Choosing where to study engineering is one of the most exciting decisions of your academic journey. At Trinity College, your engineering education takes place in small, collaborative classrooms led directly by faculty members who know your name, mentor your research, and support your personal growth.
The mission of the Trinity College Engineering Department (ENGR) is to educate and inspire engineering students within the liberal arts environment to make significant contributions to the engineering profession and to society at large.
Engineering isn’t just design, science, analytics, and mathematics. It is also communication, creative thought, organizing, and working with team members. The more diverse students’ experiences are, the better they will be as engineers.
Trinity College offers two distinct degree pathways, allowing you to tailor your education to your specific talents, passions, and post-graduation goals.
Learn more about the engineering major and explore the available concentrations and courses.
| Degree Path | Accreditation | Primary Focus | Student Profile | Career Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of science in engineering | ABET-accredited | Core engineering design, physical sciences, four concentrations | Students seeking technical depth and professional engineering practice | Professional Engineer (P.E.) licensure preparation, design engineering, research and development, engineering M.S./Ph.D. programs |
| Bachelor of arts in engineering science | Institutional accreditation | Interdisciplinary course pairing, custom concentrations | Students combining engineering with second majors or professional tracks | Patent law, medicine, technology management, public policy, business |
The bachelor of science in engineering provides a technical curriculum accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria. Built upon a foundation of mathematics, physics, and chemistry, the B.S. path requires core engineering courses and a specialized concentration. This path prepares you directly for technical engineering practice, Professional Engineer licensure, and graduate engineering programs.
The bachelor of arts in engineering science offers flexibility for students who want a rigorous engineering foundation alongside secondary academic interests. Students frequently pair the B.A. with second majors in areas such as economics, environmental science, public policy, or neuroscience. The B.A. pathway creates a versatile foundation for careers in patent law, medical technology, technology management, business administration, and science policy.
Your coursework begins with foundational studies in mathematics, chemistry, and physics, building analytical confidence before you move into specialized engineering domains. As a B.S. degree candidate, you’ll select one of four technical concentrations designed to meet current industry demands, with the flexibility to choose upper-level courses that align with your interests and career goals.
At Trinity, hands-on learning starts on your first day. Because Trinity focuses entirely on undergraduate education, you gain immediate access to modern prototyping tools, testing rigs, and computational software in the Roy Nutt Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Science Center (MECC).
All engineering majors complete a year-long Senior Capstone Design Project. Working in small teams under the guidance of faculty advisers or industry sponsors, you will synthesize your engineering knowledge to design, construct, test, and evaluate solutions for real-world problems. Review full course descriptions and major requirements on the Trinity Engineering Curriculum Summary page.
Undergraduate research at Trinity extends far beyond the classroom. Student research has been funded by the NASA Connecticut Space Grant and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, among other sources. As early as sophomore year, students are able to gain valuable research experience that is not typically available to engineering majors.
Trinity’s location in Hartford, Connecticut, places you near leading technological, educational, and biomedical institutions. Engineering students have secured competitive internships with major industry partners, gaining real workplace experience with top regional employers:
Learn more about research projects, student clubs, and design opportunities on the Engineering Student Opportunities page. The Engineering Department sponsors a summer internship program that strives to find a placement for every engineering major during the summer between their junior and senior years.
A Trinity engineering degree can open doors to rewarding careers and top graduate programs. By pairing technical competencies with liberal arts communication and leadership skills, Trinity graduates build long-term career resilience.
Trinity engineering graduates hold roles as mechanical engineers, chief technical officers, attorneys, and analysts in a broad range of industries. You can browse the occupations of Trinity College engineering alumni to explore even more career paths.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects steady job growth across core engineering fields through 2035, driven by global investments in renewable energy, biomedical technologies, semiconductor manufacturing, and autonomous systems. Whether you plan to enter industrial engineering, conduct medical device research, practice patent law, or launch a tech startup, your Trinity education provides a launching pad.
For the Trinity College alumnus who developed the “camera on a chip” technology used in almost all smartphones and webcams, this small liberal arts institution was the ideal place to launch a career in the sciences.
“People think of liberal arts, they think of creativity. Engineering is not all about math and computing things—those are the tools—it’s also about creativity.”
Every two years, the engineering faculty reviews the B.S. in engineering Program Educational Objectives to ensure alignment with student needs and industry standards. The objectives state that Trinity engineering graduates:
Trinity College reviews applicants holistically, evaluating academic curiosity, leadership potential, and personal character. Prospective engineering students should complete rigorous high school preparation in mathematics and physical sciences.
Engineering majors Digesh Chitrakar ’22, Divas Subedi ’22, and Isabella Yung ’22 collaborated on a senior capstone project to design a smart pen that confirms user identity and authenticates signatures in real time. Combining their training in mechanical design, electrical engineering, and computer science, the student team built a functional physical prototype that demonstrated the power of multidisciplinary teamwork.
