pre-approval via a course substitution request. The course must have substantial technical content and the student must demonstrate how the topic adds value to their academic and/or career plans.
  2. Three co-op credits or internships (or combination of both) rotations (ENGR 195, 295, 395 and 495).
  3. Six credits of ROTC training are accepted (3 credits applied as GTE and 3 credits applied as GHW).
  4. A course substitution must be submitted for any course taken outside of ME.
Courses in the College of Engineering
Course Prefix Accepted Courses Not Accepted
AERSP* 3XX, 4XX 308, 311
AE* 3XX, 4XX N/A
BE 3XX, 4XX N/A
BME* 3XX, 4XX N/A
CHE* 3XX, 4XX 330, 350
CE* 3XX, 4XX 360
CMPEN* 3XX, 4XX N/A
CMPSC* 3XX, 4XX N/A
EE 3XX, 4XX N/A
ENGR* 3XX, 4XX N/A
EDSGN* 4XX N/A
EMCH 3XX, 4XX 315, 416
ESC 3XX, 4XX N/A
IE* 3XX, 4XX N/A
ME* 3XX, 4XX, 497x 410, 440-443, 450, 454
NucE* 3XX, 4XX, 497x 309
Courses in the College of Earth and Mineral Science
Course Prefix Accepted Courses Not Accepted
EARTH 4XX N/A
EGEE 4XX N/A
FSC 4XX N/A
ENVSE 4XX N/A
GEOSC 3XX, 4XX N/A
MATSE 4XX N/A
METEO 3XX, 4XX N/A
MN PR 3XX, 4XX N/A
MNG 3XX, 4XX N/A
PNG 4XX N/A
Courses in the Eberly College of Science
Course Prefix Accepted Courses Not Accepted
ASTRO 2XX, 3XX, 4XX N/A
BMB 2XX, 3XX, 4XX N/A
BIOL 2XX, 3XX, 4XX N/A
BIOTC 4XX N/A
CHEM 2XX, 3XX, 4XX N/A
ENT 3XX, 4XX N/A
MATH 3XX, 4XX N/A
MICRB 2XX, 3XX, 4XX N/A
PHYS 230, 237, 3XX, 4XX N/A
STAT 3XX, 4XX N/A

Notes:

  1. 400-level courses in bold-face type may also be taken for ETE credit.
  2. Departments with asterisk (*) may have controls on their course offerings. Students must contact the department to obtain permission to enroll if they cannot schedule the course in LionPath.

Mechanical Engineering

  • Suggested Academic Plan for Mechanical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering Entrance to Major Requirements
  • Technical Electives
  • Mechanical Engineering Scholarships and Awards
  • Mechanical Engineering Faculty
  • Mechanical Engineering ABET Accreditation

Contact Us

Grant A. Risha
Mechanical Engineering Program Chair
101A Cypress Building
[email protected]

Suggested Academic Plan

Suggested Academic Plans (SAPs) are sample semester-by-semester guides you can use to meet degree requirements.

Mechanical Engineering SAP for Prospective Students

View the SAP for the B.S. in Mechanical Engineering.

Mechanical Engineering SAP for Current Students

To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.

Apply to Penn State
Apply to Penn State
Visit Us In-person or Virtually
Schedule a Visit
The Help Tool
Connect with Student Resources

Student Success Center

Located in room 125 on the lower level of the Eiche Library, the Student Success Center supports two main functions:

  • To GET HELP for those students who need academic and non-academic assistance, and
  • To GET AHEAD for those students ready to take the next steps in their education.
Learn more about the Student Success Center

Out-of-Class Learning

Out-of-classroom academic experiences that complement in-class learning, including:

  • Study Away Programs
  • Academic Internships
  • Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry
Learn more about Out-of-class Learning
Give to Penn State Altoona Mechanical Engineering Program
Give Now

See Also

  • Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology
  • Rail Transportation Engineering
Pennsylvania map showing Penn State's campuses with Penn State Altoona highlighted

Penn State Altoona

A full-service, four-year, residential campus located less than 45 miles from the research campus at University Park. Offering 21 four-year degrees and the first two years of over 275 Penn State majors.
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • linkedin
  • tiktok
Give Visit Apply
  • This is Penn State Altoona
    • Welcome from the Chancellor
    • Penn State Altoona At a Glance
    • Mission, Vision, and Values
    • College Leadership
    • Our History
    • Campus Map
    • Current Weather Conditions
    • Livestream
  • Academics
    • Majors
    • Academic Calendar
    • Out-of-Class Learning
    • Eiche Library
    • Registrar
    • Academic Advising
    • Honors Program
    • Campus Closures
  • Admissions
    • Visit Us
    • Information for First-Year Students
    • How to Apply
    • Accepted Students
    • Find Your Admissions Counselor
    • Experience Altoona
    • Virtual Tour
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Scholarships and Awards
    • Grants
    • Loans
    • Work-study
    • Financial Aid Basics
    • Tuition and Costs
    • Financial Aid Information
  • Student Success
    • Student Success Center
    • The Help Tool
    • Tutoring
    • Student Affairs
    • Student and Civic Engagement
    • Health and Wellness Center
    • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
    • Safety at Penn State Altoona
    • Career Services
    • Eiche Library
  • Research & Engagement
    • Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry
    • Faculty Research Resources
    • Internships
    • Study Abroad/Study Away
    • Internal Grants and Awards
  • Athletics
    • Schedule
    • Facilities
    • Recreation and Club Sports
    • Staff and Coaches Directory
    • Athletic Training and Sports Physicals
    • Athletics News
    • Camps and Clinics
    • Hall of Fame
  • Stay Connected
    • Faculty and Staff Directory
    • Offices and Divisions
    • Campus Calendar
    • PSUAlert Text Messaging Service
    • Penn State Altoona Connect
    • Penn State Go App
    • Penn State Student Engagement Network
Penn State University
3000 Ivyside Park, Altoona, Pennsylvania 16601 814-949-5000

Footer Legal Menu

  • Privacy
  • Non-discrimination
  • Accessibility
  • Copyright
  • Directory
  • The Pennsylvania State University © 2025
  • We Are Penn State