Anonymous
Post 01/22/2025 08:04     Subject: Engineering path at a liberal arts college?
My advice would be if he is genuinely interested in Engineering, to only pursue schools that have ABET Engineering programs. Perhaps, find a few schools that have both ABET Engineering and decent liberal arts curriculum? I think if he winds up at a LAC that doesn't have an Engineering program, he likely will not finish with an engineering degree, (which is not the end of the world, unless that is his passion)
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2025 07:58     Subject: Engineering path at a liberal arts college?
Anonymous wrote:DS is a junior, not sure what he wants to do yet. Possible interests have been business and IR, but now he's realizing he may want to explore engineering. He likes and is good in math and sciences, likes building things too. We have been targeting liberal arts colleges for him, both because the smaller size would suit him well, and also to allow some time for exploration before declaring a major. Most of these schools have some type of path for engineering, such as a 3-2 program, or a pre-engineering advisor, and some say that students major in a field like physics then apply to a master's program in engineering.

Does anyone have experience with engineering or pre-engineering at a liberal arts college?

And yes, I'm aware that there are more traditional engineering programs, but DS is just starting to explore this. He's not going to be in a position to lock in and apply to an engineering program in less than a year. We just want it as a viable option in college.



Generally, an engineering major isn't something you dip your toe in and explore. It's a pretty rigid and demanding major. Like if you dilly dally freshman year and don't take the pre-reqs and weed out classes, you probably will have to add an extra semester or two to graduate with an engineering degree. You should be ready freshman year to get going with the Chemistry and Calculus pre-reqs. Better to start as an engineering major and then drop it and change majors if it's not for them. I don't know about the SLACs, but generally engineering programs are super competitive. Make sure they get through at least Calculus BC in high school if considering an engineering major.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2025 07:42     Subject: Engineering path at a liberal arts college?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Many mid-size universities offer ABET-accredited engineering.


how important is ABET? What does it do? Explain it to me like I'm 5 please, this is all new.

ABET sets standards for engineering curriculum. ABET is important in traditional engineering fields like mechanical, civil, and electrical (electrical overlapping with computer engineering, which is different from computer science). ABET accreditation is less important in computer science.


Of those the only one where the majority might have the ABET-associated license is civil engineering.


NCCES.org handles the PE licensing bits, but they agree that an ABET-accredited engineering curriculum is sufficient.

A degree from an ABET accredited E School (honestly, most US E Schools are ABET accredited) matters even for folks (like me) who do not have or need a PE license. Exceptions exist - MIT and Caltech do not bother with ABET - but they also are global top-10 engineering schools, so no one doubts that their engineering curricula meet expectations.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2025 07:15     Subject: Engineering path at a liberal arts college?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Many mid-size universities offer ABET-accredited engineering.


how important is ABET? What does it do? Explain it to me like I'm 5 please, this is all new.


ABET is the accrediting body for Engineering Schools in the USA. It defines minimum standards for engineering curricula. One really ought to be getting one’s engineering degree from an ABET accredited E School in almost all cases.

The exceptions to this “ought” are the top-10 E Schools, places such as MIT or Caltech, which might not bother with obtaining ABET accreditation. Their curricula still follow the ABET guidance in general, but possibly vary by requiring more rigor than ABET requires.

Note that one wants an ABET accredited school for any sort of engineering, even for engineering degrees (e.g., Computer Engineering) which will not later require a PE license to be employed.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2025 06:00     Subject: Engineering path at a liberal arts college?
Anonymous wrote:I would avoid or 3-2 programs and highlight LACs/Small campuses that have engineering programs:
Dartmouth
Swarthmore
Harvey Mudd
Tufts
Union
Lafayette
Manhattan
York
WPI


Do these schools require the student to apply directly into Engineering? Also, do students need to delineate which type of engineering (e.g. electrical or chemical)? Would they have to reapply to another "program" if say they change from Electrical to Mechanical Engineering?
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2025 04:46     Subject: Engineering path at a liberal arts college?
CNU has a small ABET EE major and a larger business school. You don’t officially declare your major until Sophomore year.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2025 00:51     Subject: Engineering path at a liberal arts college?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Many mid-size universities offer ABET-accredited engineering.


how important is ABET? What does it do? Explain it to me like I'm 5 please, this is all new.

ABET sets standards for engineering curriculum. ABET is important in traditional engineering fields like mechanical, civil, and electrical (electrical overlapping with computer engineering, which is different from computer science). ABET accreditation is less important in computer science.


Of those the only one where the majority might have the ABET-associated license is civil engineering.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2025 23:26     Subject: Engineering path at a liberal arts college?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Many mid-size universities offer ABET-accredited engineering.


how important is ABET? What does it do? Explain it to me like I'm 5 please, this is all new.

ABET sets standards for engineering curriculum. ABET is important in traditional engineering fields like mechanical, civil, and electrical (electrical overlapping with computer engineering, which is different from computer science). ABET accreditation is less important in computer science.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2025 23:08     Subject: Engineering path at a liberal arts college?
Anonymous wrote:Many mid-size universities offer ABET-accredited engineering.


how important is ABET? What does it do? Explain it to me like I'm 5 please, this is all new.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2025 23:06     Subject: Engineering path at a liberal arts college?
Anonymous wrote:I would look into Lehigh


We actually did, but it's larger and you have to apply directly into one of the four schools, one of which is engineering, another is business. That's too locked in for DS.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2025 23:01     Subject: Engineering path at a liberal arts college?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would look into Lehigh

Agreed. I would say Lehigh, Bucknell, and Lafayette for engineering if you want an LAC, OP. Maybe look at all three of these.


Other options
Harvest Mudd
Franklin & Marshal

OP mentions a son, but if you have a daughter you can add Smith to the list.

These are 4 year programs - not 3/2 programs. So no need to go additional oyears or go to another school to finish your degree.
OP, if you have a daughter, there are specific scholarships for women in stem and women in engineering that your daughter should pursue


OP here, nope just a run of the mill white boy, but maybe someone else with a DD can benefit
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2025 22:52     Subject: Engineering path at a liberal arts college?
I would avoid or 3-2 programs and highlight LACs/Small campuses that have engineering programs:
Dartmouth
Swarthmore
Harvey Mudd
Tufts
Union
Lafayette
Manhattan
York
WPI
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2025 22:45     Subject: Engineering path at a liberal arts college?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would look into Lehigh

Agreed. I would say Lehigh, Bucknell, and Lafayette for engineering if you want an LAC, OP. Maybe look at all three of these.


Other options
Harvest Mudd
Franklin & Marshal

OP mentions a son, but if you have a daughter you can add Smith to the list.

These are 4 year programs - not 3/2 programs. So no need to go additional oyears or go to another school to finish your degree.
OP, if you have a daughter, there are specific scholarships for women in stem and women in engineering that your daughter should pursue
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2025 22:44     Subject: Engineering path at a liberal arts college?
Anonymous wrote:There are so many mid size schools with engineering.

When it comes to targets and safeties, several Jesuit universities also have ABET-accredited engineering programs with small class sizes and are often reasonable for admission chances.
I think Loyola MD is ABET. Another school to check out at least
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2025 22:19     Subject: Engineering path at a liberal arts college?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would look into Lehigh

Agreed. I would say Lehigh, Bucknell, and Lafayette for engineering if you want an LAC, OP. Maybe look at all three of these.


Other options
Harvest Mudd
Franklin & Marshal

OP mentions a son, but if you have a daughter you can add Smith to the list.

These are 4 year programs - not 3/2 programs. So no need to go additional oyears or go to another school to finish your degree.