BA in Engineering Sciences

Overview

The bachelor of arts degree in engineering science (BA-ES) is a multidisciplinary program that emphasizes understanding and application of engineering, scientific and mathematical principles. The program provides a broad foundation in the sciences and associated mathematics that underlie engineering and provides students the opportunity to obtain an in-depth knowledge in an area of their choosing through technical electives.

BA-ES creates a solid foundation for students interested in careers like patent attorney, technical writer, science advisor, technical sales, as well as science and engineering education.

Because no single standardized curriculum exists, the engineering science major is not ABET-accredited. Engineering science students who intend to seek licensure as a professional engineer should be aware that this non-accredited degree program will require additional education, work, and/or experience to qualify to take the Fundamentals of Engineering examination.

Students who would like to find out more about the program, or have questions, can set up an appointment with a Hajim School academic advisor or email hajimschool@ur.rochester.edu.

Degree Requirements

Prerequisites

All the following courses:

  • MATH 161: Calculus IA*
  • MATH 162: Calculus IIA*
  • MATH 165: Linear Algebra with Differential Equations

*MATH 141, 142, and 143 are equivalent to MATH 161 and 162

Note: Students also have the option of taking the honors calculus sequence: MATH 171, MATH 172, and MATH 173.

Plus, one of the following physics sequences:

  • PHYS 113: General Physics I or PHYS 121: Mechanics; and PHYS 122: Electricity and Magnetism
  • PHYS 141: Mechanics (Honors) and PHYS 142: Electricity and Magnetism (Honors)

Plus, one of the following chemistry courses:

  • CHEM 131: Chemical Concepts, System, Practice I
  • CHEM 137: Chemical Principles for Engineers

Required Hajim School Courses

One computer programming course:

  • CSC 160: Engineering Computing
  • CSC 161: Introduction to Programming
  • CSC 170: Introduction to Web Development
  • CSC 171: Introduction to Computer Science
  • BME 221: Biomedical Computation and Statistics
  • ECE 114: Introduction to Computers and Programming

Plus, one introduction to engineering course:

  • BME 101/EAS 101: Introduction to Biomedical Engineering
  • CHE 150/EAS 102: Introduction to Sustainable Energy
  • AME 140/EAS 103: Introduction to Audio Music and Engineering
  • ME 104/EAS 104: The Engineering of Bridges
  • OPT 101/EAS 105: Introduction to Optics
  • ECE 101/EAS 108: Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering

Plus, one engineering mechanics course:

  • BME 201: Fundamentals of Biomechanics
  • ME 120: Engineering Mechanics

Core Hajim School Courses

Choose one course from any two categories below:

  • Circuits: BME 210: Biosystems and Circuits, ECE 210: Circuit Analysis for System Thinking or OPT 210: Circuit Analysis for System Thinking
  • Mechanics of Fluids/Solids: CHE 243: Fluid Dynamics, ME 225: Introduction to Fluid Dynamics, or ME 226: Introduction to Solid Mechanics
  • Thermodynamics: CHE 225: Thermodynamics I or ME 123: Thermodynamics
  • Optics: OPT 241: Geometrical Optics

Updated fall 2021: ECE 111 is no longer being offered. Students who have taken ECE 111 before fall 2021 may still count it towards the circuits category.

Hajim School Electives

Any four four-credit Hajim School course except those listed above as required or core courses. These courses should be chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor and may include upper-level writing courses. At least one of the courses should be 200-level.

Natural Science Electives

Any two four-credit courses in astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth and environmental sciences, mathematics, physics, or statistics except those listed above as prerequisite courses.

Two Clusters

All engineering science students are required to complete at least two clusters, one in the humanities and one in the social sciences.

Primary Writing Requirement

All students are advised to complete the College’s primary writing requirement (WRT 105) by the end of their first year. This course must be completed by the time the engineering science major is officially declared.

Upper-Level Writing Requirement

The engineering science upper-level writing requirement will be met by satisfactorily completing two of the following Hajim School courses:

  • AME 192: Listening and Audio Production, AME 193: Computer Sound Design, AME 233: Musical Acoustics, AME 262: Audio Software Design, AME 386: Senior Design Portfolio
  • BME 221: Biomedical Computation and Statistics, BME 230: Biomedical Signals, Systems, and Imaging, BME 260: Quantitative Physiology
  • CHE 246: Lab in CHE Principles, CHE 255: Chemical Engineering Senior Design Lab
  • CSC 298W: Video Game Studies, CSC 299: Topics in Computer Science
  • ECE 112: Logic Design, ECE 113: Circuits and Signals, ECE 399: Junior Seminar
  • ME 204: Mechanical Design, ME 205: Advanced Mechanical Design, ME 206W: Building Engineering and Technology in Antiquity, ME 241: Fluids Lab, ME 242: Solids and Materials Lab, ME 251: Heat Power Application
  • OPT 201: Geometrical Optics Lab, OPT 202: Physical Optics Lab, OPT 203: Instrumentation Lab Lecture, OPT 204: Sources/Detectors Lab Lecture
  • WRT 273: Communicating Your Professional Identity in Engineering

*Updated fall 2021: ECE 111 is no longer being offered

Should any department in the College offer a generalized technical writing course, pending review of the course description, this course would also be acceptable for this requirement.

Focus Areas

Engineering science students can choose to specialize in one or more important areas through careful selection of their electives and cluster courses. These courses would lead to a more in-depth understanding of a particular topic and possibly a minor. Since BA-ES students are not required to follow tracks, the following sample four-year plans are just suggestions for specializations.

Engineering Ethics

In addition to gaining a firm foundation in science, mathematics, and engineering, students following this focus complete a philosophy minor that satisfies the humanities cluster requirement.

First Year
FallSpring
MATH 161: Calculus IMATH 162: Calculus II
CHM 131: Concepts, Systems, Practice IPHYS 121: Mechanics
EAS 10X: Intro to EngineeringCSC 161: Intro to Programming
WRT 105: Primary WritingPHIL 103: Contemporary Moral Problems
Second Year
FallSpring
MATH 165: Linear AlgebraCore course
PHYS 122: Electricity and MagnetismNatural science
BME 201: Fundamentals of Biomechanics OR ME 120: Engineering MechanicsElective

PHIL 228: Public Health Ethics

PHIL 135: Environmental Ethics

Third Year
FallSpring
Hajim electiveHajim elective-ULW
Core courseNatural science
PHIL 152: Science and ReasonPHIL 220: Recent Ethical Theory
Social science cluster courseSocial science cluster course
WRT 273: Communicating your Professional Identity (two credits) 
Fourth Year
FallSpring
Hajim elective-ULWHajim elective
Free electiveFree elective
Free electiveFree elective
Social science cluster courseFree elective
Engineering in the Business World

Combine coursework in both business and engineering, to create a program that focuses on enabling graduates to work successfully in technically oriented business positions such as technical sales. In addition to gaining a firm foundation in science, mathematics, and engineering, students complete a business minor that satisfies the social science cluster requirement.

First Year
FallSpring
MATH 161: Calculus IMATH 162: Calculus II
CHM 131: Concepts, Systems, Practice IPHYS 121: Mechanics
EAS 10X: Intro to EngineeringCSC 161: Intro to Programming
WRT 105: Primary WritingECO 108: Principles of Economics
Second Year
FallSpring
MATH 165: Linear AlgebraCore course
PHYS 122: Electricity and MagnetismNatural science
BME 201: Fundamentals of Biomechanics OR ME 120: Engineering MechanicsElective
Business social science elective #1Business required course #1
Third Year
FallSpring
Hajim electiveHajim elective-ULW
Core coursePrerequisite course*
Business required course #2Business required course #3
Humanities cluster courseHumanities cluster course
Fourth Year
FallSpring
Hajim elective-ULWHajim elective
Business social science elective #2Free elective
Free electiveFree elective
Humanities cluster courseFree elective

 

* Indicates courses subject to the College’s overlap policy.

Renewable Energy

Combines basic knowledge in engineering with some specialized courses in solar energy, hydropower, and biofuels. By supplementing engineering science courses with some environmental science and policy courses, students can complete a minor in sustainability that satisfies the social science cluster requirement. To round things out, students might consider completing the humanities cluster, Sustainability and the Humanities (as indicated by italicized courses).

First Year
FallSpring
MATH 161: Calculus IMATH 162: Calculus II
CHM 131: Concepts, Systems, Practice IPHYS 121: Mechanics
CHE 150: Green Energy*CSC 161: Intro to Programming
WRT 105: Primary WritingPHIL 103: Contemporary Moral Problems
Free elective 
Second Year
FallSpring
MATH 165: Linear AlgebraME 123: Thermodynamics
PHYS 122: Electricity and MagnetismMATH 164: Multidimensional Calculus
ME 120: Engineering MechanicsEES 103: Intro to Environmental Science
Free electiveFree elective
Third Year
FallSpring
ME 121: Engineering Mechanics IIME 241: Fluids Lab
ME 225: Introduction to Fluid DynamicsPHIL 135: Environmental Ethics
PSC 246: Environmental Law and PolicyPSC 243: Environmental Politics
Free electiveFree elective
Fourth Year
FallSpring
CHE 260: Solar Cells*HIS 300W: The History of Nature
EES 213: Hydrology and Water ResourcesFree elective
CHE 264: BiofuelsFree elective
Free electiveFree elective
WRT 273: Communicating your Professional Identity (two credits) 

 

* Indicates courses subject to the College’s overlap policy.

Sustainable Environmental Engineering

Students with an interest in sustainable environmental engineering practices may want to investigate this option of majoring in engineering science and with a minor in sustainability that satisfies the social science division of the Rochester curriculum (indicated by courses in red). To round things out, students might consider completing the humanities cluster, Sustainability and the Humanities (as indicated by italicized courses).

First Year
FallSpring
MATH 161: Calculus IMATH 162: Calculus II
CHM 131: Concepts, Systems, Practice IPHYS 121: Mechanics
CHE 150: Green Energy*CSC 161: Intro to Programming
WRT 105: Primary WritingENG 267: Food, Media Literature
Second Year
FallSpring
MATH 165: Linear AlgebraCHE 243: Fluid Dynamics
PHYS 122: Electricity and MagnetismEES 103: Intro to Environmental Science*
CHE 113: Chemical Process AnalysisPSC 243: Environmental Politics
PHIL 103: Contemporary Moral ProblemsCHE 116: Numerical Methods and Statistics
Third Year
FallSpring
CHE 244: Heat and Mass TransferCHE 246: Laboratory in CHE Principles (3 credit)
CHE 225: ThermodynamicsCHE 279: Chemical Engineering Practice (1 credit)
WRT 273: Communicating your Professional Identity (2 credit)HIS 300W: The History of Nature
PSC 246: Environmental Law and PolicyFree elective
Free electiveFree elective
Fourth Year
FallSpring
ME 120: Engineering MechanicsCHE 231: Reactor Design
Free electiveGSWS 211: Politics of Nature
ENG 250: Food Justice, Urban Farming, Social PracticeEES 105: Introduction to Climate Change
Free electiveFree elective

 

* Indicates courses subject to the College’s overlap policy.

How to Declare a Major in Engineering Science

  • Step One

    Read the engineering science degree requirements.

    Read the requirements
  • Step Two

    Print and complete the engineering science checklist to the best of your abilities. List the relevant courses you have already taken, are currently taking, or plan to take before you graduate. You are not committed to following this course plan exactly, but you must fulfill the relevant requirements if you wish to graduate with a major in engineering science. If you ultimately deviate from the courses listed on your checklist, you may wish to check with an undergraduate advisor in the Hajim School Dean’s Office to confirm that the substitutions are acceptable.

    Print the checklist
  • Step Three

    Set up an appointment with a Hajim School academic advisor. At this meeting, you and an advisor will review requirements and discuss your plans and, if all looks good, your advisor will make a copy of your engineering science checklist.

    Schedule an appointment
  • Step Four

    Provided that you have completed your primary writing requirement and are not on academic probation, transfer the courses from your checklist to the major declaration form.* Please list the courses in the order they appear on the form, and do not include any that are not listed.

    Transfer your courses

*Additional information about filling out this form can be found in the Major/Minor Declaration Student Instructions PDF. If you find that you need to petition for a course substitution, please write a short letter to the Interdepartmental Engineering Committee with the rationale for your request and email it to hajimschool@ur.rochester.edu.