Engineering
Engineering at RWU is unique in its structure: a broad, liberal arts-infused foundation of math, science and engineering layered with an in-depth specialization in civil, computer, electrical or mechanical engineering or a customized study. Through this accredited program, you’ll develop the creativity and flexibility to solve practical problems that benefit humanity in our complex and rapidly changing world.
This major is coordinated by the Engineering program.
Degree Requirements
The Engineering program develops in students the necessary knowledge and analytical skills for professional engineering practice or for successful graduate studies.
The Engineering program consists of a course of study in mathematics, science, and engineering fundamentals during the first two years of study. Students then tailor their program to their own specific needs by selection, with the assistance of their advisor, of appropriate elective courses constituting a specialization.
B.S. Specializations
The Engineering program is characterized by breadth but permits study in depth, to include attaining a specialization in civil, computer, electrical, or mechanical engineering.
Civil Engineering
Today’s civil engineers build skyscrapers, hang suspension bridges, create water systems and more. If you study civil engineering, you’ll learn what you need to know to work on the projects that make modern life possible.
Computer Engineering
Computer engineering majors learn to analyze, design, and develop computer hardware and software. As a computer engineer, you'll learn how computers work and what you can do to make them smarter, faster and more efficient for the future.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineers design, develop, and test all kinds of equipment, from lights and wiring to radar and GPS technology. As an electrical engineer you can work with communications and broadcasting equipment, automobiles and airplanes, power generation, computers, and more.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineers design and oversee the manufacture of many products ranging from medical devices to new batteries. Learn the science behind machines and the energy that makes them work and soon you'll be creating machines of your own.
Custom Specialization
In consultation with an academic advisor, students may design a Custom Specialization to prepare for emerging fields not immediately definable with traditional specializations.
When minoring in Engineering, our students have the ability to focus on a particular area of the engineering field. With a choice of biomechanics, environmental, robotics or structural, if you have an interest in engineering, you can find what aligns best with your major.
Minors are for non-engineering majors only.
Engineering Biomechanics Focus Minor
The Engineering Biomechanics Focus minor provides an introduction to solid and fluid mechanics, materials science, and data acquisition theory and practice. These skills are then applied to biomechanical problems such as human and animal movement, injury prevention and rehabilitation, and the design and analysis of prosthetics. The minor is well-suited for Biology and Marine Biology majors who wish to understand the physical origins of anatomy and physiology, for pre-med students interested in orthopedics, or for anyone seeking an engineering perspective on biology.
Engineering Environmental Focus Minor
The Engineering Environmental Focus minor exposes students to most areas of environmental engineering, including water and wastewater treatment, hydrology, and air pollution. This minor supplements the learning in other related majors, such as environmental science, biology, marine biology, and sustainability. It provides the student with an engineering background to enhance their career options.
Engineering Robotics Focus Minor
The Engineering Robotics Focus minor is intended for students desiring some technical experience in the area of robotics. The minor builds prerequisite skills in mechanical design, electronics and computer programming and culminates in a senior-level Mechatronics course where students design, build and program a robot to perform an assigned task autonomously.
Structural Engineering Minor
The structural engineering minor consists of five courses emphasizing engineering principles and their applications in buildings. This minor is especially well suited for students majoring in architecture who desire a stronger technical understanding of structural design.
Beyond Theory
Alexia Byusa, RWU Class of 2017Choosing a college major couldn’t have been simpler for Alexia Byusa. Now she's an RWU alumna with the knowledge and experience to design the cities of tomorrow as a civil engineer.
Read full storyState-of-the-Art Facilities
The newest building on the Bristol campus, the Richard L. Bready Applied Learning Laboratories is designed to foster collaboration and innovation while offering high-tech resources for experiential learning. The three-floor, 27,325-square-foot building, features seven cutting-edge laboratories, senior design project rooms and open spaces dedicated to hands-on education.
Women in Engineering
RWU's chapter of the Society of Women Engineers provides opportunities for women students to build community and connect with faculty mentors and industry professionals to advance women in engineering. Students travel to the Society of Women Engineers Conference, making industry connections that lead to success after graduation.
Each year, SWE brings scores of fourth-grade girls to campus for a hands-on engineering lesson that helps them earn a Girl Scouts badge.
- In Fall 2020, women students accounted for 49% of all students in STEM majors, which includes the sciences, math, engineering, and computer science
- 41% of tenured and tenure-track Natural Science, Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics professors are women, ahead of the national average of 36%
RISE STEM Scholarship at RWU
RWU offers a scholarship opportunity for students interested in majoring in math, sciences, engineering, computer science or forensic science. Learn about the National Science Foundation RISE Scholars program, which recognizes, supports and empowers a group of academically talented students with financial need as they prepare to enter Research and Industry in Science and Engineering (RISE).
Senior Design Project
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The senior Design Project is a fundamental element of senior year. From August through May, students collaborate in teams, integrating math, science, and engineering principles into a comprehensive, client-based design project. Student teams work with faculty advisors and industry mentors to design and fabricate solutions to open-ended problems and present their projects to experts at professional conferences and competitions.