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Engineering Sciences Major

The undergraduate major in engineering sciences leads to a Bachelor of Arts (AB), a liberal arts degree awarded by Dartmouth. The major requires completion of at least seven prerequisites courses in mathematics and science, at least nine courses in engineering sciences, as well as all required liberal arts courses.

For additional information about majors, courses, and degree requirements:

Guide to Programs & Courses

For advice about the major, contact Jenna D. Wheeler, Undergraduate Programs Administrator.

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Prerequisites

Majors are expected to have a basic understanding of calculus, physics, chemistry, and computer science. First-year students interested in the major should take the placement test in mathematics.

Unless otherwise prohibited, prerequisites may be taken under the non-recording option. Any course being used to satisfy major or minor requirements beyond the prerequisites, may not be taken under the non-recording option.

COURSE TYPE NUMBER OF REQUIRED COURSES COURSES

Mathematics

3 courses

MATH 3: Calculus
MATH 8: Calculus of Functions of One and Several Variables & Supplies
MATH 11: Accelerated Multivariable Calculus or MATH 13 Calculus of Vector-Valued Functions

Physics

2 courses

PHYS 13: Introductory Physics I
PHYS 14: Introductory Physics II

Chemistry*

1 course

Students will be placed in one of the following courses:

CHEM 5: General Chemistry
CHEM 10: First-Year Honors Chemistry
CHEM 11: General Chemistry

Computer Science

1 or 2 courses

Choose one option:

Option 1 (1 course):

ENGS 20: Introduction to Scientific Computing (May not be taken under the non-recording option.)

Option 2 (2 courses):

COSC 1: Introduction to Programming and Computation
COSC 10: Problem Solving via Object-Oriented Programming

* Students with no prior experience with chemistry will be placed in CHEM 5. CHEM 10 is not scheduled to be offered during the 2022–2023 academic year. Starting in the Fall of 2022, students with prior experience with chemistry (as demonstrated through AP or IB exams, A-level credit, or placement exam) will be placed in CHEM 11. Students who complete CHEM 11 will also automatically receive credit for CHEM 5 toward the BE degree requirements.

Required Courses

COURSE TYPE REQUIRED NUMBER OF COURSES COURSES

Common Core

3 courses

ENGS 21: Introduction to Engineering (Should be taken sophomore year.)
ENGS 22: Systems
ENGS 23: Distributed Systems and Fields

Distributive Core

2 courses

Choose two courses, from the following:

ENGS 24: Science of Materials
ENGS 25: Introduction to Thermodynamics
ENGS 26: Control Theory
ENGS 27: Discrete and Probabilistic Systems
ENGS 28: Embedded Systems

Gateway

2 courses

Choose two courses, each from a different discipline:

Electrical

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

Mechanical

ENGS 33: Solid Mechanics
ENGS 34: Fluid Mechanics

Chemical/Biochemical

ENGS 30: Biological Physics
ENGS 35: Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering
ENGS 36: Chemical Engineering

Environmental

ENGS 37: Introduction to Environmental Engineering

Electives

2 courses

Choose two courses, either both from the engineering sciences or one from each option:

Engineering Sciences

Any ENGS courses numbered 20 and above, excluding ENGS 80 and 87

Science/Mathematics

ASTR 15 and above
BIOL 12 and above (excluding BIOL 52)
CHEM 6, 10 and above (excluding CHEM 63)
EARS 31, 33, 35, 37, 40-52, 59, 62, 64, 66 to 75, 79 and above
ENVS 30 and 79
MATH 17-29, 31, 32, 35, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 50 and above
PHYS 19 or 40 and above
COSC 30, 31, 39, 49, 71, 74

Culminating Experience

In addition to coursework, all engineering sciences majors and modified majors are required to complete a culminating experience, which may include a thesis, a design project, or an advanced engineering sciences course with a significant design or research project, chosen from an approved list. The advanced engineering course for the culminating experience may be taken as one of the required electives or as an additional course.

CULMINATING EXPERIENCE (CHOOSE ONE OPTION) NUMBER OF REQUIRED COURSES COURSES

Thesis

1 course

Choose one course, from the following:

ENGS 86: Independent Project
ENGS 88: Honors Thesis

Design Project

2 courses

ENGS 89: Engineering Design Methodology and Project Initiation
ENGS 90: Engineering Design Methodology and Project Completion

  • Taken as a two-course design sequence.
  • May count toward both AB and BE degrees.
  • Prior to enrollment in ENGS 89, at least 6 engineering sciences courses must be completed: ENGS 21 plus 5 additional courses numbered 22 to 76 (excluding 75), and 91 and above.

Advanced Course (with significant design or research project)

1 course

Choose one course from approved list below or consult with Chair of the Department of Engineering Sciences:

ENGS 58: Protein Engineering
ENGS 61: Intermediate Electrical Circuits
ENGS 62: Microprocessors in Engineered Systems
ENGS 67: Programming Parallel Systems
ENGS 71: Structural Analysis
ENGS 73: Materials Processing and Selection
ENGS 75: Product Design
ENGS 76: Machine Engineering
ENGS 112: Modern Information Technologies
ENGS 115: Parallel Computing
ENGS 122: Semiconductor Theory and Devices
ENGS 124: Optical Devices and Systems
ENGS 125: Power Electronics and Electromechanical Energy Conversion
ENGS 126: Analog Integrated Circuit Design
ENGS 128: Advanced Digital System Design
ENGS 129: Instrumentation and Measurements
ENGS 130: Mechanical Behavior of Materials
ENGS 132: Thermodynamics and Kinetics in Condensed Phases
ENGS 133: Methods of Materials Characterization
ENGS 134: Nanotechnology
ENGS 135: Thin Films and Microfabrication Technology
ENGS 145: Modern Control Theory
ENGS 146: Computer-Aided Mechanical Engineering Design
ENGS 147: Mechatronics
ENGS 150: Intermediate Fluid Mechanics
ENGS 157: Chemical Process Design
ENGS 158: Chemical Kinetics and Reactors
ENGS 160: Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering
ENGS 161: Metabolic Engineering
ENGS 162: Basic Biological Circuit Engineering
ENGS 163: Advanced Protein Engineering
ENGS 165: Biomaterials
ENGS 167: Medical Imaging
ENGS 169: Intermediate Biomedical Engineering
ENGS 170: Neuroengineering
ENGS 171: Industrial Ecology
ENGS 172: Climate Change and Engineering
ENGS 174: Energy Conversion
ENGS 175: Energy Systems
ENGS 262: Advanced Biological Circuit Engineering