Engineering Science

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Engineering Science is a flexible undergraduate engineering program. It offers imaginative students in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences the opportunity to design a course of studies that appeals to their special academic interests and prepares them for graduate school. This flexibility allows students to develop expertise in topical areas in the biological, environmental, mathematical, and physical sciences. Students typically select engineering science to prepare for a career in applied mathematics, engineering physics, materials science, or medicine, all of which have strong graduate programs at the University of Virginia but do not have undergraduate programs. Alternatively, some students seek to obtain a broad engineering/science background as preparation for work in non-engineering fields, such as teaching.

Engineering science students, in collaboration with their advisors, define their program of studies. The study plan for each student must show direction by including an approved minor in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. The equivalent of a minor in a science area is also strongly encouraged. The advanced project course in the fourth year, which supplements the senior thesis, allows the student to complete an in-depth research project. Minors in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), Applied Mathematics and Biomedical Engineering are common choices, but any minor in SEAS is allowed. The MSE option in Engineering Science is excellent preparation for either graduate school in MSE or to obtain a position in the materials industry. The courses required for the minor are listed under the relevant departments. Students using Engineering Science as preparation for medicine, business or law should also consult the office of the pre-professional advisor for undergraduates in Bryant Hall.

Engineering Science Curriculum (127 credits)

First Semester Credits: 15

APMA 111 - Single Variable Calculus II Credits: 4
CHEM 151 - Introductory Chemistry for Engineers Credits: 3
CHEM 151L - Introductory Chemistry for Engineers Laboratory Credits: 1
ENGR 162 - Introduction to Engineering Credits: 4
STS 101 - Engineering, Technology, and Society Credits: 3

Second Semester Credits: 17

Science elective I Credits: 3
Chosen from: BIOL 201, 202; CHEM152; MSE 209; ECE 200; and PHYS 252.
HSS elective Credits: 3
Chosen from the approved list available in A122 Thornton Hall.

APMA 212 - Multivariable Calculus Credits: 4
CS 101 - Introduction to Programming Credits: 3
PHYS 142W - General Physics I Workshop Credits: 1

Third Semester Credits: 17

Engr Science elective Credits: 3
Chosen from: 2xx courses in SEAS approved by advisor.
Engr Science elective Credits: 3
Chosen from: 2xx courses in SEAS approved by advisor.
HSS elective Credits: 3
Chosen from: 2xx courses in SEAS approved by advisor.

APMA 213 - Ordinary Differential Equations Credits: 4
PHYS 241E - General Physics II Credits: 3
PHYS 241W - General Physics II Workshop Credits: 1

Fourth Semester Credits: 16

Math elective I Credits: 3
(See footnote 1 below)
Science elective II Credits: 3
(See footnote 2 below)
Science elective II Lab Credits: 1
(See footnote 2 below)
Engr Science elective Credits: 3
Chosen from: 2xx courses in SEAS approved by advisor.
Technical elective 2xx Credits: 3
(See footnote 2 below)
STS ___ STS 2xx/3xx elective Credits: 3

Fifth Semester Credits: 16

Adv. Math/CS elective II Credits: 3
(See footnote 1 below)
Adv. Natural Science elective Credits: 3
(See footnote 3 below)
Adv. Natural Science Lab elective Credits: 1
(See footnote 3 below)
Technical elective Credits: 3
(See footnote 4 below)
Technical elective Credits: 3
(See footnote 4 below)
HSS elective Credits: 3
Chosen from the approved list available in A122 Thornton Hall.

Sixth Semester Credits: 16

Adv. Math/CS elective II Credits: 3
(See footnote 1 below)
Adv. Natural Science elective Credits: 3
(See footnote 3 below)
Adv. Natural Science Lab elective Credits: 1
(See footnote 3 below)
Technical elective Credits: 3
(See footnote 4 below)
Technical elective Credits: 3
(See footnote 4 below)
Unrestricted elective Credits: 3
(See footnote 6 below)

Seventh Semester Credits: 15

Technical elective Credits: 3
(See footnote 4 below)
Technical elective Credits: 3
(See footnote 4 below)
Advanced Project Credits: 3
(See footnote 5 below)
Unrestricted elective Credits: 3
(See footnote 6 below)

STS 401 - Western Technology and Culture Credits: 3

Eighth Semester Credits: 15

Technical elective Credits: 3
(See footnote 4 below)
Technical elective Credits: 3
(See footnote 4 below)
Advanced Project Credits: 3
(See footnote 5 below)
Unrestricted elective Credits: 3
(See footnote 6 below)

STS 402 - The Engineer, Ethics, and Society Credits: 3

Footnotes

⁽¹⁾ Math elective I: 200-level or higher course in mathematics. Advanced math/CS elective II: Two advanced mathematics courses, 300-level or higher, in SEAS or CLAS, or one advanced-level mathematics and one 200-level or higher computer science course. Mathematical modeling courses in the various departments of SEAS may be used, as approved by the advisor.

⁽²⁾ Chosen from 200-level or higher courses in astronomy, biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, or physics for science majors. Should have a science, mathematics or computer science pre-requisite. Chosen from: ASTR 211, 212; BIOL 201, 202, 203, 204; CHEM 152, 152L, 210, 222, 241, 241L, 242, 242L, 252, 281, 281L, 282, 282L; EVSC 280, 280L; MSE 209; PHYS 252, 252L; and PSYC 221. The four-course sequence for science majors (CHEM 181/181L, 182/182L, 281/281L, 282/282L) may be taken to replace CHEM 151/151L, two science electives, and the 2xx technical elective. The course sequence for science majors (PHYS 151, 152, 251, 252, and labs PHYS 221, 222) may replace PHYS 142E, 241E/241W, and two science electives.

⁽³⁾ Advanced sciences are 300-level or above courses in astronomy, biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, or physics. The course must have mathematics or science prerequisites. For students with minors in engineering other than the materials science minor, 300-level courses in materials science may be used. Two credits of advanced laboratory work should be included. The science elective and technical electives can be used to obtain the equivalent of a science minor.

⁽⁴⁾ Advanced technical electives should be chosen from 300- to 400-level science, mathematics, or engineering courses for science and engineering majors (i.e., courses not open to non-science majors). At least two of the technical electives must be 400-level or higher SEAS courses. The technical electives must be chosen to include an approved minor in SEAS.

⁽⁵⁾ Students are expected to define a research project to be completed in the fourth year. The advanced project courses are graded research courses supplementing the student’s thesis work.

⁽⁶⁾ Unrestricted electives may be chosen from any graded course in the University except mathematics courses below MATH 131, including STAT 110 and STAT 112, and courses that substantially duplicate others used for the student’s degree.