Home > Courses > College of Engineering > About

About the College of Engineering

126 Marston Hall

Degrees: Bachelor of Science in six majors

Contact: Vanessa M. Rivera

Office: 126 Marston Hall

Office of Student Affairs

Phone: 545-2035

Web site: www.ecs.umass.edu

Dean: Joseph I. Goldstein. Asssociate Dean: Thomas R. Blake. Assistant Dean for Student Affairs: Vanessa M. Rivera. Assistant Dean for College Outreach: Kathleen Rubin.

The Field

There are many kinds of engineers, but most engineering has to do with the design and implementation of technology. Studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst will help students learn the basics of a specific engineering field, and how to work as part of a team, communicate their ideas, think analytically, and solve complex real-world problems.

Career Opportunities

Earning an engineering degree will open the door to many opportunities. Massachusetts is known for its high-technology industries, creating job options in traditional engineering fields and exciting new fields such as biotechnology and computer software.

In today's high-tech world, people with engineering degrees have a great foundation for many different careers. College of Engineering graduates find success in traditional engineering jobs as well as in management, sales, government, medicine, research, law, teaching, and more. Some choose to earn an advanced degree after they leave the University, and some start their own companies.

The Majors

The mission of the College of Engineering is to support the teaching, research, and academic outreach needs of the Commonwealth and the nation. In undergraduate education the objective of the College is to prepare its graduates to be leaders in the practice of engineering. Curricula provide the academic foundation for students to enter the profession of engineering upon graduation, or to pursue advanced degrees in graduate school.

The engineering majors are open to students with strong interests and preparation in mathematics and science. The College of Engineering offers six Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees: Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. All B.S. degrees are granted by the University and all are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

College of Engineering majors are organized in four academic departments: Chemical Engineering; Civil and Environmental Engineering; Electrical and Computer Engineering; and Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.

The Freshman Courses: An Introduction to Engineering

During the first semester students tackle real engineering problems. The courses they take contain material strongly recommended for majors in Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, or Mechanical and Industrial Engineering respectively. However, students will not be penalized for selecting a course in a department other than their intended major. The goal is to try engineering, effectively communicate ideas, learn how to work in teams, and think analytically.

In the engineering courses for the second semester, the student is introduced to analytical, experimental or computational techniques in each engineering discipline. These are department-specific courses which provide material strongly recommended in preparation for the major. During the first year, students should be in a good position to choose a major.

The Curriculum

Earning an engineering degree is challenging, yet rewarding. Many students take four years to complete a B.S. in engineering, but some finish the degree in five years. To gain valuable experience, many students work for a semester or two through a co-op at an engineering company, and others study abroad for a semester.

Each Engineering major offers upper-level electives for students. Most majors require the completion of a senior design project, an opportunity for students to apply what they have learned in the classroom. The most talented students take advantage of a challenging Honors Program. If students are interested, there are also many opportunities in undergraduate research and independent study. The research efforts of the faculty and their students are a very important part of the College.

Honors

Departmental and University Honors programs provide engineering students with further academic challenges. These include the opportunity to participate in Honors courses, the University Honors seminar series, and an honors seminar in the student's major department. In addition, honors students have the experience of working with individual faculty members on a senior research project or thesis, leading to the possibility of graduating magna or summa cum laude. Students interested in participating in departmental and University Honors should contact the Honors Coordinator in each College of Engineering department, or the College Honors Coordinator, Kathleen G. Rubin, tel. 545-4757.

College of Engineering Core Requirements

Mathematics and Science:

MATH 131, 132, or 135, 136 Calculus

CHEM 111, 112 General Chemistry

PHYSIC 151, 153 General Physics

Engineering Courses:

ENGIN 110 Introduction to Chemical Engineering I or ENGIN 111 Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering I or ENGIN 112 Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering I or ENGIN 113 Introduction to Mechanical and Industrial Engineering I

CH E 120 Chemical Engineering Fundamentals, or CEE 121 Civil and Environmental Engineering Measurements or ECE 122 Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering II, or MIE 123 Engineering Economics

Additional courses may be required within individual majors.

Writing (University requirements):

ENGLWP 112 College Writing

ENGLWP 351 Technical Writing

Non-Engineering courses (ABET requirements)

All students must complete two courses (one lower-level and one upper-level) in one department outside of the sciences and engineering. One or both of these courses may carry a General Education designation, but this is not required.

First Year

Fall Semester:

ENGLWP 112 College Writing or Social World elective

One course from ENGIN 110-113*

CHEM 111 General Chemistry I

MATH 131 Calculus I

Social World elective

Spring Semester:

ENGLWP 112 College Writing or Social World elective

One course from CH E 120, CEE 121, ECE 122, or MIE 123**

CHEM 112 General Chemistry II***

MATH 132 Calculus II

PHYSIC 151, 153 General Physics

*ENGIN 110-113 Introduction to Engineering I

Students select one of the four department-specific introductory engineering courses (ENGIN 110, 111, 112 or 113). Within a small class, student teams explore real engineering designs ranging from petro-chemical plants to printed circuit boards. This introduction to engineering design and/or manufacturing empha-sizes development of communication skills (written, oral, and graphical). Project required. Corequisites: simultaneous enrollment in MATH 131, or higher; enrollment in, or eligibility to take ENGLWP 112.

**CH E 120 Chemical Engineering Fundamentals; CEE 121 Civil and Environmental Engineering Measurements; ECE 122 Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering II; and MIE 123 Engineering Economics

Students select one of these department-specific courses which provide material strongly recommended in preparation for the major. In these engineering courses the student is introduced to analytical, experimental or computational techniques in each engineering discipline. Prerequisites are listed in the course descriptions for each department.

Specifically, acceptance into the major will be based on students achieving a grade of C or higher in any of the four courses CH E 120, CEE 121, ECE 122, and MIE 123, together with comparable grades for the other freshman courses in mathematics, physics, etc. Further, in cases where the material is required for graduation (e.g., CEE 121) or is a prerequisite for upper division courses (e.g., CH E 120), the departments will provide alternate pathways for those students who do not take the spring semester freshman course in their chosen major.

***CHEM 112 is not required for majors in Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Admissions Information

The College of Engineering enrolls about 300 first year students. It is recommended that applicants have the high school equivalency of four years in both mathematics and science. Chemistry and physics with labs are preferred. Transfer applicants are encouraged to complete courses in general chemistry, physics, and calculus before applying for admission. Some engineering applicants are admitted into the colleges of Arts and Sciences, with the possibility of transfer into the engineering program after the completion of the first year engineering requirements. Interested applicants should contact the Office of Undergraduate Affairs, tel. 545-2035.

The Minority Engineering Program and the Women in Engineering Program offer minorities and women students support services and assist in the development of networks within the college and industry.

For additional information on a specific engineering major, contact the departmental Undergraduate Program Director:

Chemical Engineering

Michael F. Doherty, 154B Goessmann

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Alexander Chajes 223 Marston

Electrical and Computer Engineering

T. Baird Soules 210 Marcus

Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Laurence Murch 213 Engineering Lab

Copyright 2000 University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
This is an official page of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Campus