FAQs
1. What is Engineering Science?
The Engineering Science at Trinity University is a broad-based undergraduate engineering program which offers a design oriented, multi-disciplinary engineering science curriculum in the context of the University's tradition of the liberal arts and sciences.
2. What degree(s) the Engineering Science program at Trinity offers?
The Engineering Science program at Trinity offers a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering Science.
The Engineering Science degree requires a minimum of 129 hours consisting of a 51 semester hour engineering core, 33 hours in math and science, and 33 hours in the common curriculum. The remaining 12 hours are free electives allowing students some specialization in chemical, electrical, or mechanical engineering in their junior and senior years or pursuit of objectives such as entry into law and medicine with related course requirements. Engineering students are required to take six mathematics courses and are awarded mathematics minor. The program provides significant hands-on experience in engineering laboratories and participation in engineering design projects throughout the eight-semester engineering design course sequence
3. Is the Engineering Science program ABET accredited?
Trinity's undergraduate Engineering Science Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
4. Can students complete your program in four years?
Yes. Most of our students complete the Engineering Science program requirements for graduation in four years.
5. Can your graduates find jobs in the industry?
Yes. Engineering Science graduates are well prepared for challenging positions in engineering practice, graduate study and for lives as innovative thinkers and problem solvers in today's rapidly changing society. After graduation, about 70 percent of our graduates go directly into industry and business. The remaining 30 percent go to graduate school, including schools of medicine and law.
Locations of some recent graduates include: Chevron, USAA, Technip USA, Professional Engineering Balance Lab, Southwest Research Institute, Clorox, Texas Instruments, KCI, Rackspace Hosting, Schlumberger, Mustang Engineering, Tesoro Petroleum, KPMG, Brooks Air Force Base, Sandia National Lab, etc.
6. Do your graduates need to take additional courses to go to graduate school?
If the students are planning to go to graduate school in a specific discipline such as Chemical, Mechanical or Electrical engineering they are strongly recommended to take at least four elective courses in the respective areas in their junior and senior years at Trinity. While in graduate school they may prefer to take additional courses as recommended by their graduate school advisor.
After graduation, about 30 percent of our graduates go to graduate school. Location of graduate school include: Vanderbilt University, Northwestern University, University of Washington, Georgia Tech Virginia Tech, University of Colorado, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, University of Houston, UTSA, etc.
7. What is the passing rate of Trinity's engineering students on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam?
Our passing rate on the FE exam averaged over the last five years is over 90 percent.
8. Can I take engineering courses in the freshmen year if I am not sure about majoring in engineering?
Yes. You are recommended to take only one engineering course in first semester.
9. What are opportunities for summer internship?
Summer internships with appropriate industries are strongly encouraged during the sophomore and junior years. The Engineering Board of Advisors and engineering alumni play an instrumental role along with the faculty in the placement of student interns. Companies offering internships in the past have included Chevron, KCI, Valero Energy, Technip, Bartlett Cocke, Bay Shore Industrial, Epic Aircraft, RAN Technologies, GE, Bechtel, Helix Energy Solutions, Southwest Research Institute etc.
10. What are the opportunities for undergraduate research?
Engineering students also participate in undergraduate summer research programs at Trinity University, University of San Antonio Health Science Center, University of Houston, Texas A & M University, University of Minnesota etc. These summer research programs are funded by the National Science Foundation and other funding agencies.
11. What are the opportunities for study abroad?
The Engineering Department has worked with the Study Abroad Program in the International Programs Office in order to send more Engineers abroad. We have identified several opportunities at universities in Australia and New Zealand where students can take Engineering classes combined with a variety of options for the Common Curriculum in order to "fit" a term abroad into the Engineering degree. This is generally most easily done in the junior year, although summer study is always an option typically, engineering students goes to study abroad program in Australia, New Zealand, England, Germany, and Spain.
12. Is it possible to pursue an engineering major if I am also interested in Sports or Music?
Yes. More than 50 percent of engineering students participates in music (band, orchestra, wind-symphony, choir etc.) and sports (football, soccer, basketball, base ball, soft ball, tennis, swimming, golf, track, etc.)
