Frequently Asked Questions

Loyola's strong liberal arts core curriculum provides students with invaluable skills needed by all engineers to excel not only in their professional careers, but in all aspects of life. The core offers instruction in such diverse subject areas as writing, history, philosophy, theology, social science and a foreign language. Historical, societal and cultural perspectives are acquired that enhance one's ability to function in a workplace that is becoming increasingly diversified and international in scope. By integrating engineering and liberal arts courses, students are also well prepared to work on complex technical problems that require multi-disciplinary groups to develop effective solutions.

The engineering department at Loyola offers the Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) degree. This program is built around a challenging set of engineering, science, and mathematics courses, but it also includes the complete depth of liberal arts core courses for which Loyola is known.  The development of written and oral communication skills is emphasized throughout the curriculum. Thus, students become well equipped to prepare periodic progress and technical summary reports and presentations in their courses and the workplace.

The engineering department at Loyola offers the Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) degree. Under this program, students can concentrate in either computer engineering, electrical engineering, materials engineering, or mechanical engineering.

Yes. Loyola’s engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the general criteria.

Design is presented and coordinated in a sequence of courses that build on each other and demand increasingly sophisticated analysis and design skills of engineering students. Several small-scale activities are assigned to first-year students in Introduction to Engineering (EG 101) or Engineering and Society: Engineering, Design and Creative Problem Solving in the Built World (EG103) to stimulate creativity and an understanding of the elements of the design process, including teamwork and communication. Design components are contained in several engineering courses taken in the sophomore and junior years.

Design issues and hands on laboratory experiences are encountered in all of the possible engineering science concentrations.  This all culminates in the two-semester capstone course sequence in engineering design (Engineering Design Project I and II -- EG 497 and 498).  This provides students with the opportunity to integrate all of their undergraduate experiences

With such broad-based quantitative skills and engineering background students are able to go into many fields of science and technology as well as business, law or medicine.  This may include careers across industries and across the country and the region in government, military, or smaller start-up companies.  Some of our graduates attend graduate school full-time to pursue more in-depth studies in fields and specializations as widely varied as civil, environmental, structural engineering or computer related fields.  Others enter industry directly and may take part time graduate courses in business or program management or technical areas as appropriate.  See a list of recent employers and graduate schools students have attended.

At Loyola we work with each student to help plan and craft their course of study as necessary.  The best advice is to keep on track with physics and math courses throughout high school to have the best chance of entering college ready to take calculus and physics in the first year.  The other courses to plan for the first year if you are interested in engineering are an introduction to engineering course and an introduction to programming course.  The decision to choose computer/electrical or mechanical engineering paths does not occur until the spring of sophomore year, allowing students sufficient time to explore.  Some students find taking courses over the summer allows them more leeway in what they take during the regular academic year as well as having other experiences such as study abroad.