U.S. News & World Report magazine ranked Carnegie Mellon as the number 7 engineering program in the country that offers a PhD. Carnegie Mellon's Institute of Technology (CIT) offers undergraduate majors in one of seven departments. To acclimate freshmen, CIT has an extensive first-year experience program that begins in the summer when CIT advises freshmen about campus life. Aside from August orientation, there are a series of events for first-year students to build community. For academic support, CIT organizes information sessions with upper-classmen and faculty. Moreover, freshmen can take two introductory engineering electives so they can explore the engineering fields they would like to pursue. Applicants must have four years of high school coursework in English and mathematics, two years of a foreign language, and one year of chemistry, physics and biology. CIT sets no minimum GPA or SAT score for incoming freshmen; but admission is competitive.
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Institute of Technology
5000 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-268-2479
cit.cmu.edu
Ranked the number 10 engineering program by U.S. News & World Report, Villanova University (VU) offers undergraduate majors in chemical, civil, environmental, computer, electrical and mechanical engineering. Students can also opt for a five-year combined bachelors and masters in engineering in all five disciplines. Any undergraduate can participate in VU's Service Learning Program in which students volunteer for local and Philadelphia-based community service organizations. During semester breaks, the program also takes undergraduates abroad to impoverished countries to use their engineering know-how to build safe homes, schools and water systems. All VU engineering freshmen share the same coursework, with a two-semester interdisciplinary engineering course. In that engineering course's second semester students will complete a project in one of seven different specializations including nanoscale, bioengineering and robotics. University applicants who want to major in engineering must have taken four years of high school coursework in chemistry, mathematics and physics. Villanova has no minimum GPA or SAT score for incoming freshmen; but as of 2009, 98 percent of its incoming freshmen ranked in the top 20 percent of their high school class.
Villanova University
College of Engineering
800 E. Lancaster Ave.
CEER 30
Villanova, PA 19085
610-519-4940
villanova.edu/engineering
Bucknell University (BU) earned the number 8 rank in 2009 for top engineering programs. More than 600 BU engineering students work towards one of seven degrees: biomedical, chemical, civil and environmental, computer, electrical or mechanical engineering or computer science and engineering. Undergraduates can also pursue a five-year dual undergraduate degree with any other BU department or a five-year joint engineering-management program that complements any of the engineering specialties with a bachelor's degree in management for engineers. All students can enroll in the College of Engineering's ECLIPSE program where they can network with alumni for career advice and interact with faculty outside the classroom. BU applicants do not need to meet a minimum GPA or SAT scores; and SAT II results are not required. As of 2009, the average SAT score for those admitted to the College of Engineering was 1,351. Applicants should have taken at least one year, but preferably three, of high school chemistry or physics.
Bucknell University
College of Engineering
701 Moore Ave.
Lewisburg, PA 17837
570-577-2000
bucknell.edu/x4513.xml