Fact Sheets

Pre-Engineering @ MSUM 

Engineering attracts the curious, the person who took the clock apart as a child "to see what made it tick." Engineering also attracts the problem-solver, the person with the vision to create an innovative solution to one of life's problems, despite limited resources and information.

Engineers apply the theories and principles of math and science to solve practical, technical problems. They are a link between the pure research of the science lab and the practical needs of industry or society.

Engineers work in industries such as manufacturing, aerospace, computing, defense; in government areas such as the Army Corps of Engineers, NASA, the Bureau of Reclamation, the military; or in consulting.

Engineers may be best known for designing things—products, equipment and procedures for countless uses. They are also often involved in the development phase of their designs and in evaluating the effectiveness, cost, reliability and safety of their designs for manufacturing, business or government.

High School Preparation
High school students interested in engineering are encouraged to complete coursework in algebra, geometry and trigonometry at the high school level. Chemistry, physics and computer technology coursework is also helpful. To be successful in college-level engineering coursework a student does not need to have received all "A's" in his/her high school coursework. However, he or she should definitely have an interest in science and math.

The MnState Moorhead Program
Most engineering majors eventually choose an area of specialization. Moorhead State's pre-engineering program offers a strong base for students planning to specialize in virtually any field of engineering.

Pre-engineering students usually spend two years at Moorhead State before transferring to another university to complete their degree. MSUM advisors individually counsel students because the courses which they complete at MSUM may vary depending upon the engineering school and area of specialization they select. Upon transfer, MSUM students will have completed the same coursework they would have completed during the first two years at a four-year engineering school. However, students who prefer small classes and personal attention may gain a better understanding of the coursework at MSUM than they would have in a larger setting. Most pre-engineering students at MSUM elect to transfer to North Dakota State University in neighboring Fargo, ND, or to the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Mankato State University, and Texas A & M.

U of Minnesota - Dual Degree Program
Students interested in both science and engineering have a new option through the dual degree program with the University of Minnesota. Students can earn a degree in Chemistry or Physics at MSUM, and an engineering undergraduate degree at the U of M in approximately one year more than would be required to complete either degree.

At MSUM, students select a dual major in their science field and Pre-engineering. They study Chemistry, Physics, Math, and Engineering, as well as completing the liberal studies requirements of MSUM. They then transfer to the University of Minnesota to complete their junior and senior years in engineering, with automatic admission to the program for students who maintain a satisfactory GPA. In 1994, transfers to the U of M's Chemical Engineering program needed a 3.3 or higher GPA to be guaranteed admission, but students in the degree program would have been admitted with a 2.8 GPA.

Tri-College University
Thanks to MSUM's membership in the Tri-College university, MSUM students may enroll in NDSU classes and become active in engineering societies while still at MSUM. This enables students to explore career options, make professional contacts and meet other students with similar interests. MSUM pre-engineering students also have the opportunity to participate in a 3-to 6- month internship in industry or government through an NDSU-MSUM cooperative program.

The Curriculum
The department offers only first- and second-year engineering courses, which prepare students for more specific engineering coursework to be completed at the transfer institution. Students begin by completing requirements in mathematics, chemistry, and physics, followed by introductory courses in engineering mechanics.

Engineering is a rigorous major, with an unusually high number of course requirements both at Moorhead State and at the school eventually chosen for completion of the degree. For this reason students seldom declare a minor.

Department Benefits
Hagen Hall houses state-of-the-art engineering labs comparable to those available to first- and second-year students at other universities. At MSUM, however, students do not have to compete with upper level undergraduate, and graduate, students for lab time. Therefore, access to laboratory facilities is believed to be a considerable advantage for Moorhead State pre-engineers.

Faculty
All of the engineering faculty members hold Ph.D.s in engineering and are Registered Professional Engineers or working toward registration. Unlike many other universities, professors at MSUM are hired and evaluated specifically for their excellence as instructors. Although they keep abreast of current engineering research, they are not pressured to conduct research in order to gain professional status and salary increases. They may therefore devote more time and energy to teaching and to working with students than their counterparts at other universities might be able to do.

Class Size
The average class size in engineering courses at MSUM is about 25 students. Comparable courses at most engineering schools are 50-75 or more. The first two years of coursework required of an engineering major is taken in sequence, with each course building on the last. This strong system of sequential courses leaves instructors with the need to give each student intense personal attention to guide him or her over possible difficulties. Moorhead State believes that its pre-engineering program offers an exceptionally strong system of personal guidance to its students by virtue of the relatively small pre-engineering classes at the University.

Careers
According to the 1994-95 Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment opportunities in engineering "Have been good for a number of years, and are expected to continue to be good through the year 2005." The director of the pre-engineering program at MSUM indicates that the current market demand is especially high for electrical and mechanical engineers. However, the demand for civil and industrial engineers is also growing. The National Association of Colleges and Employers found that the average starting salary for beginning engineers was $35,964 in 1995. Graduates with more experience averaged considerably more. It should be noted that many engineers eventually become managers/executives with expectedly higher salaries.