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Engineering Modified with Earth Sciences

Students interested in geotechnical engineering may pursue the engineering sciences major modified with earth sciences. 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.

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

Guide to Programs & Courses


For advice about the major, contact Professor Colin R. Meyer.

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Prerequisites

Modified 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
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:

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

Earth Sciences

2 courses

One introductory Earth Sciences course from EARS 1 to EARS 9 (excluding EARS 7)
EARS 40: Materials of the Earth

* 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 NUMBER OF REQUIRED COURSES COURSES

Engineering Sciences

6 courses

ENGS 22: Systems
ENGS 23: Distributed Systems and Fields
ENGS 24: Science of Materials
ENGS 25: Introduction to Thermodynamics
Two engineering sciences elective courses numbered above ENGS 20, excluding ENGS 80 and ENGS 87

Earth Sciences

4 courses

Four Earth Sciences courses (EARS 10 or above):

  • At least one of the courses must be a Core Methods and Concepts course (EARS 30 to 59.)
  • At least one must be a Quantitative Analysis or Advanced Topics course (EARS 60 to 79.)

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. 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.

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