College of Engineering

Special Programs

Engineering/Medical Integrated Curriculum (ENGMEDIC)

The Department of Biomedical Engineering in the College of Engineering and the School of Medicine offer a joint, early selection program for the training of biomedical engineers interested in becoming physicians. Qualified sophomores will be admitted into the joint program, Engineering/Medical Integrated Curriculum (ENGMEDIC), which integrates some preclinical medical training with undergraduate engineering education. The early selection aspects of the program permit a decompression of the first year of medical school and avoid the expensive and stressful process of application to medical school.

ENGMEDIC is designed to effect a better educational transition from engineering and undergraduate studies to medical education; it is not designed to accelerate engineering or medical trainings. Students are registered at the College of Engineering while pursuing the BS in Biomedical Engineering degree, and at the School of Medicine while pursuing their postbaccalaureate medical education. This requires a total of eight years of combined study for those students without significant AP credits.

Biomedical engineering majors may apply to this program during the second semester of their sophomore year. Admitted students are guaranteed admission into the School of Medicine contingent upon successful completion of the program requirements. Applications and additional information can be obtained in the Undergraduate Programs Office and from the Department of Biomedical Engineering.

Boston University Dual Degree Program


College of Engineering students who are interested in earning a second bachelor’s degree from another school or college at Boston University can do so through the Boston University Dual Degree Program. To be eligible for this program, a student must meet the following criteria:

• have at least a cumulative 3.00 GPA

• have sophomore standing or be in the first semester of the junior year (transfer students must complete at least one semester at Boston University prior to applying to the Dual Degree program).

If a student meets the eligibility requirements, he or she must meet with an academic counselor in the College of Engineering to discuss the program in detail and for assistance in completing the application. A one-page typed statement including the student’s reasons for applying to the program must accompany the application. A minimum of 144 credits is required. Please note that a BUCOP student must complete the course requirements for both degrees before either degree will be awarded. A student is at liberty to withdraw from the Dual Degree program (without prejudice) via a Program Change form, available in the Undergraduate Records Office, and complete the program requirements for the BS degree from the College of Engineering.

Double Majors


Students may earn two engineering BS degrees, provided that both degrees are not in the same department. Students who double major in two engineering disciplines must complete a minimum of 168 credits and fulfill the requirements for each of the degree programs. Students requesting to double major must have at least sophomore standing (32 credits) and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 to be eligible. Students must complete an Application for Double Major and obtain approval from both departments. Application forms are available in the Undergraduate Records Office, ERB 108. Please note that a student who double majors must complete the course requirements for both degrees before either degree will be awarded. A student is at liberty to withdraw from one major (without prejudice) via a Program Change form, available in the Undergraduate Records Office, and complete the program requirements for the other major.

Bachelor of Science/Master of Science Degree Programs


The BS/MS program is designed to allow students to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering simultaneously. Students may complete this program in 4–5 years depending upon the number of AP and/or college credits with which they enter the undergraduate program. Students may apply to this program from the second semester of the sophomore year through the first semester of the senior year. Students must have at least a 3.40 cumulative GPA to be eligible for the BS/MS program. Further information on this program is available from the Undergraduate Program Office, ERB 107, 617-353-6447.

Cooperative Education Program


The Cooperative Education Program is a unique educational option offered in the College of Engineering. It is a selective program designed to integrate academic study with practical experience in industry, business, or government.

While on cooperative education assignments, students suspend coursework and work under the supervision of a qualified professional. Co-op placements can be of 4, 8, or 12 months’ duration. Occasionally, part-time co-op assignments are available with Boston-area companies, often as continuations of full-time co-op placements.

Students are encouraged to begin the planning process in the fall semester of sophomore year to assure smooth integration with coursework. One faculty member is available in each of the academic departments to work with students in planning their academic programs and the most appropriate semester(s) for the co-op placement(s). Participation in the co-op program may delay a student’s graduation date.

For further information, call the Career Development Office, ERB 112, at 617-353-5731.

Concentrations

The College of Engineering offers a concentration in Energy Technologies & Environmental Engineering. This concentration is available to all engineering majors. Additionally, the Department of Mechanical Engineering offers concentrations in Aerospace Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering. These concentrations are available to mechanical engineering majors. Unlike minors, the concentrations may be satisfied with no extra credits beyond what is required of the major.

The concentration in Energy Technologies & Environmental Engineering consists of a sequence of four courses and an approved experiential component. The courses include two required courses, ENG EK 335 Introduction to Environmental Engineering and ENG EK 408 Introduction to Clean Energy Generation and Storage Technologies, and two elective courses. The two elective courses can consist of either one CAS course and one ENG course or two ENG courses selected from a list of elective courses. The specific list of elective courses can be found on the concentration application.

The concentration in Nanotechnology consists of a sequence of four courses and an approved experiential component. The courses include two required courses, CAS PY 313 Elementary Modern Physics and ENG EC 481 Fundamentals of Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology, and two elective courses. The specific list of elective courses can be found on the concentration application.

The concentration in Manufacturing Engineering for Mechanical Engineering majors consists of taking a prescribed set of courses for the four advanced electives in the major and an approved experiential component. Currently, the courses that must be taken include ME 345 Automated Manufacturing, ME 415 Product Design, ME 420 Supply Chain, and either EK 409 Engineering Economy or ME 465 Materials Processing.

The concentration in Aerospace Engineering for Mechanical Engineering majors consists of two prescribed courses and two Aerospace electives that will fulfill the four advanced electives in the major and an approved experiential component. The required courses are ME 3xx Introduction to Aerospace Engineering and ME 425 Compressible Flow and Propulsion. The Aerospace electives include courses in both aeronautics and astronautics.

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Minors in the College of Engineering

The College of Engineering offers minors in biomedical engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, and systems engineering. Minors require the completion of 20 credits. A minor in biomedical engineering requires the completion of ENG BE 209 and 16 credits at the 400 or 500 level. ENG BE 700-level courses may also be used. A minor in electrical or computer engineering requires the completion of 20 credits at the 300 level or above and may include ENG EK 307. A minor in materials science and engineering requires the completion of 20 credits which includes two required courses, ENG ME 306 and ME 465. A minor in systems engineering requires the completion of 20 credits from a list of specific courses. A minor in mechanical engineering requires the completion of 20 credits at the 300 or 400 level and may include ENG EK 301 as well as ME courses at the 500 or 700 level by petition.

No more than eight credits of the minor may be used to satisfy program requirements for the major. Hence, all minors add a minimum of 12 credits to the major. Students must have a declared major on record before they can apply for a minor and they must complete all the prerequisites listed for courses in their chosen minor. A 2.00 GPA is required in the courses used to satisfy the minor. Applications for minors require approval of the relevant department.

Engineering Science Minor for 
Non-Engineering Students


This minor has been designed for Boston University students who are not enrolled in the College of Engineering but who want a general introduction to the concepts and applications of engineering. Track A has a mechanical engineering emphasis and Track B has an electrical engineering emphasis. A minimum grade of C is required in all courses fulfilling the minor and a 20-credit residency in the College of Engineering is required. All course substitutions must be approved by the College of Engineering Undergraduate Committee. This minor is restricted to students in COM, SAR, CFA, and SMG. Additional information and specifics regarding prerequisites can be obtained from the College of Engineering Undergraduate Records Office.

Prerequisites

CAS MA 123 Calculus I

CAS MA 124 Calculus II

CAS PY 211 Physics I

Required courses (24 credits)

CAS MA 226 Differential Equations 4 cr

ENG EK 127 Engineering Computation 4 cr

Introduction Course 4 cr (see below)

Track A or Track B 12 cr (see below)

Introduction Course—choose 4 credits from the following list:

ENG ME 201 Introduction to Aircraft Performance 2 cr

ENG ME 202 Introduction to Spacecraft Performance 2 cr

ENG EK 130/131/132 Introduction to Engineering 4 cr

ENG EK 280 Technology and Society 4 cr

ENG EK 156 Design and Manufacture 2 cr

Track A— Mechanical (12 credits)

ENG EK 301 Engineering Mechanics I 4 cr

Track A1 course 4 cr

Track A2 course 4 cr

Track A1—choose one of the following courses (4 credits)

ENG ME 305 Mechanics of Materials 4 cr

ENG ME 306 Material Science 4 cr

ENG ME 308 Statistics and Quality Engineering 4 cr

Track A2—choose one of the following courses (4 credits)

ENG ME 307 Flight Structures 4 cr

ENG ME 309 Structural Mechanics 4 cr

ENG BE 436 Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics 4 cr

ENG ME 302 Engineering Mechanics II 4 cr

ENG ME 303 Fluid Mechanics I 4 cr

ENG ME 304 Thermodynamics 4 cr

ENG EK 424 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics 4 cr

ENG ME 411 Operations Research 4 cr

ENG ME 465 Materials Processing 4 cr

Track B—Electrical (12 credits)

ENG EK 307 Electric Circuit Theory 4 cr

Track B1 course 4 cr

Track B2 course 4 cr

Track B1—choose one of the following courses (4 credits)

ENG BE 401 Signals and Systems in Biomedical Engineering 4 cr

ENG EC 311 Introduction to Logic Design 4 cr

ENG EC 401 Signals and Systems 4 cr

ENG EC 410 Introduction to Electronics 4 cr

Track B2—choose one of the following courses (4 credits)

ENG BE 402 Control Systems in Biomedical Engineering 4 cr

ENG EC 312 Computer Organization 4 cr

ENG EC 402 Control Systems 4 cr

ENG EC 412 Analog Electronics 4 cr

ENG EC 415 Communication Systems 4 cr

ENG EC 416 Introduction to Digital Signal Processing 4 cr

Minors in Other Schools/Colleges at BU


College of Engineering students may earn minors in a variety of programs in the School of Management, the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Communication, Sargent College, and the College of Fine Arts. Although minors are not available through the School of Education, students may fulfill teacher certification requirements in mathematics or in the sciences. No more than 8 credits of a minor can be applied to the student’s major program. Therefore, a minor adds a minimum of 12 credits to the number of credits required for the degree. Students must complete an Application for Minor form and have it approved by both the school or college of the minor as well as by the College of Engineering. Application forms are available in the Undergraduate Records Office, ERB 108.

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Graduate Professional Programs

The College of Engineering has established graduate curricula and programs that emphasize creative design and research in major fields of engineering. The College offers Master of Science (MS) programs; a combined Master of Science in Manufacturing Engineering and Master of Business Administration (MS/MBA) program in cooperation with the School of Management; the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD); and, offered jointly with the School of Medicine, a combined Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering and Doctor of Medicine (MD/PhD). To be admitted to one of these degree programs, an applicant should have a BS degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program, or equivalent, and have attained a high degree of scholarship in an undergraduate program in engineering or science. Upon completion of any of the master’s programs, students may accept employment in engineering or applied science or elect further graduate training in an appropriate doctoral program.

Graduate Programs

An electronic application is available on the Web at College of Engineering Admissions Application. Electronic applications require payment by credit card. You can also choose to download application forms and instructions at the same Web address. If you do not have access to the Web, applications and instructions can be obtained from the College of Engineering Graduate Programs Office, 48 Cummington Street, Boston, MA 02215; 617-353-9760; enggrad@bu.edu.

Doctoral Program in Engineering  The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) may be earned through programs of study and research in all of the disciplines available at the College of Engineering.

The Doctor of Philosophy degree may be earned in one of the following designations:

Biomedical Engineering

Computer Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Materials Science and Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Systems Engineering

Master of Science Degree  The Master of Science degree is a professional degree with emphasis on advanced training in engineering science and design. Individuals should consult specific departmental requirements. A minimum of 32 semester credits is required for the Master of Science in Computer, Electrical, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Photonics, and Systems. The Master of Science in Biomedical, Manufacturing Engineering, or Global Manufacturing requires 36 credits. No more than 8 credits may be transferred from other approved graduate schools. No fewer than 28 credits must be at the graduate level. A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (B) is required for all courses taken at Boston University as part of this degree program. Individual departments or programs may impose additional requirements. Coursework used to fulfill the Master of Science degree requirements may not be used to fulfill the requirements of any other degree program.

A 32-credit Master of Science program nominally requires one year; a full-time student can usually complete it in one academic year, although some students may find it advisable to plan to remain for the full calendar year in order to complete a project, thesis, or laboratory course in the summer term. A 36-credit program requires a minimum of one academic year of full-time study, plus one summer session course. Students supported by research assistantships or teaching fellowships should be able to complete a Master of Science program, including thesis requirement, within two calendar years.

Part-time students who take two courses each semester should be able to complete a Master of Science program within two calendar years. The program must be completed within five years after admission to degree-seeking status.

The Master of Science degree may be earned with one of the following designations:

Biomedical Engineering

Computer Engineering

Electrical Engineering

General Engineering

Global Manufacturing

Manufacturing Engineering

Materials Science and Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Photonics

Systems Engineering

The General Engineering Program designation is appropriate when the program of study does not conform to any of the other specializations listed above and involves coursework from several departments and disciplines. Typical Master of Science in General Engineering programs include areas such as operations research, engineering economic systems, and energy systems. In addition to the general requirements of the College for the Master of Science degree, the specific requirements for the interdisciplinary degree of Master of Science in Engineering are: (1) the student’s program must be coherent and have a well-defined objective, and must be approved in advance by the College’s Graduate Committee; and (2) the program must consist of a minimum of 32 credits, at least 16 of which must be earned within the College of Engineering. Students must complete a minimum of one semester as a Master of Science student before applying to this program.

Master of Engineering The Master of Engineering has been developed specifically for students interested in careers in industry rather than academic research. A minimum of 32 semester credits is required for the Master of Engineering program. No more than 8 credits may be transferred from other approved graduate schools. A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (B) is required for all courses taken at Boston University as part of this degree program. Individual departments or programs may impose additional requirements. Coursework used to fulfill the Master of Engineering degree requirements may not be used to fulfill the requirements of any other degree program.

A 32-credit Master of Engineering program nominally requires one year. A full-time student can usually complete it in one academic year. Part-time students who take two courses each semester should be able to complete a Master of Engineering program within two calendar years. The program must be completed within five years after matriculation to degree-seeking status.

The Master of Engineering degree may be earned in the Biomedical Engineering designation.

Late Entry Accelerated Program (LEAP)  The Late Entry Accelerated Program enables students with bachelor’s degrees in fields other than engineering to enter any of the College’s MS programs and ultimately earn a Master of Science degree in engineering. LEAP students must have successfully completed one semester of calculus in college with a grade of B or better before admission to the program. Depending on the student’s math or science background, it typically takes a minimum of one year for a full-time LEAP student to earn the master’s degree. Part-time students will require proportionately more time. University scholarships and federal and private loan funds are available to eligible full-time and part-time LEAP students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Inquiries should be directed to LEAP, Graduate Programs Office, College of Engineering, 48 Cummington Street, Boston, MA 02215. E-mail: leap@bu.edu.

Alternative Master of Science Programs in Manufacturing Engineering  In addition to on-campus study, the Department of Manufacturing Engineering offers the following means to attain a Master of Science in Manufacturing Engineering:

Distance Learning Program

Dual Degree Program with the School of Management (MS/MBA)

International Master’s Degree Program in Global Manufacturing

Please see College of Engineering Graduate Bulletin or Department of Manufacturing Engineering for more information on Manufacturing Engineering graduate programs.

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Published by Trustees of Boston University
One Silber Way
Boston, MA 02215

16 October 2009
Boston University
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