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Frequently Asked Questions

Academics

1. When should I prepare my study plan?

By your 3rd semester here AT LEAST, you should have an overall plan of when you will complete all of your courses and expect to graduate. If you are a transfer student with 60+ units, then you should make that plan ASAP. If you need help making a study plan, consider making an appointment with an academic advisor.

2. How should I plan my General Education (GE) courses?

If possible, avoid taking all of your GE courses in the first 2-3 years. The Mechanical Engineering program has many pre-requisite courses that need to be taken first before you can move on, so it is important that you keep taking the pre-requisite courses to make steady progress towards your degree. Thus, we recommend to distribute the GE courses evenly throughout your entire time at CSUF. If you are not sure when would be the best time to take a GE course, consider making an appointment with an academic advisor.

3. Should I take Summer classes?

In general, we recommend taking only GE courses over the Summer to lighten your load during the Fall and Spring semesters. While it is possible to take some lower division pre-requisite courses (like MATH or PHYS), we do not recommend this unless you have a really good reason for doing so (i.e. your graduation will be delayed). The lower division pre-requisite courses are very foundational -  the workload and cognitive load are very high and it is difficult to fully master the material in a shortened Summer semester. All of your future coursework depends on these foundational courses so taking them over Summer will make your upper division coursework much more difficult. Note that is not required to take Summer courses in a standard four-year plan. If you are not sure about if you should take Summer courses or not, consider making an appointment with an academic advisor.

4. How important are the MATH, CHEM, and PHYS courses?

It cannot be overemphasized how foundational these courses are. Any extra work you put in to go above and beyond what you normally do will earn you a very nice return on your investment as you go through the program, as all future coursework builds upon these foundational courses. Consider taking the 1-unit Math Workshops alongside the main lecture courses (MATH-125W, MATH-151A, MATH-151B, and MATH-251A) for supplemental problem solving support. These workshop courses are highly recommended from all students who have experience with them. It may be possible to attend these workshops without official enrollment.

5. Are there any supplementary materials to support my learning in the lower division classes?

Consider free online resources such as Khan Academy. Our department also has free review videos of our core classes on our Youtube channel that can be helpful.

6. What is the passing grade needed for each of my classes?

The grade required to pass a class depends the class:

  • A grade of "C" (2.0) or better is required for all MATH, PHYS, and CHEM classes
  • A grade of "C-" (1.7) or better is required for GE areas A.1 & A.2 (or areas 1A & 1C for catalog year Fall 2025 and beyond)
  • A grade of "D" (1.0) or better is required for all other GE courses and EGME-401
  • A grade of "C" (2.0) or better is required for EGME-306A, EGME-306B, EGME-476A, and EGME-476B to satisfy the Upper Division Writing Requirement
  • A grade of "D-" (0.7) is the minimum acceptable grade for all other EGME, EGCE, and EGEC courses.

Note that a minimum GPA of 2.00 is required for all three GPA calculations (cumulative GPA, major GPA, and CSUF GPA) to maintain good academic standing and graduate. So while it is possible to pass a class with a grade lower than "C" in some cases, your three GPA's must be above 2.00, otherwise you will be placed on Academic Notice (see below).

7. What is credit by examination (i.e. chalenge examination)?

Please refer to university document UPS 310.000 for detailed information on the challenge exam policy.

8. How do I add two courses that have a time conflict?

  1. Enroll in one of the two calsses. You would then be blocked with a registration message if you attempt to enroll in the second class that overlaps.
  2. Fill out a "Request for Time Conflict Approval" form from the Office of the Registrar.
  3. Obtain the signature from the instructor of each of the two classes (so that each instructor is aware of the time conflict and your circumstances and agrees to accommodate it).
  4. Return the form to the Office of the Registrar by the deadline indicated on the form.
  5. The Office of the Registrar will process the request, which means they will send you instructions on how to enroll in the second class (course must be open and/or permit issued to add over the set class capacity in the CMS)

Note that often, the name of the instructor may not be known at the time of registration. If the instructor is not known, the Office of the Registrar will tell you to check with the department as to who would be the responsible person to sign the time conflict form. The Office of the Registrar prefers that the signatures be those of the instructors involved. If it is not the instructors for the two classes, there at least needs to be at least two different authorized/appropriate persons signing the form.

9. How do I enroll in EGME-497 (Senior Project)?

Check the University Catalog for the requirements. Contact a faculty member you want to work with about your project. Fill out this form and email it to the Undergraduate Program Advisors at bsme_advising@fullerton.edu. If approved, the department will reach out to you with instructions on how to add the course.

10. How do I enroll in EGME-499 (Independent Study)?

Check the University Catalog for the requirements. Contact a faculty member you want to work with about your plan. Fill out this form and email it to the Undergraduate Program Advisors at bsme_advising@fullerton.edu. If approved, the department will reach out to you with instructions on how to add the course.

11. How do I find an internship and can I earn units from it?

Please visit our page on Career Services for resources on how to help you find an internship. In the vast majority of cases, internship experience cannot be used for course credit. Only in very rare and special circumstances, the Dean's Office will arrange for a case where internship experience can be counted for course credit.

12. What is "Academic Notice"? What will happen if I am on "Academic Notice"? What should I do?

Please visit the university's page on Academic Notice for more information.

If you are a junior or senior on Academic Notice, you will be required to (1) schedule an appointment and meet with an ME department advisor to discuss your study plan, (2) take the RESET course as indicated by the link above, and (3) schedule an appointment and meet with the ECS Graduation Specialist.

If you are a freshman or sophomore on Academic Notice, you only need to meet with a counselor at the ECS Student Success Center for advising.

13. Can I repeat a class? Is there a limit on how many units I can repeat? How is my GPA calculated if I repeat a class?

Please visit the university's page on Repeat Policy for a detailed explanation.

14. I have more questions about academic regulations. Where do I find answers?

Please visit the Academic Regulations page for more information. You can also visit the University Catalog to find information about academic regulations and resources. If you still cannot find answers, contact Records and Registration at arsc@fullerton.edu. 

Software

1. How do I get a certain software program on my own computer so I can practice outside the classroom?

CSUF's Information Technology Division offers most of the software we use in our courses to students. If not, then ask your instructor. Many companies directly offer free educational versions of their software for students to use (such as ANSYS).

Transfer Students

1. What courses will transfer from California public colleges and universities?

Please check www.assist.org to see if your college or university has an articulation agreement with CSU Fullerton. If not, then you will need to get your courses evaluated by the respective academic department here at CSU Fullerton. Contact one of our department advisors as soon as possible so that you can start the transfer course evaluation process.

Commencement

1. Can I participate in the commencement ceremony in May if I graduate in the following December?

If you plan to graduate in a Fall semester, you will have to wait until the following Spring to officially participate in the Commencement Ceremony. If you plan to graduate in the Summer, you will participate in the Commencement Ceremony in that same calendar year. Each Commencement Ceremony celebrates the students finishing in that academic year (each new academic year starts with Fall and ends with Summer).