SCHOOL OF STEAM
General Engineering, Bachelor of Science
Become a knowledgeable, skilled engineer with our General Engineering degree
Learn and Practice: Gain a solid foundation in engineering principles while you go deeper within your selected area of concentration.
Minors within the General Engineering, B.S.
Aeronautics · Computational Modeling
Innovation/Entrepreneurship
Mechanical · Robotics
The General Engineering major is a distinctive choice for the entering freshman engineering student who desires a broad, thorough exposure to experimental design, problem-solving, teamwork, science, programming, and math.
The ability to select an area of concentrated study within the degree provides great flexibility to pursue your career goals.
Offered: On-Campus
Opportunities for one-on-one instruction and collaborative research projects
Access to state-of-the-art facilities and instrumentation
Focus on service and global experiences
The SFU LEARNING EXPERIENCE
General Engineering the Saint Francis Way
Saint Francis University engineers are educated rigorously across a wide breadth of engineering topics. Our curriculum has a strong hands-on, cross-disciplinary team, and project-oriented focus.
As a General Engineering student, you get to choose from one of five minors to gain even further depth and skill in an area of interest.
Gain experience and have an impact as a General Engineering major.
The General Engineering program at SFU will offer you an innovative, high-quality education. From constantly developing new projects to offer in our classrooms and laboratories, to providing research and service opportunities, our faculty and staff have your best educational interests in mind.
Real-world experience is the hallmark of engineering at SFU. In our program, you will learn to use math and science to solve some of the most important problems facing society today and we believe that you should start putting your skills to good use even before you graduate. As a student, you will design projects for class, work through paid internships and summer research, and conduct engineering service both here in Pennsylvania and abroad.
The SFU General Engineering faculty and staff demonstrate a humble and generous attitude toward learning to our students through our own actions. Faculty are often available into the evening, on weekends, and during breaks to assist you either with classwork or in extra-curricular ways. If you are struggling, we will encourage you to come to us for help, and if and when you do, we will be there to help guide you through the challenging work until you find success.
In our General Engineering program, we have a reverence for life and a mission to care for the creation. One of the courses required by our sophomore and junior General Engineering students is “Engineering Design for Service.” In this course, you will work on specific projects aimed toward underserved populations.
In our General Engineering Program, you will have plenty of opportunities in the classroom and beyond.
The best way to explore what the student experience really looks like is to schedule a visit!
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CURRICULUM & COURSES
What You’ll Learn in the General Engineering Program
The General Engineering degree at Saint Francis University is a 4-year bachelor of science degree focused on the broad application of engineering fundamentals with a particular focus on problem-solving and analytical skill-building.
Minors within the General Engineering B.S. include:
Aeronautics, Computational Modeling, Innovation/Entrepreneurship, Mechanical, and Robotics.
As an SFU student you will have:
- solid foundation in basic engineering and science
- strong math and programming skills
- advanced, focused engineering topics
- upper-level engineering electives and advanced math and science topics that foster your applied technical problem-solving abilities
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Degree Paths
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Learning Outcomes
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Accreditation
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On-Campus:
- 134-136 total credits
- 4-year anticipated completion
- Priority enrollment deadline: May 1
You will choose one of five minors in order to complete your degree:
Aeronautics
Related to mechanical engineering with a focus on the science and technical aspects of flight; acquiring the education and flight training to earn a Private Pilot’s license. Additional coursework could allow you to obtain instrument and commercial pilot’s licenses at SFU.
Computational Modeling
Computational and numerical design programs; computational modeling skills, mathematical solution methodologies, and specialized computer programming.
Innovation/Entrepreneurship
Leave the beaten path and forge your own direction. Entrepreneurship and innovative practices; prepare for consulting or developing new technologies or new technical startup companies.
Mechanical
Advanced topics in heat transfer and fluid mechanics, machine component design, and control theory; industry-standard finite-element and finite-volume computational methods used to simulate the behavior of structures and materials.
Robotics
Autonomous systems (like self-driving cars) and unmanned vehicles, robotic controls. Advanced topics in artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Looking for more?
Visit our Engineering Page
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Each student will have demonstrated proficiency in the following outcomes upon graduation with a Bachelor of Science in General Engineering:
- an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics;
- an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors;
- an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
- an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts;
- an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives;
- an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions;
- an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
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Accreditation Statement:
The General Engineering program at Saint Francis University is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org
ABET accreditation was received in the 2020-2021 cycle and is retroactive to October 1, 2019. Accreditation extends through September 2025.
ABET may be contacted at 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202; 410-347-7700; www.abet.org
ABET accreditation is external proof that our General Engineering Program has met certain standards necessary to produce graduates who are ready to enter the engineering profession.
In order to maintain our status as an accredited program, we are focused on helping our students attain the "Program Educational Objectives" and "Student Outcomes" that are published below.
Program Educational Objectives
Graduates from the Saint Francis University General Engineering program are expected within a few years of graduation to:
- Create value in their professional enterprise whether in fields of engineering practice, or in such related fields that draw on the knowledge, skills, and values of the engineering professional.
- Embrace lifelong learning and their professional responsibilities as they advance to positions of even greater responsibility.
- Contribute a Franciscan perspective as they ethically shape the culture in their workplace, community, and civil society writ large
Enrollment (as of May 2024)
Freshman 11
Sophomores 11
Juniors 16
Seniors 5
Graduates 16
Dedicated Researchers; Passionate Teachers
Our faculty members bring strong academic credentials to the classroom coupled with experience in authentic field projects and research to give you a hands-on experience that translates to real-world skills.
Program Chair: Dr. Rachel Wagner, rwagner@francis.edu, 814.471.1215
Career Outlook in General Engineering
The General Engineering major provides great flexibility of career choices and paths.
Graduates from the general engineering program are in particular generalists with a depth of preparation in mathematics, computer science, and fundamental engineering along with excellent technical and creative problem-solving skills which enable their entry into almost any engineering discipline. As in all engineering disciplines, internships and/or research experiences are encouraged.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions About the General Engineering Major
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Is there a capstone requirement?
Students in the General Engineering program complete a year-long capstone design experience by completing all of the following courses:
Our students have worked with industry and government partners in previous years on their capstone projects.
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What is the median wage for a General Engineer?
The median wage for a General Engineer is $90,000.
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You don’t have the exact engineering major that I want. Why should I come to SFU?
Our General Engineering degree prepares you for a career in all different kinds of engineering by giving you a robust, carefully planned foundation of technical knowledge. Our concentrations give you some opportunities to gain depth. For example, if you are leaning towards electrical engineering, we recommend our Robotics minor, which includes classes such as Autonomous Systems (CPSC 450) and Control Theory (ENGR 435) in addition to the Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering class (ENGR 325) taken by all our General engineering students.
We can also be creative with minors in other programs that will help you learn the things you need to do in other engineering professions. For example, if you are interested in biomedical engineering, check out the movement science minor. We will work with you to help you achieve your goals!
And don’t forget about our Environmental Engineering program, which offers minors in renewable energy and ecological engineering.
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What kind of projects and research can I do while I’m a General Engineering student?
The world is your oyster! We are happy to work with you on a project that interests you. Students have worked on projects such as converting a golf cart into an electric golf cart and all kinds of drone-based projects (from remodeling drones to change their payload capacity, to programming for managing drone-obtained data, to building and testing remotely-operated underwater vehicles). Our faculty are eager to have student involvement in their research!
Students in the General Engineering program complete a year-long capstone design experience by completing all of the following courses:
Our students have worked with industry and government partners in previous years on their capstone projects.
The median wage for a General Engineer is $90,000.
Our General Engineering degree prepares you for a career in all different kinds of engineering by giving you a robust, carefully planned foundation of technical knowledge. Our concentrations give you some opportunities to gain depth. For example, if you are leaning towards electrical engineering, we recommend our Robotics minor, which includes classes such as Autonomous Systems (CPSC 450) and Control Theory (ENGR 435) in addition to the Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering class (ENGR 325) taken by all our General engineering students.
We can also be creative with minors in other programs that will help you learn the things you need to do in other engineering professions. For example, if you are interested in biomedical engineering, check out the movement science minor. We will work with you to help you achieve your goals!
And don’t forget about our Environmental Engineering program, which offers minors in renewable energy and ecological engineering.
The world is your oyster! We are happy to work with you on a project that interests you. Students have worked on projects such as converting a golf cart into an electric golf cart and all kinds of drone-based projects (from remodeling drones to change their payload capacity, to programming for managing drone-obtained data, to building and testing remotely-operated underwater vehicles). Our faculty are eager to have student involvement in their research!