Engineering

Bachelor of Science degrees are offered in bioengineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. The computer, electrical and mechanical engineering programs are accredited by ABET, Inc. The bioengineering program was submitted for accreditation during 2012-13. Other major and minor programs that include engineering components include energy studies, environmental science, environmental engineering and nanotechnology. Please see the relevant sections of the Academic Register for descriptions of these areas of study.

Course Selection Guidelines

Course Sequence: The first year in engineering begins withESC 100 - Exploring Engineering , a course that introduces students to engineering disciplines through interdisciplinary design projects, presentations by engineering professionals and a hands-on team design project. Students are encouraged to choose an engineering major early in the first year since program curricula begin to diverge in the winter term; however, students do not need to declare an engineering major until the spring term. Engineering students complete the College’s Common Curriculum and are strongly encouraged to satisfy their cultural and linguistic competency requirement by going abroad. Details of these requirements can be found in the section of the Academic Register that describes the Common Curriculum.

First year engineering students take three terms of calculus and two terms of physics (PHY 120 , PHY 121 ). There are different calculus sequences that can be taken, based on the high school math background of the student. Students take a placement exam in the summer before their first year to determine their calculus sequence. Students who have had an introduction to differential and integral calculus in high school may be placed into an Integrated Math-Physics course sequence (IMP 120 , IMP 121 ) that combines mathematics and physics into a set of courses that roughly span the context ofMTH 115 , MTH 117 and PHY 120 , PHY 121 .

International Programs for Engineering Students

Engineering is a global profession and Union College is a national leader in engaging engineering students in international experiences. As an engineer, you will likely find yourself working on an international team in a global company, working for an organization with international clients or being dispatched to international locations to negotiate or oversee work. Thus it is critically important that you understand the nuances of other cultures and how to communicate effectively. One of the best ways to accomplish this is through an international experience as a student. Therefore, engineering students, except under extraordinary conditions (as approved by the student’s academic advisor and department chair), are expected to meet the Linguistic and Cultural Competency requirements of the Common Curriculum by participating in some type of international experience. For more information, please visit http://www.union.edu/offices/international/

Engineering Science Courses

Courses listed in this section are general engineering courses common to more than one program.

Courses

ESC 100 - Exploring Engineering