Student Preparation and Guidance
High school students considering an engineering career are urged to take a college preparatory program consisting of at least three years of laboratory science, including one year of physics and one year of chemistry; four years of mathematics, including two years of algebra, one year of geometry, and one half year of trigonometry; one half year of computer programming; four years of English, including composition; two years of a single foreign language; and three years of social studies. In addition, it is recommended that the student develop keyboarding skills, mechanical CAD skills, and a familiarity with mechanical tools. Students having little or no experience with hand and shop tools are encouraged to complete EGR 105 Product Design and Prototyping.
Properly prepared students can complete the B.S.E. program in four calendar years. Students who are not prepared to begin the B.S.E. program with Mathematics 201 (Calculus and Analytic Geometry I), or who prefer to not carry the average course load of 16 credit hours per semester, will need a longer period of study to complete their engineering degree. Students who wish to pursue the B.S.E. degree after transferring from a two-year school should normally enroll in a pre-engineering program before transferring to Grand Valley.