Mechanical Engineering - BS | University of the Pacific

Discover Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineering majors are part of a dynamic field of study that engages students in a diverse range of activities including machine design and analysis, product development, environmental control, robotics and manufacturing. Pacific students are provided the broad technical knowledge and practical experience necessary to thrive in their careers and postgraduate studies.

In their profession, mechanical engineers understand form and function while knowing about the material properties that influence material selection. Their skills and vision transform concepts into tangible products that follow the principles of functional design. From jet engines to medical devices, mechanical engineers build products that support society.

The School of Engineering and Computer Science (SOECS) also offers a master’s degree in engineering science with a concentration in mechanical engineering. Through our blended program, students can begin graduate course work during their senior year at Pacific and complete their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years.

The Mechanical Engineering (B.S.) program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the commission's General Criteria and Program Criteria for Mechanical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Calista Morita, mechanical engineering major, works on a project in the School of Engineering and Computer Science's advanced manufacturing lab.

Outstanding Student

Calista Morita '24

Calista Morita joined Professor JuEun Lee’s biomechanics lab as an undergraduate. Now, working toward her master’s in mechanical engineering through Pacific’s dual-degree program, she’s been able to dive deeper into those topics as a graduate student researcher. She says the experience has inspired her to explore opportunities in the medical field: “I would love to work on medical devices or even product design...there’s kind of unlimited options, you know?”

Learn more about Calista

Turning theory into practice

With over 30 laboratories on campus, students gain hands-on experience with a variety of equipment, such as:

Data acquisition systems
A machine shop with CNC equipment
Materials testing machines
Optical and electron microscopes
Robots and mechatronic systems
Solar collectors
Vibration and noise instruments
A wind tunnel

SOECS student Owen Scott working on undergraduate research on bone drilling in orthopedic surgery for biomedical purposes

Outstanding Student

Owen Scott '26

In his first year at Pacific, Owen Scott has hit the ground running. From joining an undergraduate research team to building a solar-powered car with fellow engineering students, Owen is already gaining valuable experiences in and out of the classroom to prepare for his future career in mechanical engineering.

Learn more about Owen

Blended MSE option

Students enrolled in the mechanical engineering program can work with their academic advisors to start taking graduate courses as they complete undergraduate degree requirements. Please contact Dr. Vivek Pallipuram for more information about the blended program and for an application.

Discover the Blended Program

Earn while you learn

As part of the mechanical engineering program, students complete a two academic term, paid CO-OP working in industry and earn an average of $3,700 a month. These professional experiences are crucial in giving students a competitive edge in the engineering job market after graduation.

View our Cooperative Education Program

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Master of Science in Engineering

Curriculum Info

Mechanical Engineering Major Requirements

Curriculum Overview

Mechanical Engineering Program Educational Objectives
Through their careers in Mechanical Engineering or a related profession, Pacific BSME graduates are expected to demonstrate one or more of the following within a few years of earning their BSME:

Competence and/or leadership via promotion to positions of increasing responsibility, publications, and/or conference presentations;
Adaptability to new developments in science and technology by successfully completing or pursuing graduate education in engineering and related fields, or participating in professional development and/or industrial training courses;
Creativity and innovation in engineering and technology through participation in activities such as research, design, intellectual property development, and/or entrepreneurial endeavors;

Pacific BSME graduates are also expected to demonstrate an awareness of humanistic, societal, and environmental issues through involvement in local, national, and/or global activities.

Mechanical Engineering Student Outcomes
Student outcomes required to achieve Mechanical Engineering Program Educational Objectives:

an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Enrollment and Degrees Awarded

Academic Year	Enrollment (fall census)	Awarded Degrees
2023-2024	102	28
2022-2023	111	23
2021-2022	119	19
2020-2021	128	16
2019-2020	105	17
2018-2019	108	30

Engineering and Computer Science Scholarship Application Instructions

How to Apply

Visit https://pacific.academicworks.com
Sign in using your Pacific Net ID and Password
Complete the General Application
Complete the Conditional SOECS Application
Choose "Apply" for any recommended scholarship opportunities based on your responses and academic profile. Please read the scholarship criteria carefully to confirm that you are qualified BEFORE you apply.
You will need to upload an unofficial transcript.

Any Engineering or Computer Science Major

Name of Scholarship	Qualification Criteria
Maryam H. Dashti Endowed Scholarship	Merit-Based; first preference for a student from Kuwait; second preference for a student from Gulf States Region; third preference for international student
B.G. Glenn A Goddard Veteran's Endowed Scholarship	Merit-Based, currently serving in a military reserve program, honorably discharged veteran or participant in ROTC program.
Robert L. Heyborne Endowed Scholarship	Merit-Based, full-time undergraduate student, minimum 3.0 GPA, Junior/Senior standing preferred
George and Sue Schroeder Endowed Scholarship	Undergraduate School of Engineering & Computer Science student, Minimum 3.2 GPA
Paul M. Sensibaugh Engineering Endowed Scholarship	Merit-Based, preference for students who have graduated or transferred from San Joaquin County Schools
Louise Stark Endowed Scholarship for Women Engineers	Need-Based, Undergraduate Female, Good Academic Standing, minimum 2.5 GPA

Any Engineering Major

Name of Scholarship	Qualification Criteria
Hamma Fund Scholar (administered by Dean's Office)	Merit-Based, last two semesters of Undergrad Program with the goal of enrolling in Master's Program at Pacific, Member of Tau Beta Pi (Award covers 1 fiscal year of graduate school, including books)
Minority Engineering Endowed Scholarship	Need-Based, Preference for African American or other underrepresented ethnicities
Edward E. Whitacre, Jr. Endowed Scholarship	Need-Based, full-time Engineering major, minimum of 3.0 GPA