Physics Based Engineering Area, B.A.

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This major is designed for students interested in civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering or one of the other physics-based engineering programs.

Minimum required semester credit hours 56-58 credits at BW

Plus additional credits at the engineering school in which the program is completed.

Physics Core and Advanced Electives

The physics and pre-engineering majors are based on the physics core and the advanced electives.

Physics Core: 34 credits

PHY 131 - General Physics I, 4 credit hours
AND
PHY 151 - Introductory Physics Lab I, 1 credit hour
OR
PHY 145 - Applied College Physics I, 5 credit hours
Either PHY 131 along with PHY 151 or PHY 145 , but not both, may be taken for credit.
PHY 132 - General Physics II, 4 credit hours
AND
PHY 152 - Introductory Physics Lab II, 1 credit hour
OR
PHY 146 - Applied College Physics II, 5 credit hours
Either PHY 132 along with PHY 152 or PHY 146 , but not both, may be taken for credit.
PHY 233 - Modern Physics, 4 credit hours
PHY 312 - Advanced Laboratory, 3 credit hours

Required courses in areas other than Physics

Advanced PHY electives

Required Courses

PHY 311 - Electronic Instrumentation, 3 credit hours
MTH 243 - Calculus III, 4 credit hours
MTH 212 - Differential Equations, 3 credit hours
CSC 210 - Computer Science I: Programs and Applications, 3 credit hours
Advanced PHY electives – any three (3) 9-12 credits

Additional Requirement

PHY 312 - Advanced Laboratory, 3 credit hours is required in the physics core and may be taken a second time as an elective, with different experiments each time it is taken. With approval by the Department following a presentation and written paper, students may substitute up to three credits of internship or research experience in place of three credits of PHY 312 ; see the department chair in advance.

The following courses are recommended as preparation for engineering school but are not required by BW.

Additional Information

Before transferring to the engineering school at which they will complete the work for their degree, pre-engineering students must complete the above program and:

at least 92 credit hours of coursework at BW
the BW core curriculum requirements.

Some of our affiliated schools have additional requirements. Pre-Engineering students should check with the schools in which they are interested, and with the BW pre-engineering advisor. For BW students planning on completing their engineering degree at CWRU, PHY 260 and PHY 261 are especially recommended.

Binary Program in Engineering

The pre-engineering program prepares Baldwin Wallace students to earn an engineering degree through educational affiliations with the engineering schools of Case Western Reserve University and Columbia University. Upon satisfactory completion of the three-year pre-engineering program at BW and the last two years of the engineering program at the engineering school, a student receives the Bachelor of Arts degree from BW and the Bachelor of Science in their chosen field of engineering from the engineering school. Students may choose instead the option of completing any of the B.S. science majors at BW, so long as they meet the engineering school’s entry requirements. Completion of the program at other recognized engineering schools is possible if prior approval of the BW pre-engineering advisor is obtained.