General Engineering

The Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) is a novel and unique engineering educational program currently offered in the Iron Range region of northeast Minnesota (Virginia, MN) for the 3rd and 4th year of the undergraduate engineering program. Students transfer into the Bachelor of Science in Engineering program after two years of pre-engineering work elsewhere.

These students learn traditional engineering knowledge and skills in a project based learning environment. The Iron Range Engineering (IRE) educational model is a project-based-learning (PBL) model in which students work with industry and others on real-life design projects with a focus on producing graduates with integrated technical/professional knowledge and competencies. Learning is done in the context of the design projects.

The IRE educational model emphasizes innovation, creativity, design, experimental techniques, and modeling techniques with an ultimate goal of regional economic development in the Iron Range region. The BSE program allows students to tailor their education to emphasize different engineering fields. Successful completion of the program culminates in the Bachelor of Science in Engineering.

Graduates will achieve at least two of the objectives, but will be capable of achieving all within one to four years of graduation.

• Designing, implementing and integrating thermal, electrical, mechanical, and computer-controlled systems, components, and processes that will serve the region, the nation and the world
• Continuing their education through technical or professional graduate programs, professional licensure, or certifications, and the wide variety of other types of life-long learning
• Creating, developing, leading, and managing in a wide range of enterprises that result in sustainable and enhanced economic regional development through their disciplinary expertise
• Demonstrating actions such as community service, professional ethics, professional responsibility and mentoring future engineers

Admission to the program is granted by the department. In addition to the University admissions requirements, and prior to entering the engineering curriculum in the first semester of the junior year in full standing, students must complete a minimum of 49 semester credit hours in the following areas:

1. Calculus and Differential Equations - 16 semester hours.
2. General Physics (calculus-based) - 8 semester hours.
3. Additional math and science courses, including one semester of chemistry, - 8 semester hours.
4. Introductory engineering courses including programming, statics, dynamics, and lab-based electric circuits - 13 semester hours.
5. English Composition - 4 semester hours.

All courses and credits shown above must be completed before full enrollment in 300-level engineering courses, unless special permission is granted by the department chair. All of the above courses must be taken for “grade”. It is not acceptable for the student to take any of these courses on a pass/no credit basis. A grade of “C-” or better must be achieved in each course.

To be considered for admission, students must have a 2.5 GPA in all courses required for admission.

Students may be admitted provisionally while these requirements are being satisfied.

All majors are assigned to an academic advisor to assist in planning their major program.  Additional advising support is available at:
College of Science Engineering & Technology Advising Center
Ken Adams, Student Relations Coordinator
125 Trafton Science Center C.
Mankato, MN 56001
507-389-1521