Mechanical Engineering Technology PE Policy

Updated 2/29/2024

Students must complete 12 semester credit hours of professional elective coursework to successfully complete all requirements for a BS in Mechanical Engineering Technology.

Definition of Professional Elective Coursework

A professional elective (PE) course is intended to enhance the depth and breadth of the educational experience in the Mechanical Engineering Technology curriculum.

Courses listed on the reverse side of this Professional Electives Policy sheet represent "typical" PE courses which satisfy these criteria and, therefore, are pre-approved. At least two of the four required PE courses must be selected from this pre-approved list of classes. Courses outside those listed may be considered for the remaining two PE courses, if they can be shown to meet the definition of a MET PE¹.   

Courses taken as part of an approved non-teaching minor², (engineering minors, business minors, computer science, economics, entrepreneurship, foreign languages, mathematics, etc.), or through ROTC programs may qualify for professional elective credit. As early as possible (freshman year), MET students should meet with their academic advisor to discuss these options and integrate the required coursework into their academic plan, as well as to determine which courses can be applied as approved professional electives.

• Any exceptions to the MET PE Policy must be approved by the student’s advisor and/or the M&IE Certifying Officer and Department Head³.

• A maximum of 3 credits of professional electives may be selected from the following choices, with justification³ and advisor approval:
• ETME 490 – Undergraduate Research⁴
• ETME 492 – Independent Study⁴
• ETME 498 – Internship⁵

¹ Mechanical Engineering Technology juniors and seniors are invited to explore other professional elective options. Junior-level (300) or higher-level courses of 3 or more credits could in some circumstances be appropriate as a PE and may qualify if adequate justification can be provided. For non-listed courses to be considered, students must submit a justification form to their advisor describing how the proposed course supports the student’s professional aspirations.³

² Available non-teaching minors can be found at: http://catalog.montana.edu/undergraduate/#undergraduateminorstext.

³ The Justification Form(s) is/are available on the M&IE website: https://www.montana.edu/mie/students/student_resources_documents/mechanical_engineering_technology.html.

⁴ As indicated, ETME 490 or ETME 492 may count as a professional elective. As part of the justification, the following should be considered:

• The faculty advisor(s) must be qualified and agree to administer and evaluate the engineering content.
• The project must include formal meetings and/or formal lecture instruction. The grade will be assigned by the MET advisor/co-advisor.
• The project must result in a quantifiable end result (typically a formal engineering report).
• An ETME 490 or ETME 492 approval form and documentation must also be completed.

⁵ Other conditions apply. See internship course pre-requisites and the MET Internship information in the M&IE Department Student Advising & Resources materials.

Pre-Approved MET Professional Elective Courses: