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Major Requirements

The Trinity engineering degrees are based in the formal study of mathematics, physics, and chemistry, extended by completing engineering core courses in mechanics, material science, electrical circuits, and automatic control theory, and rounded out by a senior capstone design project. Engineering electives provide depth of study in the major. Every engineering major must demonstrate proficiency in computer-aided design, data acquisition, programming, and preparation of technical reports and presentations. To ensure significant exposure to the traditional liberal arts, each student must complete at least eight course credits in the arts, humanities, or social sciences and is expected to achieve depth of study in at least one subject area within these disciplines. Independent study or internship credits are not normally counted toward a degree in engineering. Students must obtain departmental approval before enrolling in courses to be taken at other institutions and counted toward the engineering major.

The Bachelor of Science in Engineering

The B.S. in Engineering degree, accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (https://www.abet.org), under the General Criteria, requires completion of core mathematics, science, and engineering courses; engineering electives; and a yearlong senior capstone design project. Engineering core courses and electives provide exposure to the engineering sciences and serve as bridges linking basic mathematics and science to the creative process of engineering design. The senior capstone design project, which requires ENGR 483 and 484, engages students, working in close collaboration with their faculty advisers, in the process of creating an engineering system from inception to implementation and testing. This process requires students to consider such design criteria as economic and environmental costs and constraints, aesthetics, reliability, and complexity, and to write formal design specifications, evaluate alternatives, synthesize a system, and evaluate its performance. Firmly grounded in the traditional liberal arts, the B.S. in engineering program emphasizes a rigorous curriculum and incorporates newer fields and interdisciplinary approaches. The educational objectives of the B.S. in engineering program are the following:

  • Trinity engineering graduates apply their broad liberal arts education and firm foundation in engineering fundamentals to diverse fields of endeavor.
  • Early in their careers, Trinity engineering graduates pursue varied positions in industry or graduate school in engineering and related fields.
  • Trinity engineering graduates demonstrate professional growth, provide leadership, and contribute to the needs of society.

Students pursuing the B.S. in engineering may choose one elective course pathway in biomedical, computer, electrical, or mechanical engineering concentrations. Concentrations provide additional engineering course selections beyond basic mathematics, science, and engineering science, to satisfy an individual’s interest and prepare students to carry out the senior capstone design project. Students may design their own B.S. program in consultation with an engineering faculty adviser (refer to bachelor of science in engineering Without concentration section below). The engineering faculty adviser works with each student in tailoring a program that includes an appropriate mix of engineering science and design.

  • Biomedical engineering concentration—Built upon a solid foundation in the biological and physical sciences and core engineering areas, elective courses allow students to pursue particular interests in such areas as electrophysiology, biomechanics, biofluid dynamics, biosignal processing, or bioinstrumentation.
  • Computer engineering concentration—Courses emphasize the mathematical and physical bases for designing digital computer systems. Laboratory projects in digital logic, microprocessor systems, software design, and semiconductor electronics provide hands-on experience in integrating hardware and software.
  • Electrical engineering concentration—Courses emphasize semiconductor electronics, communication theory, digital signal processing, digital logic design, and microprocessor system design and interfacing.
  • Mechanical engineering concentration—Courses include the study of mechanical systems (statics, dynamics, solid mechanics, and fluid mechanics), and thermal systems (thermodynamics and heat transfer).

The Bachelor of Arts in Engineering Science

The B.A. degree provides a flexible and interdisciplinary engineering experience for students who wish to broaden their learning horizons across disciplines in Trinity’s liberal arts curriculum. The B.A. is different from the ABET-accredited B.S. degree in that it requires integration of engineering studies with significant study in such cognate areas as economics, international studies, environmental science, neuroscience, or public policy and law. Consequently the B.A. provides a strong background for students who wish to pursue careers in public service, management, or entrepreneurship, for example. Its mission is to educate students able to develop and convey solutions to multidimensional problems that require scientific, technological, global, and social perspectives with the following objectives:

  • Trinity engineering graduates gain balanced background training in mathematics, science, engineering, and a broad spectrum of liberal arts curricula.
  • Trinity engineering graduates integrate study of engineering subjects with depth of study in at least one cognate area chosen in consultation with faculty advisers.
  • Trinity engineering graduates apply their broad liberal arts education and firm foundation in engineering fundamentals to diverse fields of endeavor.

LEARNING GOALS

The Engineering Department’s learning goals can be found HERE.

REQUIREMENTS

General requirements for engineering degrees—B.S. and B.A.

  • No more than one engineering or concentration/cognate elective course with a grade lower than C- will be counted toward the engineering major.
  • Computer programming proficiency by course (C- or better) or examination. The courses that satisfy this requirement are: ENGR 110, 301L, 323L, 357, CPSC 115, 215.
  • At least eight course credits in arts, humanities, or social sciences, including at least two courses chosen to achieve depth in one subject area within these disciplines.
  • The Writing Intensive Part II requirement is fulfilled by one of the following courses: ENGR 200, 212L, 221L, 301L, 303L, 305L, 323L, 362L, 431L, 483, or 484.

Bachelor of science in engineering

  • Basic mathematics/science core: MATH 131, 132, 231, 234; CHEM 111L; PHYS 141L, 231L, and one additional science or mathematics course approved in advance by the department chair. Students must have earned credit for at least two physics courses, one chemistry course, and four math courses contributing towards a total of eight math/science courses.
  • Engineering core: ENGR 200, 212L, 225, 232, and 312.
  • A yearlong senior capstone design project requiring enrollment in ENGR 483 Capstone Design-I in the fall semester and ENGR 484 Capstone Design-II in the spring semester is required.
  • Beyond the general requirements listed above, students pursuing the B.S. in engineering must choose one of the options below. Completion of a concentration is noted on the final transcript.
    • Biomedical engineering concentration—BIOL 182L, BIOL 183L, ENGR 116, 301L, 311, 353, 357 (or BIOL 319L) plus three electives from either the bioelectrical focus or the biomechanical focus, not from both. Courses for the bioelectrical focus include ENGR 221L, 323L, 316 (or ENGR 346L). Courses for the biomechanical focus include ENGR 226, 325L, 362L. BIOL 183L will satisfy the natural science elective for BME concentration. BIOL 319L can only count toward one requirement.
    • Computer engineering concentration—CPSC 115L, 215L, plus one appropriate upper-level computer science course approved in advance by the department chair, and ENGR 221L, 305L, and 323L plus one appropriate engineering course 300 level or above approved in advance by the department chair.
    • Electrical engineering concentration—ENGR 221L, 301L, 303L, 305L, 323L, plus one elective chosen from the following list approved in advance by the department chair: ENGR 110, 116, 120, 226, 302, 306, 311, 316, 320, 325L, 337, 346L, 353, 357, 362L, 372L, 431L.
    • Mechanical engineering concentration—ENGR 226, 325L, 337, 362L, 372L, 431L (or 353), plus one engineering elective chosen from the following list approved in advance by the department chair: ENGR 110, 116, 120, 221L, 301L, 302, 303L, 305L, 306, 311, 316, 320, 323L, 346L, 353, 357, 431L.
    • Without concentration—Engineering electives, bearing at least seven course credits, chosen from the following list approved in advance by the department chair: either ENGR 110 or 116 or 120, 221L, 226, 301L, 302, 303L, 305L, 306, 311, 316, 320, 323L, 325L, 337, 346L, 353, 357, 362L, 372L, 431L. Electives must be chosen to ensure sufficient engineering design content.

Additional courses: Engineering majors are encouraged to select, in consultation with their faculty advisers, courses from the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences that address individual interests and broaden educational perspectives. Additional courses in physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and neuroscience enrich basic scientific understanding and address the special interests of students; such courses are highly recommended.

Students intending to enter graduate study in engineering are advised to elect mathematics courses beyond the four-course basic mathematics sequence. Recommended areas include probability and statistics (MATH 305, 306), linear algebra (MATH 228) or applied linear algebra (MATH 229), numerical analysis (MATH 309), and mathematical methods of physics (PHYS 300).

Bachelor of arts in engineering science

  • Basic mathematics/science core: MATH 131, 132; PHYS 141L, 231L, plus two elective courses (approved in advance by the department chair) chosen from mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, neuroscience, or computer science.
  • Engineering core: ENGR 200, 221L (or 212L), 225, 232, plus three engineering electives (at least two must be above 100 level and at least one at 300 level, excluding ENGR 116, 341, and 342).
  • ENGR 483: A one-semester senior capstone design project that integrates engineering with subjects from a chosen cognate area.
  • Four additional courses from a cognate department or program: chosen in consultation with the faculty adviser; these courses must achieve depth of study in the cognate area (e.g., chemistry, economics, psychology, environmental science, music).

Environmental science pathway: The B.A. elective pathway in environmental science introduces engineering students to the fundamentals of environmental science fieldwork and methods, and provides a broad understanding of the natural environment and the impact of human behavior. It requires completion of a one-semester senior capstone design project with an environmental engineering component.

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

AP/IBO credit: AP/IBO credit is accepted, when equivalent, for the basic mathematics/science core and the arts/humanities/social science requirements for both the B.S. in engineering and the B.A. in engineering science degrees. Incoming students should consult with the department chair.

Study away: Engineering majors are encouraged to study away for one semester in the junior year. Students who plan to study away must contact the Engineering Department chair as early as possible, even before major declaration, to develop an individual four-year course plan.

Honors: To be eligible for honors for the B.S. in engineering degree the student must: (1) Earn a grade point average of at least 3.5 in all engineering courses (not including independent studies); (2) earn an overall GPA of at least 3.3; and (3) earn a grade of B+ or higher on the engineering senior capstone design project. To be eligible for honors for the B.A. in engineering science degree the student must: (1) Earn a grade point average of at least 3.5 in ALL math, science, and engineering courses that could fulfill a requirement for the B.A. (not including independent studies); (2) earn an overall GPA of at least 3.3; and (3) earn a grade of B+ or higher in ENGR 483.