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College of Engineering Curricula

Course Catalog

The College of Engineering is dedicated to providing outstanding educational opportunities in engineering to a predominantly undergraduate student body of talented men and women. In accord with the University’s Mission Statement, the College nurtures the intellectual, professional, and personal development of its students. The College strives to prepare them for entry into the engineering profession, related fields and graduate programs, and for continuing development as highly competent professionals and responsible members of society.

A Bucknell University engineering education is distinguished by frequent interaction between students and faculty, a strong laboratory component in the curricula, and an emphasis on learning within a liberal arts university environment. The faculty are dedicated to teaching excellence and are actively engaged in scholarship in support of the educational mission, the discipline, or the profession.

Curricula in the College of Engineering lead to the degrees of bachelor of science in the disciplines of biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering, as well as the bachelor of science in computer science and engineering. Integrated five-year liberal arts/engineering programs, leading to bachelor of science and bachelor of arts degrees or a bachelor of science and bachelor of management for engineering degree, are also offered. In addition, students may choose to integrate their studies by concentrating their electives to pursue interests in a particular area such as biomedical or environmental engineering. The cross-disciplinary nature of these studies allows students from several disciplines to participate in available courses.

Each of the engineering programs emphasizes the fundamentals of mathematics, natural sciences, and engineering science, combined with specialized study in a particular discipline and broadening studies in the humanities and social sciences. Students interested in pursuing computer science as a major may do so as an option under the bachelor of science in computer science and engineering curriculum or under the bachelor of science degree program or the bachelor of arts degree program.

Programs in Engineering

The programs leading to the degrees of bachelor of science in computer science and engineering, chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology. All of the programs, including biomedical engineering and computer engineering, are designed to develop in students a broad understanding of engineering disciplines, an appreciation of the engineer’s individual and professional role in society, and a capacity for lifelong learning.

The undergraduate engineering programs cover four years, but in five years a student may complete a joint degree in liberal arts and engineering with a major in each college. First-year engineering students may select a specific engineering major when they enroll or remain undecided during the first semester. Engineering students may change from one engineering program to another (with the exception of biomedical engineering) at the end of one or two semesters; later changes are more difficult but may be possible. Changes into the biomedical engineering program are limited due to enrollment restrictions in the program.  Students in the College of Arts and Sciences who apply to transfer to the College of Engineering will be subject to a review of their academic performance at Bucknell for entrance into any engineering program, subject to enrollment limitations that may be in place in specific degree programs. Specific information may be obtained from the associate dean, College of Engineering. During the fall term, all first-year engineering students take calculus, physics, an elective and an introductory engineering course, ENGR 100 (unless they have earned AP or other credit or have a special educational need). In the spring term, they take the first course in their engineering major. The sophomore year continues the emphasis on science and mathematics, and introduces courses in the engineering sciences, such as mechanics, thermodynamics, fluids, and materials. During the junior and senior years, most of the work is concerned with the principles of the student’s major engineering discipline.

Each program contains courses in mathematics and natural sciences, a general education component, courses in engineering sciences, and courses in design, systems, and synthesis. The remaining courses, depending upon the specific program, may be in the student’s engineering discipline or in electives.

The General Education Component lends perspective to the traditional engineering studies to promote an understanding of the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context. The general education component also is intended to broaden the intellectual and experiential horizons of the student, to develop creative and critical abilities, and to facilitate an understanding of the social problems faced by humankind in the past, present, and future.

To fulfill the general education requirement, engineering students must successfully complete approved courses in humanities and social sciences. Ordinarily, courses that instill cultural values are approved, while courses that develop personal or professional skills are not. Therefore, approved courses that involve performance also must include theory or history of the subject. Students will fulfill the general education component through a minimum of five approved humanities and social sciences courses, with the following distribution:

• A minimum of two courses in humanities; one must be a first-year course in
  English literature and composition, and
  
• A minimum of two courses in social sciences.

At a minimum, one of the humanities or social sciences courses must satisfy the global and societal perspectives requirement. Of the five courses, two must be from a single department, or at least one course must be at the 200 level or above. Individual departments may have additional requirements.

The current list of approved social science and humanities and global and societal perspectives courses can be obtained in the Office of the Dean of Engineering. The list is updated annually by the Engineering Curriculum Committee.

In addition, the engineering curricula reflect the increased importance of design in the education of today’s students by an integration of design instruction from ENGR 100 through all four years to the senior design courses. The emphasis of all programs is on the development of a broad foundation in engineering and on the initiation of specialized study in a specific engineering discipline.

Whenever appropriate, students may engage in special projects in creative design or in independent study, or they may participate with a faculty member in a research project. Such projects may start in or be carried forward into the summer.

Several engineering departments offer a program of department honors in which selected majors may undertake special studies or investigations, leading to graduation with honors.

Students are encouraged to work with their faculty advisers and department chairs to take full advantage of the flexibility of the engineering programs, which makes possible special plans of study appropriate to their individual career objectives. Furthermore, with the approval of the department chair and the dean of the College of Engineering, degree requirements may be altered slightly to accommodate special needs of students with different academic backgrounds, and those who have transferred from other degree programs or from other institutions.

All engineering degree programs require the completion of 34 courses (42 in the combined liberal arts-engineering program and the engineering-management program) with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.00 overall and in engineering.

To satisfy the University writing requirement, a student must successfully complete three writing courses: one course designated W1 (which must be taken during the first year and which must be taken before the W2 courses) and two W2 courses (usually taken after the first year, but, in any case, at least one of which must be taken after the first year.) Lists of W1 and W2 courses are available on the Registrar's home page (www.bucknell.edu/Registrar/) under Course Information.

Writing courses are designed to enhance the student’s understanding of the writing process and to emphasize that writing is a way of learning as well as a communication skill. They may be taken in any department.

Students in the College of Engineering, through judicious choice of electives, may choose a departmental or interdepartmental minor.

Those students who wish to apply the principles, concepts, and methods from their prospective majors to define, understand and solve problems in the life sciences and medical technology have several options. First, students may major in one of the five ABET-accredited bachelor of science programs in engineering and use their elective courses to concentrate on biology, chemistry, and biomedical engineering. (Biology students may elect to use their unrestricted electives to take engineering courses.) Second, through a judicious choice of electives, engineering students may complete the chemical and biological studies minor or the biomedical engineering minor. The chemical and biological studies minor allows students to enhance their study of the basic chemical and biological sciences. Alternatively, students may elect the biomedical engineering minor which combines study of the basic biological sciences with their technological application. Students majoring in chemical engineering or biomedical engineering are not eligible for the chemical and biological studies minor. Faculty advisers in these disciplines will advise students on the appropriateness of the various options in light of their particular career goals. Information specific faculty advisers may be obtained from the Office of the Dean of Engineering. Students wishing to complete the premedical requirement should consult the pre-health professions adviser.

To complete the chemical and biological studies minor, students must successfully complete at least five courses as indicated below:

• CHEM 211 Organic Chemistry I
• CHEM 212 Organic Chemistry II
• CHEM 351 Biochemistry or CHEM 231 Analytic Chemistry or CHEM 202 General Chemistry II (CHEM 221 or CHEM 201 are prerequisites for these courses)
• BIOL 205 Introduction to Molecules and Cells
• BIOL 206 Organismal Biology

In order to declare a minor a student should obtain a Declaration of Minor card from the Office of the Registrar and have it signed by the department chair offering the minor or by the coordinator for the particular interdepartmental minor. The completed and signed card should be returned to the Office of the Registrar before the end of the first two weeks of the last semester of the senior year (by September 9 for first semester graduates and February 9 for second semester graduates). Students planning on summer graduation must have the card filed by the preceding March 1. Late declarations will not be recorded on the student’s permanent record.

Program in Liberal Arts and Engineering 

The five-year programs in liberal arts and engineering offer students the opportunity to obtain a broader education in the arts or sciences while completing the requirements for a major in engineering. For example, students may combine electrical engineering and Japanese. Upon successful completion of this program, the single degree, bachelor of science in electrical engineering and bachelor of arts, is awarded.

The major in the bachelor of arts program may be in one of the following subjects: animal behavior, anthropology, art, art history, biology, chemistry, classics, computer science, East Asian studies, economics, education, English, French, geography, geology, German, history, international relations, Japanese, Latin American studies, mathematics, music, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, religion, Russian, sociology, Spanish, theatre and dance, or women’s and gender studies. (For students desiring to design their own bachelor of arts program, either the interdepartmental major or the college major provides the opportunity.)

Students may enter these joint programs at any time during the first five semesters of one of the engineering B.S. programs. Students also may apply to enter this program from one of the programs in the College of Arts and Sciences. The timing for this change is critical because of the sequential nature of the courses in the engineering programs. Students interested in making this academic change should consult the associate dean of the College of Engineering as early as possible and not later than the third semester of study.

Students in this program must fulfill the distribution requirements and the major requirements for the degrees of bachelor of arts and either the bachelor of science in biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, or mechanical engineering, or bachelor of science in computer science and engineering. Suggested course sequences for each five-year program are available from the Office of the Dean of Engineering.

Program in Engineering and Management

The five-year program in engineering and management offers students the opportunity to combine the study of engineering in any of the engineering degree programs with a selected sequence of courses in management. Upon successful completion of this program, the joint degree, the bachelor of science in engineering degree (within a specific engineering discipline), and the bachelor of management for engineers degree, is awarded. The degree has the same accreditation status as the four-year bachelor of science degree in the engineering program selected. Specific course requirements for the bachelor of management for engineers degree may be found at the management department website.

Prospective students interested in pursuing this five-year degree program are encouraged to apply for admission directly into the program. Students also may enter this joint degree program during the first four semesters of one of the engineering B. S. programs, and should consult with the associate dean of engineering as early as possible and not later than the third semester of study. Admission to this joint degree program may be limited by enrollment.

Suggested course sequences for the program and detailed information on the degree requirements are available from the Office of the Dean of Engineering and the department of management.

Graduate Studies 

Bucknell University’s graduate program leads to the degrees of master of science in chemical, civil, electrical, or mechanical engineering. Each graduate program is individually tailored to meet the needs, preparation, and goals of the student.

Undergraduate students who have completed three years in the chemical, civil, electrical, or mechanical engineering program at Bucknell, earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.80, and who show aptitude for graduate study, may apply for admission to the integrated 3-2 program. This program permits selected students to complete all requirements for both a bachelor of science degree and a master of science degree in five years. Those students who are selected receive a full tuition scholarship for the fifth year.

Traditional master’s degree programs are offered in addition to the special 3-2 program. Assistantships are available. Information can be obtained from the dean of engineering or the director of graduate studies.

In addition to formal master’s degree programs, the regular undergraduate student who has arranged to complete all undergraduate degree requirements may, with prior approval, take up to two courses for graduate credit. An application for graduate credit by undergraduate students may be obtained from the Office of Graduate Studies or the Office of the Registrar.

Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering

Mission Statement 

The biomedical engineering department is dedicated to providing the best possible undergraduate biomedical curricula to meet the full range of needs of a highly selective, undergraduate, student body. The program is designed to ensure that our students are qualified to enter and succeed in the biomedical engineering profession through direct entry to the industrial workplace or further professional study. The department strives to achieve a process of continuous improvement of the curricula, provide a faculty which is professionally current in their field and to maintain state-of-the-art facilities.

To do this, the department offers the following:

• A bachelor of science in biomedical engineering degree for students seeking a comprehensive education in biomedical engineering.
  
  
• A minor in biomedical engineering for students in other engineering disciplines seeking a basic competency in the discipline and enhanced background in the life sciences.
  
  
• Elective courses to support the needs of students outside of the major and minor programs.

Program Educational Objectives

Recipients of the bachelor of science in biomedical engineering degree will meet the following program educational objectives:

Technical Competency – Graduates of the biomedical engineering program at Bucknell University will demonstrate a knowledge of discipline-specific material, mathematics, engineering sciences, computer science, and physical and biological sciences, as well as the interrelationships among the foregoing subjects, acquired through study, experimentation and problem solving involving analysis, computation and critical thinking.

Intellectual Development – Graduates of the biomedical engineering program at Bucknell University can apply fundamental principles and techniques from engineering, the physical and biological sciences, and mathematics to synthesize and evaluate alternative solutions to complex engineering problems with specified constraints.

Social Responsibility – Graduates of the biomedical engineering program at Bucknell University will exhibit professional responsibility and a sensitivity to a broad range of societal concerns including ethical, environmental, political, and regulatory issues in making decisions. Their decisions will be guided by an understanding of and appreciation for global/societal issues.

Professional Development – Graduates of the biomedical engineering program at Bucknell University will understand the necessity for growth and self-reflection to engage in successful practice and a development throughout their careers. Development of personal and interpersonal skills is essential to careers as leaders. Constructive participation in commonly encountered, multidisciplinary, team-centered environments will require flexibility, self-confidence, effective communication, leadership, continuous planned learning, selfless contributions towards team objectives, and ethical conduct.

The bachelor of science in biomedical engineering requirements are:

The 10 elective courses are distributed as follows:

• Five social science and humanities courses selected from the list of approved courses provide in the Information for Engineering Students Handbook (published by the College of Engineering) to fulfill the General Education Component required of all engineering students. These courses must be distributed as follows: 1) minimum of two courses in humanities; one must be a first-year course in English literature and composition or creative writing, or a Foundation Seminar in English literature; 2) minimum of two courses in social sciences. Two of these five electives must be taken in one department OR at least one elective must be taken at the 200+ level in any department. One of the five courses must satisfy the global and societal perspectives requirement.
  
  
• One approved 200+ level engineering course from the list published by the department.
  
  
• One approved 300+ level engineering course from the list published by the department.
  
  
• One BMEG engineering elective course from the list published by the department.
  
  
• One approved 200+ level physiology course from the list published by the department.
  
  
• One course in any department or program of the University provided that the prerequisites are satisfied.
  

*Half course.

Three courses in each student’s program must fulfill the university writing requirement.

Minor in Biomedical Engineering

Engineering students not pursuing the bachelor of science in biomedical engineering may choose to pursue a minor in biomedical engineering. This minor is attained through a judicious use of electives that combine the study of the basic biological sciences with their area of technological interest. To complete the biomedical engineering minor, engineering students must successfully complete at least four courses from select courses as prescribed by the biomedical engineering department. The minor in biomedical engineering requirements are:

• One 400+ level biomedical engineering course. Current courses include BMEG 421 Light-activated Therapy, BMEG 431 Biomimetic Materials,  BMEG 441/ELEC 411 Neural Signals and Systems, BMEG 451 Biomechanics and Injury Prevention, BMEG 471 and 472 Advanced Topics in Biomedical Engineering.
  
• Three courses from the following:

Engineering 

Biology or Chemistry 

For course descriptions go to Biomedical Engineering Course Descriptions.

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

Mission Statement 

The chemical engineering department is dedicated to providing educational opportunities in chemical engineering to a highly selective, predominantly undergraduate student body of talented individuals. The department encourages close interactions between students and the faculty, who are dedicated to education and are actively engaged in scholarship that enriches the educational program. The program emphasizes active learning with a strong laboratory component. The department nurtures the intellectual, professional and personal development of its students and faculty in order to prepare and encourage them to be highly competent professionals and responsible members of society.

Program Educational Objectives

The departments curriculum is designed to develop graduates that:

• Demonstrate a knowledge of discipline-specific material, mathematics, engineering sciences, computer science, and natural sciences, as well as the interrelations among the foregoing subjects, acquired through study, experimentation and problem solving involving analysis, computation and critical thinking.
  
  
• Can apply fundamental principles and techniques from engineering, the natural sciences and mathematics to synthesize and evaluate alternative solutions to complex engineering problems with specified constraints.
  
  
• Exhibit professional responsibility and a sensitivity to a broad range of societal concerns including ethical, environmental, political, regulatory, and global issues in making decisions.
  
  
• Exhibits skills which promote successful professional practice and future growth. Careers as leaders will require constructive teamwork and leadership, self-confidence, effective communication, and continual learning.

The requirements are:

The following sequence of courses emphasizes design across the curriculum and develops the professional skills of communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and self-directed learning: CHEG 200, ENGR 233, CHEG 300, CHEG 315, CHEG 400, and CHEG 410.

The 12 elective courses shown above are distributed as follows:

• Five social science and humanities courses selected from the list of approved courses provided in Information for Engineering Students Handbook (published by the College of Engineering) to fulfill the General Education Component required of all engineering students. These courses must be distributed as follows: 1) a minimum of two courses in humanities; one must be a first-year course in English literature and composition or creative writing, or a Foundation Seminar in English; 2) a minimum of two courses in social sciences. Two of these five electives must be taken in one department OR at least one elective must be taken at the 200+ level in any department. One of the five courses must satisfy the global and societal perspectives requirement.
  
  
• Two courses selected from the list of approved technical electives published by the department which may be found on the department web page.
  
  
• One approved biological-science course selected from the list of approved biological-science electives published by the department which may be found on the department web page.
  
  
• Two additional courses in chemical engineering.
  
  
• Two unrestricted electives in any department or program of the University.
  

Through judicious choice and curricular planning, students may be able to select a concentration – a series of electives that will allow development of expertise in a particular sub-discipline of chemical engineering. The following concentrations are available: Biological, Environmental, Materials, and Process. Declaration of a concentration is optional. Up-to-date listings of courses which can be used toward a concentration, and other associated requirements, are maintained on the department web page.

*Half-credit course.

**No credit.

Three courses in each student’s program must fulfill the university writing requirement.

For course descriptions go to Course Descriptions - Chemical Engineering.

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Mission Statement

Bucknell University’s civil engineering program strives to provide the best undergraduate civil engineering education possible within a four-year curriculum. The civil engineering degree program seeks to prepare our students to become responsible, contributing members of society, and to continue to develop personally and professionally after graduation. The program is designed to ensure that our students are qualified to enter, and succeed in, the civil engineering profession, enroll in graduate programs in civil engineering, or enter related industrial and business professions. Primary emphasis is placed on educational excellence achieved through a coherent and comprehensive curriculum, outstanding teaching, extensive student-faculty interaction, small class sizes, substantial laboratory and field trip experiences, and faculty scholarship that often directly involve students.

Program Educational Objectives

The civil engineering program seeks to prepare students to be successful professionals recognized for their: 1) critical thinking and problem solving based on a fundamental knowledge of humanities, social sciences, mathematics, science, engineering sciences, and a broad range of civil engineering technical areas; 2) consideration of global and societal concerns, ethics, and sustainability when making engineering decisions; 3) leadership and effective communication; 4) civil engagement and contributions to society; and 5) pursuit of lifelong learning and professional development.

The requirements are:

The 14 elective courses shown above are distributed as follows:

• One science elective: chemistry or physics (200 level or higher) or biology approved by the department.
  
  
• Students must fulfill the General Education Component through a minimum of five approved humanities and social science courses, with the following distribution:
  1. A minimum of two courses in humanities; one must be a first-year course in English literature and composition, and
  2. A minimum of two courses in social sciences.
     
     At a minimum one of the humanities or social science courses must satisfy the global and societal perspectives requirement. Of the five courses, two must be from a single department, or at least one course must be at the 200 level or above.
     
     
     
• Two unrestricted electives.
  
  
• Four civil engineering electives.
  
  
• Two technical electives: one must be either ENGR 200 or ELEC 105. The other must be an approved course in either civil engineering, computer science, engineering, mathematics or science.

Three courses in each student’s program must fulfill the University writing requirement.

*Half course.

For course descriptions go to Course Descriptions - Civil Engineering.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering

Mission Statement

The bachelor of science degree in computer engineering is an interdisciplinary degree offered jointly by the departments of computer science and electrical engineering.  Computer engineering is the integrated study of both computer hardware and software systems to solve problems and create new systems.  The bachelor of science degree in computer engineering consists of required courses in computer science and electrical engineering providing in-depth exposure to both disciplines.  Students can then select electives in computer science or electrical engineering to focus their course of study towards their individual interests. 

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates of the computer engineering program will:

• Demonstrate a working knowledge of mathematics, natural sciences, engineering sciences, electrical engineering, and computer science, and have the ability to apply that knowledge to analyze, design, and implement solutions to engineering problems related to the computer engineering discipline.
  
  
• Have the ability to synthesize multiple design solutions to computer engineering problems with specified constraints through the creative integration of the fundamental principles and techniques of engineering, mathematics, and the sciences.
  
  
  
• Exhibit professional responsibility and a sensitivity to a broad range of societal concerns in making decisions, including an understanding of, and appreciation for, the needs of society in a global context.
  
  
  
• Recognize the necessity for personal growth, self-reflection, and assessment to engage in successful professional practice and development throughout their careers.
  
  
• Demonstrate constructive participation in team-based activities.
  
  
  
• Exhibit an ability to communicate well, both orally and in writing.
  
  
  
• Be prepared for direct entry into the profession and to continue their education in graduate work.
  

The bachelor of science in computer engineering requirements are:

The 10 elective courses are distributed as follows:

• Five approved social science and humanities courses to meet the enginering General Education requairements. Those coures are distributed as follows:

1. A minimum of two courses in the humanities; one must be a first-year course in English literature and composition.
2. A minimum of two courses in the social sciences.
3. One of the courses must satisfy the global and societal perspectives requirement. 

• One course at the 200 level or above in the natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology, or BIOL 121, 122, GEOL 103, 150).
  
  
• Two courses chosen from the 300-level computer science or 400-level electrical engineering course offerings.
  
  
• Two unrestricted courses in any department or program in the University.
  

Three courses in each student's program must fulfill the University writing requirement.

*Half course.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering

Mission Statement 

The mission of the computer science department at Bucknell University is to provide degree programs and courses, consistent with the missions of the university and the Colleges of Arts and Sciences and of Engineering, that meet the full range of needs of the talented, primarily undergraduate student body. To do this, the department provides the following:

• A bachelor of science in computer science and engineering degree program in the College of Engineering for students seeking a rigorous education in computer science and engineering with an emphasis on computer software.
  
  
• A bachelor of science degree program in the College of Arts and Sciences for studnets seeking a solid foundation in the sciences while gaining an in-depth preparation in computer science.
  
  
• A bachelor of arts degree program in the College of Arts and Sciences for students seeking a broad understanding of the liberal arts while gaining an in-depth preparation in computer science.
  
  
• A minor in computer science for students seeking basic competency in the discipline.
  
  
• Basic courses to support the general educational needs of students outside of the degree programs and minor.
  
  
• Jointly with the electrical engineering department, an interdisciplinary bachelor of science in computer engineering degree program in the College of Engineering for students seeking a rigorous engineering education in computer systems and the interaction between computer hardware and software with an emphasis on computer hardware.

The department’s philosophy has the following four principles: Departmental programs will be based on a common core curriculum that supports the breadth of the discipline. Computer science courses should focus on principles; where appropriate, specific systems should be studied to illuminate the principles. Courses in the core curriculum should have a substantial hands-on component, usually in the form of a regularly scheduled laboratory. Departmental degree programs provide the background and experiences appropriate for entering the workplace at the technical level or graduate programs at the Ph.D. level.

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates of the computer science and engineering program will demonstrate:

1. Entry-level professional competency of discipline-specific principles and practices within the following areas of computer science: software system development, computer hardware organization and architecture, programming language theory and application, operating system design, and algorithm design and analysis.
   
   
2. Ability to apply discrete and continuous mathematics, natural sciences, and engineering sciences to the disciplines of computer science, general engineering, and basic electrical engineering.
   
   
3. Ability to combine principles and techniques from computer science, engineering sciences, and the social sciences and humanities to develop and evaluate design solutions to computer science problems with specified constraints.
   
   
4. Ability to contribute successfully to a team, communicate effectively, and be sensitive to a broad range of societal concerns impacted by the discipline.
   
   
5. Awareness of necessity for personal and professional growth.

The bachelor of science in computer science and engineering curriculum requires 12 course credits in computer science as specified below:

The seven elective courses shown are distributed as follows:

• One laboratory course in the natural sciences
  
  
• Five approved social science and humanities courses (in addition to the first-year course in English literature and composition) distributed as follows:
  1. A minimum of two courses in the humanities; (one could be the required first-year course in English literature and composition) and
  2. A minimum of two courses in the social sciences; one must be ECON 103.
     
     Two of these six courses (including the English literature and composition course) must be from the same department OR at least one course must be at the 200 level or above. A minimum of one of these five courses must satisify the global and societal perspectives requirement. Lists of approved social science courses, humanities courses and courses that contain global and societal perspectives are published by the College of Engineering.
     
     
• One course in any department or program of the University, provided the prerequisites are satisfied.

*Half course.

^†See department policy for use of AP credit in chemistry.

Three courses in each student’s program must fulfill the University writing requirement.

As an alternative to the bachelor of science in computer science and engineering curriculum, students may wish to consider the major in computer science offered in the bachelor of science curriculum or in the bachelor of arts curriculum. (See Course Descriptions - Computer Science)

For course descriptions see Course Descriptions - Computer Science.

.

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

Mission Statement 

The electrical engineering department is dedicated to providing educational opportunities in electrical engineering and computer engineering to a highly selective, predominantly undergraduate, student body of talented men and women. The department is small and emphasizes close interactions between students and the faculty, who are dedicated to education and actively engaged in scholarship that enriches the educational programs. The program emphasizes active learning with a strong laboratory component. The department nurtures the intellectual, professional, and personal development of its students in order to prepare and encourage them to be highly competent professionals and responsible members of society.

Program Educational Objectives

The electrical engineering department strives to graduate students who can:

• Exhibit an ability to apply knowledge of basic natural sciences, engineering sciences, and mathematics to engineering problems that require synthesis, including the ability to analyze, design, and implement solutions to engineering problems.
  
  
• Exhibit an ability to communicate well, both orally and in writing.
  
  
• Be responsible, well rounded, and aware of broad social issues, and cognizant of the need for personal growth and self-reflection.
  
  
• Have significant hands-on laboratory and design experience.
  
  
• Be prepared for direct entry into the profession and to continue their education in graduate work.

The requirements are:

The 10 elective courses shown above are distributed as follows:

• Five approved social science and humanities courses to meet the engineering General Education Component requirement. Those courses will be distributed as follows:
  1. A minimum of two courses in humanities; one must be a first-year course in English literature and composition.
  2. A minimum of two courses in the social sciences.
  3. One of the courses must satisfy the global and societal perspectives requirement.
     
     
• One course at the 200 level or above in the natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology or BIOL 121, 122, GEOL 103, 150).
  
  
• At least one 400-level course in electrical engineering.
  
  
• Three unrestricted elective courses in any department or program of the University. It is recommended that students intending to attend graduate school also should choose at least one of these courses: MATH 343, MATH 345, or MATH 362.

*Half-credit course; all others are one-credit courses.

Three courses in each student’s program must fulfill the University writing requirement.

Electrical engineering students who wish to pursue graduate studies in bioengineering or who wish to acquire the biology and chemistry needed in preparation for work or further study in the life sciences, are encouraged to take a minor in chemical and biological studies. These students will be excused from the ENGR 240 requirement.

For course descriptions see Course Descriptions - Electrical Engineering

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Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

The discipline of mechanical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals predominantly with the conversion, transmission and storage of mechanical and thermal energy; the generation, transmission and control of forces; the production and regulation of mechanical motion; and the optimal use of materials in the design and fabrication of the requisite machines and mechanisms.

Mission Statement

The mechanical engineering department is committed to providing the best undergraduate mechanical engineering education possible within the constraints of a four-year curriculum. In accord with the College of Engineering Mission Statement, the mechanical engineering department strives to nurture the intellectual, professional, and personal development of its students. The mechanism for achieving the department’s educational mission is the program of study, the curriculum in mechanical engineering designed to satisfy its Program Educational Objectives. The department strives to achieve a process of continuous improvement of the curricula, to provide a faculty who are professionally current in their field and to maintain state-of-the-art facilities.

Program Educational Objectives

Content Knowledge:: Graduates of the mechanical engineering program at Bucknell University will demonstrate a working knowledge of discipline-specific material, mathematics, engineering sciences, computer science, and natural sciences, as well as the interrelationships among the foregoing subjects, acquired through study, experimentation and problem solving involving analysis, computation, and design.

Design Ability: Graduates of the mechanical engineering program at Bucknell University will have the ability to synthesize multiple design solutions to complex engineering problems with specified constraints through the creative integration of fundamental engineering principles and techniques, natural sciences and mathematics.

Professionalism: Graduates of the mechanical engineering program at Bucknell University will exhibit professional responsibility and sensitivity to a broad range of societal concerns including ethical, environmental, political, and regulatory issues in making decisions. Their decisions will be guided by an understanding of and appreciation for cultural diversity, global interactions, and the needs of the local, regional, state, national and world communities.

Self Assessment, Lifelong Learning and Teamwork: Graduates of the mechanical engineering program at Bucknell University will understand the necessity for personal growth, self-reflection and assessment to engage in successful professional practice and development throughout their careers. Constructive participation in commonly encountered, multidisciplinary, team-centered environments will require flexibility, effective communication skills, leadership, continuous learning, selfless contributions toward team objectives, and ethical conduct.

In support of its mission the department offers a master’s degree program in mechanical engineering, which has similar goals, while also striving to offer more breadth of knowledge, more detailed understanding, and enhanced technical competence in specialized sub-disciplines. The department supports its mission in a wider context by providing students in other technical disciplines with an understanding of the aspects of mechanical engineering that are appropriate for their own areas of specialization, and to supply a technology component for students enrolled in a liberal arts curriculum.

The requirements are:

The 11 elective courses shown above are distributed as follows:

• One course in chemistry (CHEM 201 or CHEM 211 or CHEM 221) which must be taken in the first two years.
  
  
• Select any TWO full-credit courses, one of which must be in chemistry or physics at the 200+ level, , the other of which must be from the following list or any full-credit 300-level courses in astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology or physics (except 336) for which prerequisites have been satisfied: ASTR 201, BIOL 121, BIOL 122, BIOL 205, BIOL 208, BIOL 221, CHEM 160, CHEM 202, CHEM 211, CHEM 212, CHEM 231, GEOL 103, GEOL 150, GEOL 201, GEOL 205, GEOL 210, GEOL 214, GEOL 217, PHYS 212, PHYS 221, PHYS 222, PHYS 235.
  
  
• Five approved social science and humanities courses with the following distribution:
  1. A minimum of two courses in the humanities; one must be a first-year course in English literature and composition and
  2. A minimum of two courses in the social sciences.
     
     Two of these five courses must be from the same department OR at least one course must be at the 200 level or above. A minimum of one of these five courses must satisfy the global and societal perspectives requirement. Lists of approved social science courses, humanities courses, and courses that contain global and societal perspectives are published by the College of Engineering.
     
     
• One 400-level or equivalent course in any department of the College of Engineering.
  
  
• One 400-level course in the department of mechanical engineering or, with permission of the department, a course required for the expected fulfillment of a minor.
  
  
• One course in any department or program of the University.

*Half-credit course; all others are one-credit courses.

Three courses in each students program must fulfill the University writing requirement.

For course descriptions go to - Course Descriptions - Mechanical Engineering.