In This Section

B.E. Degree Requirements

Residency

Completion of the B.E. program after the A.B. degree generally requires between 1 and 3 terms at Thayer School, depending on the courses taken during the first 4 years. Advanced standing on entry to Dartmouth may shorten the overall time required.

Course of Study

B.E. students take required courses and electives in mathematics, basic science, engineering sciences, and engineering design.

Class of 2010

The B.E. degree generally requires 9 courses beyond the requirements for the A.B. degree. Professional training includes:

mathematics and basic sciences
engineering design and team project
advanced study in an engineering discipline

With the exception of the mathematics and engineering design courses, students have a broad latitude in designing a B.E. program that matches their engineering interests. Dartmouth undergraduates interested in specific engineering fields can use these sample programs as models for designing their own programs.

Applied mathematics (choose 1 course)

ENGS 91 Numerical Methods in Computation
ENGS 92 Fourier Transforms and Complex Variables
ENGS 103 Statistical Methods in Engineering

Innovative design (a 2-course sequence)

ENGS 190/290 Engineering Design Methodology

Analytical and experimental engineering (3 or more courses)

Engineering Sciences courses in a single engineering discipline

Engineering electives (3 or more courses)

Engineering sciences courses or, with permission, courses from mathematics, computer science or natural science departments at Dartmouth, such as COSC 23-78, 104-109, and 118, and EARS 66 and 118

Depending on the candidate's undergraduate preparation, additional mathematics and natural science courses may be required to meet degree requirements.

Detailed information about specific courses that satisfy accreditation and Thayer School requirements is in the B.E. Planning Guide (PDF), which is for planning purposes only. You will need to go to Banner Student to complete the B.E. program plan. If you have questions, please see the Registrar in MacLean 103.

Note: The only B.E. courses that can be taken under the non-recording option are MATH 3, 8, 13; PHYS 13, 14; and CHEM 5.

Class of 2011 and Beyond

Students in the Dartmouth class of 2011 and beyond (including dual-degree students receiving the B.E. in 2012) can plan their A.B. and B.E. degree programs using the information below.

The B.E. degree requires a minimum of 9 courses beyond the requirements for the A.B. degree. At least 6 courses must have significant engineering design content.

Mathematics and natural science (9 courses)

MATH 3 Introduction to Calculus
MATH 8 Calculus of Functions of One and Several Variables
MATH 13 Calculus of Vector-Valued Functions
PHYS 13 Introductory Physics I
PHYS 14 Introductory Physics II
CHEM 5 General Chemistry
ENGS 91 Numerical Methods in Computation, ENGS 92 Fourier Transforms and Complex Variables, or ENGS 103 Statistical Methods in Engineering
Two non-introductory courses chosen from ASTR 15 and above; BIOL 11 and above; CHEM 6 or 10, 41 and above; COSC 19, 25, 39; EARS 26 and above; ENGS 91, 92, 100, 103–106; ENVS 20, 79, and 89; MATH 16 and above; PHYS 17, 19, 23, 24, 41 and above

Engineering common core (3.5 courses)

ENGS 20 Introduction to Scientific Computing (counts as 0.5 course for B.E. credit)
ENGS 21 Introduction to Engineering
ENGS 22 Systems
ENGS 23 Distributed Systems and Fields

Engineering distributive core (choose 2 courses)

ENGS 24 Science of Materials
ENGS 25 Introduction to Thermodynamics
ENGS 26 Control Theory
ENGS 27 Discrete and Probabilistic Systems

Engineering gateway (choose 2 courses from 2 different disciplines; students who modify the engineering sciences major with science, and dual-degree students with science majors, may take their gateway courses in the same discipline)

Electrical

ENGS 31 Digital Electronics
ENGS 32 Electronics: Introduction to Linear and Digital Circuits

Mechanical

ENGS 33 Solid Mechanics
ENGS 34 Fluid Dynamics

Chemical/Biochemical

ENGS 35 Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering
ENGS 36 Chemical Engineering

Environmental

ENGS 37 Introduction to Environmental Engineering

Engineering electives (choose 6 courses)

Three courses must form a coherent disciplinary concentration with 1 of these having significant design content; the remaining 3 electives may be chosen from ENGS or ENGG courses numbered 24–88, 110–175; COSC 23–78 (except 32, 42) and 104–188 (except 110); or EARS 66. Two of the 3 electives may be mathematics or natural science courses as listed above.

Capstone engineering design (2 courses)

ENGS 190/290 Engineering Design Methodology and Project Initiation/Completion (Prior to enrollment in ENGS 190, at least 6 engineering sciences courses must be completed. These include ENGS 21 plus 5 additional courses numbered 22 to 76.)