The emphasis in the MET program is placed on understanding how engineering principles are applied in practice rather than on the scientific concepts and mathematical methods used in the derivation of new technologies. At the same time, the program goes beyond the teaching of current procedures, so that the graduates are enabled to adapt to the changing needs of industry. Graduates find careers in many technological fields, including plant operations and management, quality assurance, product and manufacturing systems design, testing and evaluation, technical sales, and environmental testing and enforcement. CSUS offers primarily the upper division portion of the MET program.
Most students take the first two years at a community college.
Building on a foundation in natural science, mathematics, computer science, drafting, manufacturing processes, and engineering material properties, the student comes to CSUS to develop more fully an understanding of energy and power technology, the behavior of fluids and hydraulic machinery, the design of mechanisms, the selection of machine components, and engineering measurements. Most classes have enrollments of less than 30, allowing for close interactions between students and faculty. Laboratory classes, which provide practical experience, normally have fewer than 20 students. All technology students receive academic advising every semester prior to registration. This careful personal attention means that students always know what is required of them and what courses they should be taking.