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Engineering Sciences Major

Dartmouth AB candidates who major in engineering sciences learn a systems approach that synthesizes concepts from many fields while at the same time specializing in a chosen area.

During the AB program, core engineering courses give students tools applicable to all fields while electives allow the student to investigate a field of choice.

Areas of Study

AB candidates who also intend to pursue the BE work with a faculty advisor on course planning and can use the following list of AB+BE program examples as a guide for focusing on a specific area of engineering.

Biomedical Engineering

Biological Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Computer Engineering

Computer Science

Electrical Engineering

Energy Engineering

Environmental Engineering

Material Science and Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Physics

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.

Mathematics

3 courses.

  • MATH 3: Introduction to Calculus
  • MATH 8: Calculus of Functions of One and Several Variables
  • MATH 11: Multivariable Calculus for Two-Term Advanced Placement First-Year Students OR MATH 13 Calculus of Vector-Valued Functions

Physics

2 courses.

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

Chemistry

1 course.

  • CHEM 5: General Chemistry

Computer Science

Choose 1 option.

Option A

2 courses.

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

Option B

1 course.

  • ENGS 20: Introduction to Scientific Computing
    – May not be taken under the Non-Recording Option.

Required Courses

Common Core

Choose 3 courses.

  • ENGS 21: Introduction to Engineering
    – should be taken sophomore year
  • ENGS 22: Systems
  • ENGS 23: Distributed Systems and Fields

Distributive Core

Choose 2 courses.

Gateway

Choose 2 courses, each from a different discipline.

Electrical

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

Mechanical

Chemical/Biochemical

Environmental

  • ENGS 37: Introduction to Environmental Engineering

Electives

Choose 2, either both from the engineering sciences option or one from each option.

Engineering Sciences Option

  • Any engineering sciences (ENGS) course above ENGS 20
    – excluding ENGS 87

Science/Mathematics Option

  • 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, 66-75, 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

Engineering Sciences majors complete a culminating experience, which is part of a course (either as one of the two electives or as an additional course). Normally taken during the senior year, the course is chosen from the following options below, and for modified majors, must be justified as part of a larger unified coherent program of study:

Thesis

Design Project

  • ENGS 89: Engineering Design Methodology and Project Initiation
    – Taken as part of the two-course design sequence ENGS 89/90.
    – 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