The dual-degree engineering program at Bethany Lutheran College is designed to give students who want to major in engineering the opportunity to do so while taking advantage of the Christian liberal education offered at Bethany. This is a program in which students will spend three years on the Bethany campus fulfilling their general education requirements along with a broad spectrum of pre-engineering and other science and mathematics courses. After three years, the student will move on to the University of Minnesota to complete the engineering-specific coursework in any of more than 10 engineering disciplines ? usually taking two more years. After both sets of requirements are completed, the student receives a bachelor's degree in engineering from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Arts in the Physical Sciences from Bethany ? hence, a dual-degree program.
By focusing on a broad spectrum of the sciences at Bethany, the student is provided with the necessary background to grow creatively and intellectually in their pursuit of knowledge and understanding of themselves and their environment. With scientific instruction from a Christian perspective, Bethany also prepares students to study and appreciate God's creation and to apply what they learn for the benefit of society, thereby making the most of their God-given talents.
Students have the freedom to decide which field of engineering they would like to pursue at almost any time during the three years at Bethany, as the requirements for a B.A. in the physical sciences are designed for all areas of engineering. The student should consult with the engineering advisor on the Bethany campus as soon as possible, however, in order to design appropriate course schedules.
Program benefits
There are many great advantages to participating in a dual-degree engineering program as opposed to a traditional engineering program. First and foremost, this gives students the opportunity to gain from and contribute to the Bethany Lutheran College community spiritually, educationally, and socially while still being able to pursue engineering as an academic discipline. Pre-engineering courses at Bethany, such as calculus, general chemistry, and general physics, traditionally have less than 20 students, which gives the student the opportunity to take advantage of the personal attention professors can only give with small classes. Students are also given more opportunities to participate in campus activities such as theatre, music, and athletics than they would be at a large university.
Another great advantage to this program is that through the dual-degree agreement with the University of Minnesota, Bethany students are guaranteed placement in their engineering program of choice, given that they satisfy the degree requirements and the minimum GPA requirements. This means that dual-degree students at Bethany do not have to worry about being accepted as transfer students to their engineering institution; acceptance is already guaranteed.
Opportunities
After having completed the liberal arts and pre-engineering requirements at Bethany, the dual-degree student will be prepared to pursue virtually any field of engineering, including:
- Aerospace
- Bio-based Products
- Biomedical
- Biosystems and Agricultural
- Chemical
- Civil
- Computer
- Electrical
- Geological
- Materials Science
- Mechanical
Mission Statement
The dual degree Engineering program at Bethany Lutheran College is designed to give students who want to major in engineering the opportunity to do so while taking advantage of the Christian liberal arts education offered at Bethany. This is a program in which students will spend three years on the Bethany campus fulfilling their general education requirements along with a broad spectrum of pre-engineering and other science courses. After three years, the student will transfer to a partner institution for completing the engineering-specific coursework in any of over a dozen engineering disciplines — usually requiring two more years. After both sets of requirements are completed, the student receives a bachelor's degree in engineering from the second institution and a Bachelor of Arts in the Physical Sciences from Bethany — hence, this is called a dual degree program.
Objectives
- To secure a foundation in mathematics and the sciences for a better understanding of the created world in which we live.
- To develop understanding of physical systems in the context of our Creator.
- To more effectively communicate using both the terminology and core principles of engineering and the physical sciences.
- To enable students to be critical of scientific research and literature.
- To develop the ability to integrate concepts from the full spectrum of the physical sciences.
Entry into the Major
There are two separate entry points into the engineering and physical science major.
First, entry into the physical science portion of the program consists of the student attaining an advisor in the physics department. Second, after successfully completing the requirements listed below, the student must apply for admission into the engineering program at the dual degree partner institution. The requirements for the second entry phase are:
- Successful completion of Bethany's general education requirements
- A grade of "C" or better and a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher in all of the core requirements (see below).
Core Requirements
Required lower division courses:
Required upper division courses:
Recommended courses:
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