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Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

The purpose of the Engineering major is to develop in students the necessary knowledge and analytical skills for professional engineering practice or for successful graduate studies. The Engineering program is characterized by breadth but permits study in depth, to include attaining a specialization in civil, computer, electrical or mechanical engineering. The Engineering major also provides for flexibility to address the unknown challenges of the 21st century. In consultation with an academic advisor, students may design a Custom Program to prepare for emerging fields not immediately definable with traditional specializations.

Engineers apply the principles of mathematics and the laws of natural science to analyze, design, develop and devise improvements that benefit humanity. The Engineering program consists of a course of study in mathematics, science and engineering fundamentals during the first two and one-half years of study. Students must then tailor the program to their own specific needs by selection, with the assistance of their advisor, of appropriate elective courses constituting a specialization. The resulting curriculum is designed to achieve a balance between science and engineering, to provide an understanding of the economic and social implications of engineering activity, and to develop creative talents. This program includes the necessary topics found on the FE exam.

The Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Specific program educational objectives and outcomes include:

Program Educational Objectives

During the first few years after graduation, we expect our graduates to:

  1. Possess an inquisitive mind, demonstrate excellence in technical knowledge and skills, achieve success as a practicing engineer or graduate student, and apply the highest ethical standards in all pursuits.
  2. Value the concept of, and demonstrate through practice, activities and actions that contribute to continual intellectual growth.
  3. Advance the engineering profession by becoming actively involved in professional associations and societies, serving in professional and community volunteer positions, acting as a role model for the future generation of engineers, and assisting the SECCM Engineering Program in achieving its mission and goals.

Program Outcomes

We expect our graduating students to possess:

  1. An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
  2. An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
  3. An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability and sustainability
  4. An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams
  5. An ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems
  6. An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
  7. An ability to communicate effectively
  8. An understanding of the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
  9. A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in lifelong learning
  10. A knowledge of contemporary issues
  11. An ability to use the techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice

Degree Requirements

The major in Engineering leads to the Bachelor of Science degree. Students normally complete a minimum of 124 credits, including satisfaction of all University Core Curriculum requirements and meeting the requirements of one of the available Engineering Specializations. The approved outline is as follows:

First Year (16 credits) Fall

COMM 210 Introduction to Public Speaking (3 credits)
CORE 102 History and the Modern World (3 credits)
ENGR 110 Engineering Graphics and Design (3 credits)
MATH 213 Calculus I & Lab (4 credits)
CORE 102 Expository Writing (3 credits)

First Year (17 credits) – Spring

CORE 103 Human Behavior in Perspective (3 credits)
ENGR 115 Computer Applications for Engineering (3 credits)
MATH 214 Calculus II & Lab (4 credits)
PHYS 220 Physics I & Lab (4 credits)
WTNG 201 Critical Writing for the Profession (3 credits)

Second Year (17 credits) – Fall

CHEM 191 Chemistry I & Lab (4 credits)
CORE 104 Literature, Philosophy and the Ascent of Ideas (3 credits)
ENGR 210 Engineering Mechanics I (3 credits)
MATH 317 Differential Equations (3 credits)
PHYS 202 Physics II & Lab (4 credits)

Second Year (17 credits) – Spring

CHEM 192 Chemistry II & Lab (4 credits)
CORE 105 The Artistic Impulse (3 credits)
ENGR 220 Engineering Mechanics II (3 credits)
ENGR 300 Mechanics of Materials & Lab  (4 credits)
MATH 315  Probability & Statistics (3 credits)

Third Year (16 or 17 credits)-Fall

ENGR 240  Circuit Theory & Lab (4 credits)
ENGR 320 Environmental Engineering (3 credits)
ENGR 330 Thermodynamics (3 credits)
MATH 330 Engineering Mathematics (3 credits)
    Engineering Elective (3/4 credits)

Third Year (13-15 credits)-Spring

ENGR 305 Fluid Mechanics & Lab (4 credits)
ENGR 310 Materials Science (3 credits)
    Engineering Elective (3/4 credits)
    Engineering Elective (3/4 credits)

Fourth Year (15-16 credits)-Fall

CORE   Core Interdisciplinary Senior Seminar (3 credits)
ENGR 335 Engineering Economic Analysis (3 credits)
ENGR 490 Engineering Design I (3 credits)
    Engineering Elective      (3 credits)
    Engineering Elective    (3 credits)

Fourth Year (13-15 credits)-Spring

ENGR 401 Engineering Senior Seminar (1 credits)
ENGR 492 Engineering Design II (3 credits)
    Engineering Elective (3/4 credits)
    Engineering Elective (3/4 credits)
    Elective (3 credits)

Total: 124-130 Semester Credits

Engineering electives must be selected to meet the requirements of one of the available Engineering Specializations.

Civil Engineering Specialization

The Civil Engineering Specialization (including focused study in Structural Engineering and Environmental Engineering) is only for students majoring in Engineering.

Required Course:

ENGR 313 Structural Analysis

Select any six courses, at least four of which must be at the 400 level:

ENGR 405 Air Pollution and Control
ENGR 407 Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
ENGR 409 Structural Design I
ENGR 412 Water Resources Engineering & Lab
ENGR 413 Advanced Structural Analysis
ENGR 414 Geotechnical Engineering & Lab
ENGR 415 Water and Wastewater Treatment & Lab
ENGR 417 Groundwater Hydrology
ENGR 420 Transportation Engineering
ENGR 430 Special Topics (with permission of advisor)
ENGR 430 Special Topics: Structural Design II
CNST 302 Surveying & Lab
CHEM 201 Environmental Chemistry & Lab

Computer Engineering Specialization

The Computer Engineering Specialization is only for students majoring in Engineering.

Required Courses:


COMSC 110 Introduction to Computer Science I & Lab
COMSC 111 Data Structures & Lab
ENGR 260 Engineering Electronics & Lab
ENGR 270 Digital Systems Design & Lab
ENGR 445 Dynamic Modeling and Control

Select two:

COMSC 210/ENGR 410 Principles of Computer Organization & Lab
COMSC 220 Algorithms and Data Structures
COMSC 230 Principles of Programming Languages
ENGR 430 Special Topics (with permission of advisor)
ENGR 450 Mechatronics & Lab

Electrical Engineering Specialization

The Electrical Engineering Specialization is only for students majoring in Engineering.

Required Courses:

ENGR 260 Engineering Electronics & Lab
ENGR 270 Digital System Design & Lab
ENGR 424 Digital Signal Processing
ENGR 445 Dynamic Modeling and Control
ENGR 450 Mechatronics & Lab

Select two:

ENGR 430 Special Topics (with permission of advisor)
ENGR 455 Data Communications
ENGR 465 Network Analysis and Design

Mechanical Engineering Specialization

The Mechanical Engineering Specialization is only for students majoring in Engineering.

Required Courses:

ENGR 260 Engineering Electronics & Lab
ENGR 350 Theory and Design of Mechanical Measurements
ENGR 431 Mechanical Vibrations
or    
ENGR 445 Dynamic Modeling and Control
ENGR 433 Heat Transfer
ENGR 450 Mechatronics & Lab

Select two:

ENGR 430 Special Topics (with permission of advisor)
CNST 455 Mechanical and Electrical Design for Buildings

The Custom Program Specialization

The Custom Program Specialization is only for students majoring in Engineering.

Required Courses:

ENGR 260 Engineering Electronics & Lab
ENGR 313 Structural Analysis

Plus four Engineering electives proposed and approved by the advisor at least three of which are at the 400-level.

Charles R. Thomas, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Engineering
B.S. University of Rochester, M.S., Ph.D. Boston University
Contact Information
x3259
SE 117
Areas of Expertise: 
Mechanical Engineering

Charles R. Thomas

Charles R.
Thomas
Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Engineering
B.S. University of Rochester, M.S., Ph.D. Boston University
Contact Information
x3259
SE 117
Areas of Expertise: 
Mechanical Engineering

Charles Thomas joined the SECCM faculty in Fall of 2005, after completing a year-long postdoctoral fellowship at Boston University whose focus was in the role of bubbles in High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound.  He earned his Ph.D. (2004) and M.S. (2003) degrees in Mechanical Engineering at Boston University as well.  He earned a B.S. degree in Physics from the University of Rochester, in 1998.

Dr. Thomas’ thesis work focused on studying the effects of ambient (i.e. gravitational) acceleration on Single Bubble Sonoluminescence.  This work included the exciting opportunity to fly aboard the NASA’s weightless wonder.

While at RWU, his main research activity has been an exciting collaboration with Dr. Dale Leavitt (RWU, Marine Biology), focusing on aquaculture.  They have worked, with a number of students, on an EPA-funded project to convert a fossil fuel-powered fish grow-out facility to a solar-powered facility.

Matthew R. Stein, Ph.D.
Professor of Engineering
B.S. Rutgers College of Engineering, M.S. University of California, Berkeley, Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania
Contact Information
x3489
SE 106
Areas of Expertise: 
Mechanical Engineering

Matthew R. Stein

Matthew R.
Stein
Ph.D.
Professor of Engineering
B.S. Rutgers College of Engineering, M.S. University of California, Berkeley, Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania
Contact Information
x3489
SE 106
Areas of Expertise: 
Mechanical Engineering
Linda A. Riley, Ph.D.
Professor of Engineering
B.S. Boston University, M.B.A. Suffolk University, Post Graduate Fellowship Brown University, M.S.I.E., Ph.D. New Mexico State University
Contact Information
x3896
SE 116
Areas of Expertise: 
Engineering

Linda A. Riley

Linda A.
Riley
Ph.D.
Professor of Engineering
B.S. Boston University, M.B.A. Suffolk University, Post Graduate Fellowship Brown University, M.S.I.E., Ph.D. New Mexico State University
Contact Information
x3896
SE 116
Areas of Expertise: 
Engineering
Robert A. Potter, Jr., P.E.
Dean and Professor of Engineering
B.S. United States Military Academy, M.S., Ph.D. University of Colorado
Contact Information
x3314/3498
SE 114
Areas of Expertise: 
Mechanical Engineering

Robert A. Potter

Robert A.
Potter
Jr., P.E.
Dean and Professor of Engineering
B.S. United States Military Academy, M.S., Ph.D. University of Colorado
Contact Information
x3314/3498
SE 114
Areas of Expertise: 
Mechanical Engineering
William J. Palm, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Engineering
B.S. Pennsylvania State University, M.S. University of California at Berkeley, Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Contact Information
x3746
SE 109
Areas of Expertise: 
Mechanical Engineering

William J. Palm

William J.
Palm
Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Engineering
B.S. Pennsylvania State University, M.S. University of California at Berkeley, Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Contact Information
x3746
SE 109
Areas of Expertise: 
Mechanical Engineering
Ram S. Gupta, P.E.
Professor of Engineering
B.E. University of Jabalpur, India, M.E. University of Roorkee, India, Ph.D. Polytechnic University of New York
Contact Information
x3090
SE 104
Areas of Expertise: 
Civil Engineering

Ram S. Gupta

Ram S.
Gupta
P.E.
Professor of Engineering
B.E. University of Jabalpur, India, M.E. University of Roorkee, India, Ph.D. Polytechnic University of New York
Contact Information
x3090
SE 104
Areas of Expertise: 
Civil Engineering
Janet Baldwin, P.E.
Professor of Engineering
B.S. Tufts University, M.S., Ph.D. Pennsylvania State University
Contact Information
x3064
SE 118
Areas of Expertise: 
Civil Engineering

Janet Baldwin

Janet
Baldwin
P.E.
Professor of Engineering
B.S. Tufts University, M.S., Ph.D. Pennsylvania State University
Contact Information
x3064
SE 118
Areas of Expertise: 
Civil Engineering
Antoine L. Ataya
Professor of Engineering
B.S.E.E. Southeastern Massachusetts University, M.S.E.E. University of New Hampshire
Contact Information
x3482
SE 105
Areas of Expertise: 
Electrical Engineering

Antoine L. Ataya

Antoine L.
Ataya
Professor of Engineering
B.S.E.E. Southeastern Massachusetts University, M.S.E.E. University of New Hampshire
Contact Information
x3482
SE 105
Areas of Expertise: 
Electrical Engineering