Engineering Dual-Degree Program

Grow in your Catholic faith while you start on your engineering bachelor’s degree at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio. This dual degree program lays the strong foundation you’ll need to finish your engineering degree at one of Franciscan’s engineering partner schools: The Catholic University of America, University of Pittsburgh, Gannon University, University of Notre Dame, and Saint Francis University. You may also transfer to other private and public universities — in Ohio or across the United States.

Study engineering in a strong Catholic environment

With an engineering degree through Franciscan University, you’ll learn from faculty who have graduated from some of the nation’s most prestigious universities. These expert teachers and researchers integrate Catholic faith and reason into all of your classes, helping you discover — and answer — God’s call for your life. They’ll also connect you with research and internships that could lead to top jobs in engineering.

Here are just a few other ways Franciscan’s engineering bachelor’s degree program stands out from the rest:

Financial aid and scholarships for pursuing an engineering degree:

• Visit the Franciscan Office of Financial Aid for information on scholarships for engineering majors and how to apply.

2+2 or 3+2 dual degree programs in civil, aerospace, electrical, or mechanical engineering:

• Complete an associate degree in two years at Franciscan University and then finish your engineering degree in two years at The Catholic University of America, University of Pittsburgh, Saint Francis University, or Gannon University.
• Spend three years at Franciscan and earn a bachelor’s in mathematical science and then transfer to the prestigious University of Notre Dame to earn a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, or mechanical engineering.

Research and internship opportunities:

• Conduct research with engineering degree program faculty as well as Franciscan University faculty in biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and computer science. You’ll also have opportunities to participate in off-campus research through some of the most prestigious internships in the nation, including at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Combine faith and science:

• By choosing Franciscan, you receive vital Catholic faith formation combined with your engineering degree — a combination that’s challenging to find at secular universities. Your professors bring faith and science together not only in the classroom, but through talks at pro-life and philosophy conferences, and for popular audiences.

Engaged and experienced engineering faculty:

• While your Franciscan professors engage in research, their focus is on providing you with excellent instruction. They are personally invested in you and in your future job in engineering. They’ll work closely with you to provide advice and help you secure engineering internships — as early as the summer of your freshman year.

Salaries in engineering:

• By pursuing a degree in engineering through Franciscan University you position yourself to earn a high engineering salary. In May 2018, for example, the starting engineering salary for entry-level jobs in civil engineering was $86,640 and $87,370 for mechanical engineering, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Engineering majors at Franciscan University in Ohio receive the hands-on research and internship opportunities that many private and public universities look for when admitting students to their graduate programs. Graduates of the engineering degree program at Franciscan also have great success in securing engineering jobs even before they’ve graduated.

What Are Some Potential Job Titles for Engineering Majors?

• Aerospace Engineer
• Biomedical Engineer
• Chemical Engineer
• Civil Engineer
• Electrical Engineer
• Environmental Engineer
• Mechanical Engineer
• Software Engineer

Notre Dame’s Premiere Program

The University of Notre Dame College of Engineering inspires students to become innovators for the “greater good.” Combining technical inquiry with a creative bent, Notre Dame challenges its students to view their role as future engineers in a manner “consistent with our Catholic mission.” Discover what sets Notre Dame apart as one of the United States’ premiere engineering schools when you choose your degree in aerospace, chemical, civil, or mechanical engineering. You will take courses only from professional faculty and get the chance for hands-on research alongside faculty and graduate students who are world renowned for their work. You will gain invaluable experience from Notre Dame’s engineers as they pioneer solutions in the fight against cancer, the quest for renewable energy, the next generation of communications technology, and many other fields. Nearly all students—98 percent—pass the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam, and nearly 70 percent of students choose full-time employment upon graduation, while the rest opt for graduate school, military careers, or service programs.

Discover the difference you can make by entering Notre Dame with the advantage of a Franciscan education. You will complete Franciscan’s rigorous mathematics, science, pre-engineering, and liberal arts courses in three years, earning a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.6 and a cumulative technical grade-point average of at least 3.6 on a 4.0 scale, before transferring into Notre Dame’s civil, aerospace, or mechanical engineering program for the next two years. The technical GPA will be calculated from math, physics, science and engineering courses appearing on the student’s transcript. Upon completing the 3+2 program, students earn a BS in math from Franciscan and then a BS in either aerospace, chemical, civil, or mechanical engineering from Notre Dame.

Should your interests take you in the direction of chemical engineering, you’ll have the opportunity to enroll in our 3+2 program, where, after the successful completion of three years of Franciscan’s core curriculum, including rigorous chemistry courses, you’ll transfer into Notre Dame’s Chemical Engineering Program. Students on this track earn a bachelor of science in math from Franciscan and then a bachelor of science in chemical engineering from Notre Dame.

The Catholic University of America’s Creative Program

The Catholic University of America encourages its students to think creatively about engineering, putting a premium on equipping students to solve problems of national and social interest. The CUA School of Engineering is known nationally as a high-quality research institution, with annual funding of over $4 million and a constant flow of doctoral students. With a projected full-time faculty count of 45 by 2017, the School of Engineering offers personalized research and career training opportunities, With small class sizes, state-of-the-art facilities, and partnerships with several government agencies, such as the National Institutes for Health, the CUA School of Engineering will prepare you for an career in biomedical, civil, electrical, or mechanical engineering. You will complete Franciscan’s rigorous mathematics, science, pre-engineering, and liberal arts courses in two years, earning a 3.2 GPA or higher, before transferring into CUA’s biomedical, civil, electrical, or mechanical engineering program for the next two years. Upon completing the 2+2 program, students earn an associate degree from Franciscan and then a BS in either biomedical, civil, electrical, or mechanical engineering from CUA.

Gannon’s Cutting-edge Program

Named one of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs,” Gannon University prepares its engineering students to take the lead in developing tomorrow’s economy. You will master your skills, learning with an outstanding faculty, a cutting-edge curriculum, and advanced laboratories—all of which foster a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship. Graduates have landed careers at premiere companies such as General Electric and Bayer Corporation, or have pursued advanced degrees at prestigious institutions such as Caltech, Harvard, MIT, and more.

Discover the difference you can make by entering Gannon with the advantage of a Franciscan education. Once you complete Franciscan’s rigorous mathematics, science, pre-engineering, and liberal arts courses, earning a 3.0 GPA or higher, you can transfer to Gannon’s Engineering Program. Students earn an associate degree from Franciscan and then a BS in biomedical, electrical (electrical and electronics or computer options), environmental, mechanical, or software engineering from Gannon.

From the Summer 2013 issue of Franciscan Way Magazine

3+2 = Engineering

Notre Dame, the University of Pittsburgh, St. Francis University, and Gannon now partner with Franciscan to offer engineering dual degree programs.

Employers recently ranked engineering second highest among the most in-demand bachelor degrees (NACE, January 2013 Salary Survey), and the U.S. Department of Labor estimated that the number of engineering jobs will increase by more than 11 percent by 2018. In addition, engineering majors recently ranked among the top 10 highest paid at the bachelor’s degree level (NACE, January 2013 Salary Survey).

Job statistics such as these have driven an increasing demand for an engineering major at Franciscan University of Steubenville. In fall 2013, Franciscan will begin meeting that demand through its new Engineering Dual Degree Program. The program allows students to take mathematics, science, pre-engineering, and liberal arts courses at Franciscan then finish their engineering studies at the University of Notre Dame, the University of Pittsburgh, St. Francis University, or Gannon University, earning a degree from Franciscan and a degree from the partner university.

“At Franciscan University, we aggressively strive to raise our level of academic excellence, so we’re excited that the new engineering major will draw more top students to the University,” says Dr. Daniel Kempton, vice president for Academic Affairs. “Here, they will not only take fundamental courses for the engineering degree but the faithful Catholic theology and philosophy courses for which Franciscan is so well known.”

Kempton also notes that “students who successfully complete our requirements will then enjoy guaranteed admission” into engineering programs at the partner universities.

The 3+2 Engineering Dual Degree Program with Notre Dame in civil, mechanical, or aerospace engineering requires three years at Franciscan and then two years at Notre Dame’s School of Engineering. Students finish with a bachelor’s degree from each university.

The 2+2 Engineering Dual Degree Program gives students two years at Franciscan and two years at Gannon or Pittsburgh. Through the program with Gannon, students earn an associate degree from Franciscan and a bachelor of science in biomedical, electrical, computer, environmental, mechanical, or software engineering from Gannon.

Joel Recznik MA ’87, vice president of Enrollment, explains that Franciscan’s engineering students can have the best of both worlds.

“They will begin their engineering studies with an experience of Franciscan’s excellent academics, vibrant student life, and faith-filled culture. With that solid foundation, they can easily transfer into cutting-edge engineering programs at Notre Dame, Gannon, or Dayton.”

Recznik says engineering was the number one major sought by prospective students that was not previously offered among Franciscan’s 41 undergraduate majors.

“We want to be of service to the Church and the world. With so many students looking for a degree in engineering, we decided to create the 3+2 and 2+2 Engineering Dual Degree Program by partnering with established Catholic institutions that are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology—the gold standard of engineering accreditation—and that have programs recognized for excellence by U.S. News & World Report,” Recznik says.

The University of Notre Dame College of Engineering, he points out, has earned a reputation as one of the premiere engineering schools in the United States with close to 98 percent of its engineering students passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam, far above the 74 percent national average.

Gannon’s Engineering Program, ranked among the 2013 “Best in Undergraduate Engineering” by U.S News & World Report, touts an outstanding faculty, a cutting-edge curriculum, and advanced laboratories.

“Building on the academic and faith formation at Franciscan University and the engineering strengths of our partner schools, our graduates will be uniquely prepared to help meet the growing demand for engineers in the United States,” Recznik says. “Whether they start careers at General Electric, Bayer Corporation, or other noteworthy companies, or they seek higher degrees at Caltech, Harvard, or MIT, they will bring the competitive advantage of a Franciscan education united in faith and reason.”

For more information, contact the Admissions Office: [email protected] or 1-800-783-6220

View the Engineering Program on the Undergraduate Catalog

The Engineering and Computing programs at Franciscan University of Steubenville aim to prepare students to bring value to people through the development of technology. The department offers five different degree pathways: Computer Information Science, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering, and various Dual-Degree “Pre-Engineering” options in collaboration with partner schools. Each pathway offers students the opportunity to develop competence in a wide variety of engineering and computing disciplines and leverages the University’s commitment to Dynamic Orthodoxy with coursework and retreats that foster virtue formation and are built firmly on the Catholic intellectual tradition.

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