As competitive pressures and advancements in technology continually shape business and industry, companies will rely on employees with engineering knowledge to help increase productivity and improve manufacturing processes. Engineers are also always needed to build and improve roadways, bridges, water and pollution control systems and other public facilities. All this demand for talent has made engineering one of the most-popular fields of study, second only to business.

Engineering programs are as diverse as the many colleges and universities that offer engineering as a field of study. Some programs are theoretical, while others provide more practical experience. Some programs are in a single discipline, while others offer an interdisciplinary or general engineering degree. The key for students is to find the right school and the right program to fit their personal career goals.

Many employers and graduate schools prefer applicants who have earned an undergraduate degree from a program that has been approved by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Of the more than 2,000 four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. that offer engineering degrees, only 320 are accredited by ABET, including Princeton University, Harvard University, Columbia University and Widener University.

Widener University's School of Engineering for example, provides students with an education that is directed along the traditional lines of engineering while also focusing on new technologies. The program combines core courses - in mathematics, science, humanities, and social science - with specialized engineering courses in chemical, civil, electrical and mechanical engineering to provide students with a strong foundation from which they can further specialize.

Options for Getting the Right Fit
Chemical engineering applies principles of chemistry, physics and engineering to the design and operation of plants and processes for production of materials that undergo chemical changes during their manufacture. Widener chemical engineering students focus on a combination of electricity, calculus, physical and organic chemistry, and thermodynamics for future careers in areas ranging from the refining of petroleum and petrochemical processing to pollution prevention and biotechnology.

Civil engineering, the oldest of the engineering professions, focuses on the planning, design, and construction of projects such as bridges, dams, buildings, highways and railroads. The Widener civil engineering program builds on the basics of engineering with studies of steel and concrete structures, hydrology, water and wastewater treatment, and transportation.
Electrical engineering is concerned with electrical devices, circuits and systems. Traditionally, electrical engineers have specialized in areas such as power generation and transmission, electrical machinery, electronics, and circuit design. Recently, the field has expanded to include computers, avionics, robotics and medical imaging. At Widener, both curriculum choices are available - the traditional track and the computer track - preparing students for a variety of career paths.

Mechanical engineering involves machines and mechanical processes such as energy generation and conversion. Mechanical engineers design, test and manufacture popular products such as household appliances, heating systems, cars, ships and airplanes. The Widener curriculum stresses the basics of solid and fluid mechanics, while specializing in machine design, thermodynamics, vibrations and the design of fluid thermal systems.

Moving Quickly Toward Success
Undergraduate programs in engineering can often take five years to complete. Widener, however, offers a four-year cooperative program, and an accelerated three-year program. The four-year co-op program includes 12 months of industrial or government co-op employment. It is a year-round program that integrates the work experience with the academic program, and is open to all interested freshmen. The three-year program is an option recommended only for outstanding students. This option permits the student to complete the four-year curriculum in three years. The master's program may then be completed in the fourth year.

Widener also offers several programs for high school students considering a career in engineering. Students with a combined SAT score of 1250 or better and a grade point average of 3.5 or higher are eligible for a free laptop computer and a half tuition Presidential Scholarship when they enroll in the engineering program at Widener. The "Engineering: A World of Possibilities" program allows high school juniors and seniors to meet with engineering professors, recent graduates, and current students to answer any questions they have about studying engineering at any school. These programs are scheduled on a regular basis at the university.

Graduate Programs Capitalize on a Firm Foundation
Some engineering students decide to jump into the working world after graduation. Others choose to obtain graduate degrees in engineering to learn new technology, broaden their education and enhance employment opportunities. Widener offers engineering graduate programs in chemical, civil, computer and software, electrical/telecommunications, mechanical and engineering management. An environmental engineering option is available in chemical and civil engineering, and engineering management.

Graduate schools also give engineering students a chance to change direction in their career path. For instance, many students are deciding to seek master's degrees in business to gain insight into the business side of engineering. Widener recognized this trend and now offers a dual degree program with the School of Business Administration.

For more information about any of Widener's undergraduate or graduate engineering programs, or the dual degree with business, call (610) 499-4036 or visit www.widener.edu.

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