School of Engineering

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The engineering programs provide graduates with the knowledge and practice to lead a successful professional career and to contribute to the economic vitality of their communities and the world. The curricula include a carefully chosen mix of basic science, engineering science, engineering design, practical engineering applications, and the humanities and social sciences.

Majors in biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical, and robotics engineering are offered. Freshmen may generally defer their decisions on a major until the beginning of their second semester.

Five engineering programs offered by the School of Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (www.abet.org). The newly launched robotics engineering program will seek accreditation at the earliest opportunity allowed under the policy of the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Mission

Widener University’s School of Engineering is dedicated to providing quality undergraduate and graduate education and to advancing the state of knowledge in engineering, with the aim of preparing graduates for successful professional careers.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the university requirements, incoming engineering freshmen are expected to demonstrate proficiency in mathematics and critical reading through standardized tests: SAT or ACT.

International Applicants

In addition to meeting the university’s requirements for international students, applicants must complete the Mathematics Assessment Test administered through Widener University.

Admission with Advanced Standing

Official scores and transcripts for Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and Dual Enrollment courses should be submitted to the Office of Admissions as soon as the become available and prior to the start of the first semester.

Admission for Transfer Students

In addition to the university requirements, transfer students from four-year or two-year accredited institutions must have, at the time of their matriculation at Widener, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 out of 4.0 and must have completed at least one calculus course and one science course in chemistry, physics, or biology that is approved for transfer credit toward the graduation requirements in one of the engineering curricula.

The School of Engineering has articulation agreements with select two-year community colleges. This program assures admission into the School of Engineering with junior standing for students who have satisfactorily completed the first two years of an approved course sequence.

Academic Requirements

The requirements for the degrees of bachelor of science in biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and robotics engineering are shown under the various curricula on subsequent pages.

Engineering students must satisfy the university distribution requirement of 12 credit hours in each of the two areas of humanities and social science. In addition, engineering students must complete the Undergraduate Writing Program as described under “Academic Policies and Procedures .” Students should work with their academic advisor to ensure that this requirement is met. In addition, the writing exhibited by each student must satisfy the requirements of the Undergraduate Writing Program.

Students interested in pursuing a dual degree in biomedical/chemical engineering, biomedical/electrical engineering, biomedical/mechanical engineering, biomedical/robotics engineering, electrical/robotics engineering, mechanical/robotics engineering, or electrical/mechanical engineering should contact the dean’s office or department chair. Dual degrees are also available in chemical engineering/chemistry, electrical engineering/physics, mechanical engineering/physics, and robotics engineering/computer science. Students interested in pursuing a dual degree should contact the departments offering the dual degree and their academic advisor.

The requirements for a minor in engineering are also shown on subsequent pages. Minors can be arranged in many areas, including biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, environmental engineering, mechanical engineering, robotics engineering, biology, business, chemistry, computer science, leadership, management, marketing, mathematics, and physics. Students interested in pursuing a minor should consult with their academic advisor.

Academic Proficiency and Graduation Requirement

Academic records of undergraduate students are reviewed by the Academic Review Committee of the School of Engineering at the end of each academic semester and summer session to ensure students are making satisfactory academic progress. The Criteria for Satisfactory Academic Progress in Undergraduate Majors are maintained in the engineering departments and the dean’s office. The criteria are designed to guide students whose academic performance is unsatisfactory toward successful completion of their degree requirements.

In addition to satisfying university requirements, engineering students must demonstrate academic proficiency in their major by maintaining a technical GPA of 2.0 or better throughout their course of study. The technical GPA is the cumulative GPA applied to all engineering, mathematics, and science courses attempted at Widener University. Failure to meet the required academic proficiency may result in a warning, academic probation, or dismissal from the School of Engineering. It is the responsibility of the student to satisfy the university and the School of Engineering academic requirements for graduation as outlined in this catalog.

Program Options

There are several program options available for students to complete the requirements for the undergraduate engineering degree. These options include the bachelor’s degree following the engineering curriculum during the traditional academic cycle (fall and spring); the cooperative education cycle (fall, spring, and summer), which includes intervals of paid work experience; an accelerated bachelor’s/master’s program; and dual degrees. The Engineering Honors program is available to qualified students pursuing any of the program options.

Traditional Program

This option follows one of the engineering curricula described on the following pages during the traditional academic cycle (fall and spring semesters). School attendance during summers is not required. Freshman students normally enter the program in the fall; however, students may matriculate in fall, spring, or summer, depending on their standing.

Cooperative Education Program

In addition to the traditional engineering program, students can gain valuable practical experience with two work periods totaling 12 months of employment in industry and/or government. The bachelor’s degree can still be completed within the normal four-year period. It is open to all interested students who have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better.

The Widener cooperative engineering education program has several important features:

• It is a four-year, year-round program. This enables Widener graduates to start their professional careers one year earlier than a typical five-year co-op program and earn an additional one year of salary.
• The student’s work experience is related as closely as possible to the course of study and personal interests.
• There is one four-month work period (Co-op I: September–December) and one eight-month work period (Co-op II: January–August). This permits students to be exposed to engineering in a “real-world” environment—that is, to get to know and work with people and apply their education to practical engineering problems.
• Co-op courses taken in the summer are semester-long courses.
• The co-op program is optional.

A student following the cooperative engineering program spends the first year in full-time study on campus. During the second year, four months are spent working in industry or government and the remaining eight months are spent on campus. The third year contains an eight-month industry or government work experience. During the final nine months, the senior year is completed on campus. Those students interested in only the eight-month work experience after the third year of their program or other variations for co-op employment should contact the Co-op Office for details.

Cooperative Education Schedule

Students seeking a degree in engineering follow the same academic requirements whether or not they participate in the cooperative education program. However, those interested in the coop program should apply as early as possible with the director of cooperative education.

Internships

Students who do not qualify or do not elect to participate in the Cooperative Education Program should pursue summer internship opportunities. For information, contact the dean’s office or one of the engineering departments.

Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Program

The bachelor of science/master of science in engineering program is an accelerated program that enables engineering students to complete both their bachelor of science and master of science in engineering degrees normally in five years. The School of Engineering offers the master of science in engineering degree with specializations in biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical and mechanical engineering, and engineering management. The school also offers the master of science in engineering/master of business administration dual degree with the School of Business Administration. 

Generous graduate assistantships are available to students who excel in their undergraduate major.

Students may complete up to three graduate courses during their junior/senior years applicable toward the requirements of the Master of Science in Engineering degree.  Two of these courses will satisfy the requirements for the undergraduate major.  There is no additional cost (beyond the full-time undergraduate tuition) to take the graduate courses as an undergraduate student.

For more information, contact the graduate program office.

Pre-MBA Certificate

The pre-MBA certificate provides students with a solid exposure to foundational business topics, such as accounting, economics, finance and management, and can be integrated into the four-year engineering curriculum. It also qualifies interested students to apply for an MBA at Widener following their graduation which can be earned in one year. Interested students should contact their academic advisor and the School of Business Administration early in their freshman year.

Minors in Engineering

Engineering students who are interested in gaining additional knowledge beyond their declared major are invited to pursue one or more of the academic minors. Interested students must apply in writing and be formally accepted by the department offering the minor. The requirements for each of the engineering minors are described below. To earn a minor in engineering, a student must complete at least two engineering or science courses (6 credits) that are not used to satisfy the graduation requirements of the student’s major program. At least one course of the two courses must be at the 300-level or above.

Academic Integrity Policy of the School of Engineering

Engineering students are expected to adhere to the highest standards of academic integrity, both inside and outside the classroom. Violations of the Academic Integrity Policies of the school or the university constitute academic fraud and are subject to review and possible penalties. Refer to the university Academic Integrity Policy for additional information.

Electronic Communications

Unless otherwise stated in the course syllabus, the use of electronic communication devices during exams, tests, quizzes, and other times as determined by the instructor is prohibited. Electronic communication devices include, but are not limited to, digital watches, cell phones, earphones, headsets, Internet, email, and unauthorized calculators. Authorized calculators are those listed under the current Calculator Policy of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (http://NCEES https://ncees.org/exams/calculator/). Unauthorized electronic communication devices shall be powered off and placed in a secure location not accessible to the student during exams, tests, quizzes, and other times as determined by the instructor. The use or attempted use of unauthorized electronic communication devices constitutes academic fraud. 

Contact the Dean’s Office for additional information about the School’s Academic Integrity Policy.

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