Bachelor in Engineering

Western Michigan University and Aquinas College are partners in an innovative engineering program that melds a liberal arts education rooted in the Catholic and Dominican tradition with the resources and expertise of a major public research university. Degrees are available in industrial and entrepreneurial engineering and in civil engineering (pending), and both are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

General education and prerequisite courses are taught by Aquinas faculty. Engineering courses are taught by W.M.U. faculty. Students graduate with both an associate of arts degree from Aquinas and a bachelor of science degree in engineering from W.M.U.

Why Study Engineering?

• You get to solve BIG problems that impact societies, unlike any other career!
• Careers in engineering are among the most sought-after, well-paying fields in the world. They are challenging and creative, and tend to have high job satisfaction.
• Engineers, scientists and technologists learn skills that are transferable to multiple industries, making them marketable worldwide.
• Opportunities are global – you can choose where to apply your skills. Live where you want!
• Degrees in engineering and science provide preparation for other professional degrees like law, medicine and business.

Why AQ?

Excellent teaching and mentoring at a Catholic liberal arts college with small classes and many opportunities for personal attention and tutoring. Strong S.T.E.M. (science, engineering, technology, and math) programs with dedicated professors and all lectures and laboratories taught by professors (no TAs). Private liberal arts college education at the cost of in-state tuition. Highly rated college for sustainability, with exciting opportunities for student participation, creativity, and initiative. Integration of the liberal arts with S.T.E.M., which is a selling point with employers. Beautiful campus on a wooded setting with trails, ponds and access to Fisk Lake. Only a 10-minute drive from downtown Grand Rapids. Small, accessible campus with a strong community life. Many opportunities for service work and internships. Involvement in student sports and clubs and study abroad opportunities.

Why W.M.U.?

All engineering programs are accredited. W.M.U. is a Carnegie-class research institution providing opportunities for Master’s andPh.D.D tracks. Elson Floyd Hall, located at the Business Technology Research Park on W.M.U.’s Parkview Campus, is a $100 million research facility with 75 labs available to our students. With 3,000 students, Floyd Hall provides a small-college feel while W.M.U. provides the resources and experiences that come with a large university. Learn from faculty who are some of the best minds in their fields and are committed to advancing both academic and career opportunities for students. Get involved! W.M.U. has nearly 400 student organizations, with over 30 committed to engineering and applied sciences. Our pedagogy is that students learn engineering by doing engineering. You will have hands-on opportunities immediately. Career pathways are global, and we boast a 92-percent post-secondary success rate. Our Career Advising team hosts industry leaders for presentations, helps with resume review, interviewing practice sessions, and salary negotiation strategies. The college hosts an engineering career day each fall, bringing more than 140 companies to campus. Our Industrial and Entrepreneurial Engineering program is one of the first accredited programs in the nation that combines a traditional industrial engineering program with an entrepreneurial focus, where engineering design, creativity and innovation are emphasized throughout the curriculum. The S.T.E.M. Talent Expansion Program (S.T.E.P.) provides free tutoring in science, mathematics and engineering courses.

Admission Requirements

Unlike many other schools, W.M.U. and Aquinas do not set quotas for admission to engineering programs; students who fulfill the requirements of the pre-engineering program are admitted to the program of their choice.

For Freshmen Students:

Students will file the Aquinas College Application for Admission (select Engineering as the intended academic interest). Aquinas College will review and make final admission decisions on behalf of the partnership.

Students who meet Calculus I readiness criteria may begin in the curriculum immediately in their first year at Aquinas. To be Calculus I ready, students must have met one of the following criteria:

• ACT Math Subscore of 27 or higher
• SAT Math Subscore of 640 or higher
• AP Calculus test score of a 4 or 5
• Completed Aquinas Pre-Calculus MS-114 course with a 'C' or better

Students may apply to W.M.U. College of Engineering and Applied Sciences by the end of their sophomore year at Aquinas. W.M.U. will review and make admission decisions on behalf of the partnership.

For Transfer Students:

Incoming transfers outside of Aquinas who have completed less than two years of college coursework should file the Aquinas College Application for Admission.

Students with more than two years of coursework or who have completed an Associate degree should apply to the W.M.U. College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and must meet admissions standards set by the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences in order to be admitted.

Tuition & Costs (2017-2018)

W.M.U. Extended University Program Tuition for 2016-17 (Fall/Spring Full Time): $14,443.20 (based on 30 credits, $481.44 per credit hour; 2017-18 tuition rate to be set Summer 2017)

The close-knit educational environment at Aquinas develops students who thrive in all dimensions of life. Learn more, in our students' words about the Aquinas experience and the Dominican pillars of prayer, study, service, and community.

The Dominican tradition is two-fold: contemplative and communal. At Aquinas, we are committed to gathering for liturgical prayer nourished by God's Word and the Spirit. Prayer leads us into the deeper Truth needed to live out God's call for us in the world. We commit ourselves to a love of learning, both formal and informal. This necessitates an openness to learn from the most unlikely sources as well as tried and true scholarship. Aquinas encourages students to engage in service projects and service-learning programs. It also offers preparation for careers that will enable graduates to spread the truths that they have learned - "to make a difference in the world."