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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 in mathematics and science, at least nine courses in engineering sciences, as well as all required liberal arts courses. Students who plan to pursue additional coursework beyond the AB to earn the Bachelor of Engineering (BE) should consult early with their faculty advisors to plan their program of study. 

Please note: The information below reflects degree requirements, effective as of fall 2026.

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Prerequisites

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 TYPENUMBER OF REQUIRED COURSESCOURSES
Mathematics*3 coursesMATH 3: Calculus
MATH 8: Calculus of Functions of One and Several Variables
MATH 11: Accelerated Multivariable Calculus or MATH 13 Calculus of Vector-Valued Functions
Physics2 coursesPHYS 13: Introductory Physics I
PHYS 14: Introductory Physics II
Chemistry 1 courseCHEM 5: General Chemistry
Computer Science1 or 2 courses

Choose one option:

Option 1 (one course):
ENGS 20: Introduction to Scientific Computing (May not be taken under the non-recording option.)


Option 2 (two courses):
COSC 1: Introduction to Programming and Computation
COSC 10: Problem Solving via Object-Oriented Programming

* Students with prior experience in calculus (as demonstrated through AP, IB, A-level, or placement exams) may place out of MATH 3 and/ or Math 8, and may be required instead to take the MATH 8 and 13 sequence, or MATH 11.

** Students with no prior experience in chemistry will be placed in CHEM 5. Students with prior experience with chemistry (as demonstrated through AP, IB, or A-level exams) automatically receive credit for CHEM 5 and have the option of taking CHEM 11 as a chemistry elective towards the requirements for the AB and/ or BE. Students who place into CHEM 11 via placement exam only receive credit for CHEM 5 if they successfully complete CHEM 11. In this case, CHEM 5 could fulfill a prerequisite requirement and CHEM 11 could fulfill an elective requirement.

Required Courses

COURSE TYPEREQUIRED NUMBER OF COURSESCOURSES
Common Core3 coursesENGS 21: Introduction to Engineering
ENGS 22: Systems
ENGS 23: Distributed Systems and Fields
Distributive Core2 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

Gateway2 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

Electives2 courses

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

Engineering Sciences Option
Any ENGS courses numbered 20 and above (excluding ENGS 87)
 

Science/ Mathematics Option

ASTR 15 and above 
BIOL 12 and above (excluding BIOL 52)
CHEM 6, 11 and above (excluding CHEM 63)
EAPS 31, 33, 35, 37, 40-52, 59, 62, 64, 66 to 75, 77, 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. Normally completed during the senior year, the culminating experience may include an honors thesis, an independent project, the two-course engineering design capstone series (ENGS 89/ ENGS 90), 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 COURSESCOURSES
Thesis1 course

Choose one course, from the following:

ENGS 86: Independent Project
ENGS 88: Honors Thesis

Design Project2 courses

ENGS 89: Engineering Design Methodology and Project Initiation (Must be taken as part of the two-course design sequence: ENGS 89/ ENGS 90.)

  • 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, and 91 and above.
  • Students seeking to complete the AB and BE degrees concurrently should note that ENGS 89 may also be counted toward requirements for the BE program.
Advanced Course1 course

Choose one advanced course with a significant design or research project, normally taken in the senior year. Students should consult the approved list below or 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 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 138: Corrosion and Degradation of Materials
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: Introduction to Protein Modeling and Simulation
ENGS 161: Metabolic Engineering
ENGS 162: Analog and Probabilistic Computers: From Quantum Atom to Living Body
ENGS 163: Advanced Protein Engineering
ENGS 164: Tissue Engineering
ENGS 165: Biomaterials
ENGS 167: Medical Imaging
ENGS 169: Intermediate Biomedical Engineering
ENGS 170: Neuroengineering
ENGS 171: Sustainable Product Design
ENGS 172: Climate Change and Engineering
ENGS 173: Energy Utilization
ENGS 174: Energy Conversion
ENGS 175: Energy Systems
ENGS 262: Analog and Probabilistic Computers: From Quantum Atom to Living Body, Part 2
 

Course Planning

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

Guide to Programs and Courses

Questions? Contact undergraduate.engineering.advising@dartmouth.edu.