Students interested in engineering or applied science may choose to major or minor in engineering science. The curriculum is design-based and hands-on with required industrial internship and abroad experiences. It consists of courses in engineering and the sciences, beginning with an introduction to the engineering design process and culminating in an engineering design capstone project focused on solving real-world problems in conjunction with industrial partners. The engineering program is interdisciplinary in nature, bridging the liberal arts and sciences by emphasizing not only how engineering is built upon basic scientific principles, but also on the vital benefits engineering has on both developing and modern societies.
The major stresses development of the ability to design and conduct experiments, function on multidisciplinary teams, and communicate effectively. The global and societal context of engineering solutions are emphasized through the implementation of designs outside of the United States.
Students may also pursue engineering through the dual-degree program. The first three years of the program are completed at Sweet Briar, where the student completes most of the general education requirements and the requirements for entry into an engineering program at an affiliated institution. After two years of study there, the student is awarded either a bachelor’s (Virginia Tech, Washington University in St. Louis, Columbia University) or a master’s (University of Virginia) degree in a specific engineering discipline. Credits will be transferred to Sweet Briar so that the student can satisfy the requirements for graduation and graduate with her class. A student who is interested in the dual-degree program should consult the engineering advisor as early as possible to plan her three-year course of study at Sweet Briar.
The Engineering Major
The Engineering Minor
Course Descriptions
The Engineering Science Major (B.S.)
(80 semester hours)
Required:
BUSN 326 (3) Project Selection and Management
CHEM 131 (3) General Chemistry
CHEM 141 (1) General Chemistry Laboratory
ENGR 110 (4) Designing Our World: An Introduction to Engineering Design
ENGR 120 (1) Foundations of Engineering Analysis
ENGR 188 (4) Java Programming I
ENGR 205 (3) Statics and Strength of Materials
ENGR 206 (3) Dynamics and Kinematics
ENGR 215 (4) Materials Science and Engineering
ENGR 221 (4) Electrical Circuits
ENGR 307 (4) Thermal and Fluid Systems
ENGR 324 (3) Mechatronics
ENGR 331 (4) Machine Design
ENGR 378 (1) Engineering Co-op
ENGR 415 (4) Systems Modeling and Controls
MATH 123 (4) Calculus I
MATH 124 (3) Calculus II
MATH 205 (3) Applied Statistics
MATH 223 (3) Calculus III
MATH 328 (3) Ordinary Differential Equations
PHYS 132 (1) General Physics II Laboratory
PHYS 171 (4) General Physics I
PHYS 172 (3) General Physics II
PHYS 215 (1) Matlab Programming
Senior Exercises:
ENGR 451 (3) Capstone Design
Choose 1 of the following courses:
ENGR 230 (3) Technology and Society: A Regional Perspective
ENGR 232 (3) Technology and Society: A Global Perspective
Choose 1 additional three-credit ENGR course at the 200-level or above.
NOTES: With the exception of ENGR 261, ENGR 361, ENGR 378, and ENGR 461, no course used to fulfill major requirements may be taken on a P/CR/NC grading option.
Including the required credits from CHEM, MATH, and PHYS above, majors must complete 32 credits selected from BIOL (excluding BIOL 103), CHEM (excluding CHEM 119, 120, and 125), MATH (excluding MATH 106, 113, 211, and 213), PHYS (excluding PHYS 103, 113, 114, and 122), and ENVR 143, 203, 244, 309, and 433.
The Engineering Science Minor
(18 semester hours)
Required:
ENGR 110 (4) Designing Our World: An Introduction to Engineering Design
ENGR 120 (1) Foundations of Engineering Analysis
PHYS 171 (4) General Physics I
Choose 9 additional semester credits in engineering at the 200-level or above.
Course Descriptions
