Required of all students. A 2.0 cumulative GPA is required in core courses in order to receive a degree in the major.
The Mechanical Engineering program requires each student to select technical elective courses in one of the two technical emphases to meet the graduation requirement: Mechanical Design and Energy Systems. Each Mechanical Engineering student is required to specify three courses out of one of the two emphases as listed below. No other courses from any other department or university will be accepted as substitutes for these courses. The courses included in the two required technical emphasis courses pool are as follows:
* ME 418/418L or ME 427 may be taken depending on which one was used by the student to satisfy th ME major core requirement, i.e. if the student used ME 427 in ME major core requirement, he or she can take ME 418/418L in the Mechanical Design emphasis.
** Deviations pending approval per Academic Advisor and Mechanical Engineering Curriculum Committee approval.
* ME 418/418L or ME 427 may be taken depending on which one was used by the student to satisfy the ME major core requirement, i.e. if the student used ME 427 in ME major core requirement, he or she can take ME 418/418L in the Energy Systems emphasis.
** Deviations pending approval per Academic Advisor and Mechanical Engineering Curriculum Committee approval.
The following major support courses should be used to satisfy the indicated GE requirements. If these courses are not used to satisfy GE, the total units to degree may be more than 194 units.
Students may receive senior project credit by taking EGR 481 and EGR 482 , provided they satisfy all prerequisite requirements for senior project and get approval from the department by completing the department senior project form. For senior project prerequisites, please refer to prerequisites for ME 461 and ME 462 .
*To receive senior project credit, the student must have successfully passed all 300 level courses in the core.
Students should consult the Academic Programs website https://www.cpp.edu/~academic-programs/general-education-course-listings.shtml for current information regarding this requirement. Unless specific courses are stated under Support Courses, please refer to the list of approved courses under General Education Requirements, Areas A through E.
| Course | Term Taken | Grade | |
| Area A. Communication and Critical Thinking (12 units) | |||
| 1. Oral Communication | |||
| 2. Written Communication | |||
| 3. Critical Thinking | |||
| Area B. Mathematics and Natural Sciences (16 units) | |||
| 1. Physical Science | |||
| 2. Biological Science | |||
| 3. Laboratory Activity | |||
| 4. Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning | |||
| 5. Science and Technology Synthesis | |||
| Area C. Humanities (16 units) | |||
| 1. Visual and Performing Arts | |||
| 2. Philosophy and Civilization | |||
| 3. Literature and Foreign Languages | |||
| 4. Humanities Synthesis | |||
| Area D. Social Sciences (20 units) | |||
| 1. U.S. History, Constitution, and American Ideals a. United States History b. Introduction to American Government | |||
| 2. History, Economics, and Political Science | |||
| 3. Sociology, Anthropology, Ethnic and Gender Studies | |||
| 4. Social Science Synthesis | |||
| Area E. Lifelong Understanding and Self-development (4 units) | |||
For an alternative and interdisciplinary way to complete some of their GE requirements, students may choose the Interdisciplinary General Education program, see below.
An alternate pattern for partial fulfillment of GE Areas A, C, D, and E available for students is the Interdisciplinary General Education (IGE) program. Students should see an advisor for specific GE coursework required by their major. Students must be exempt from or score at least 147 on the EPT to qualify for IGE. Please refer to the University Catalog General Education Program section for additional information.
How IGE fulfills General Education Requirements:
| Year | Completion of IGE Courses | Satisfies GE Requirements |
| Freshman | IGE 120 , IGE 121 , IGE 122 | A2 as well as any 2 courses from C1-C3 |
| Sophomore | IGE 220 , IGE 221 , IGE 222 | D1 (8 units) and D3 |
| Junior | IGE 223 , IGE 224 | D2 and Area E |
Courses that satisfy this requirement may also satisfy GE Area D1.
Refer to the University Catalog General Education Program section for a list of courses that satisfy this requirement. Course may also satisfy major, minor, GE, or unrestricted elective requirements.
All persons who receive undergraduate degrees from Cal Poly Pomona must pass the Graduation Writing Test (GWT). The test must be taken by the quarter following completion of 120 units for undergraduates.