A major in mechanical engineering may also serve as an appropriate part of the program of studies required for a California community college teaching credential. Students who wish to secure this credential should consult the designated advisor in the Graduate School of Education. College wide undergraduate counseling is provided under the direction of the Assistant to the Dean for Undergraduate Studies. In addition, departmental advisors are assigned to all students in the freshman year. In the junior year an upper-division advisor assists the students in the selection of departmental elective courses and provides counseling to students on a variety of issues related to their academic experience.
Individual faculty are also available for help in program planning and professional development.
A faculty supervisor and the graduate advisor, in conjunction with a graduate studies committee, directs the program of studies for M.S. and Ph.D. candidates. Undergraduate students enrolled in other majors at UCSB who plan to change to a major in the Department of Mechanical and Environmental Engineering should obtain counseling from the Assistant to the Dean for Undergraduate Studies. Students who are not Mechanical Engineering majors will generally be permitted to take lower division Mechanical Engineering courses, subject to meeting prerequisites and grade-point average requirements, availability of space and consent of the instructor. Requirements total 183 units. The department electives program aims to be flexible.