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Studies & Degrees in Pre-Engineering

Pre-engineering is a preparatory track, not an engineering degree. It covers the mathematics, science and introductory engineering courses that every engineering discipline builds on, and it is designed for students who will finish a bachelor's degree in engineering afterwards, either at another institution or in a specific engineering major at the same university. The term comes from the United States, where students often begin at a community college or a regional university and transfer later.

Ferris State University describes its programme in these terms: it is designed for students who intend to transfer to an engineering college to earn a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field, and it is based on courses that are fundamental to all engineering disciplines.

What students learn

The content is similar everywhere because it mirrors the first years of an engineering degree. The required courses at Ferris State University are a good example: general chemistry, three semesters of calculus with analytical geometry, linear algebra, differential equations, two semesters of general physics and a programming course, alongside general education.

Many schools add introductory engineering subjects. Chemeketa Community College lists engineering mechanics, electrical circuits, engineering computations, and graphics and 3-D modelling. Kirkwood Community College offers general engineering courses and more specialised ones, including material science, electrical science, statics, thermodynamics and mechanics of deformable bodies.

Programme formats

  • Associate degree for transfer. A two-year degree taken before moving to a four-year engineering school. Ferris State University offers a Pre-Engineering associate degree. Chemeketa Community College states that its classes closely follow the first two years of engineering study at many universities.
  • 2+2 option. At Morehead State University, students attend for two years, take the required general education, chemistry, mathematics, physics and engineering courses, and then transfer to an accredited institution for two more years to obtain a bachelor's degree in engineering.
  • 3+2 dual degree. Also at Morehead State University: three years there and two at the University of Kentucky lead to a bachelor's degree in engineering from the University of Kentucky and a bachelor's degree in physics from Morehead State.
  • Undeclared first year. Some engineering colleges admit students before they choose a discipline. Basic Engineering at Tennessee Tech University is a first-year, non-degree programme for students who are eligible for its College of Engineering but have not yet selected a major.

Transfer, accreditation and licensing

Because the track only has value as part of a full degree, the transfer arrangements matter more than the name of the programme. Kirkwood Community College, for example, has transfer agreements with all three state universities in Iowa and with many other four-year institutions, and its advisers check the admission requirements of the destination school and whether courses transfer. Students should ask the same questions anywhere: which universities accept the credits, for which engineering majors, and with what grades.

The destination programme should also be checked. In the United States engineering programmes are accredited by ABET, which accredits programmes only, not degrees, departments or institutions. This affects professional licensing: according to NCEES, the body that prepares the licensing exams, licensing boards generally require Professional Engineer candidates to have a bachelor's degree from an EAC/ABET-accredited programme, most states require four years of work experience, and candidates typically must pass the FE exam and the PE exam. A pre-engineering certificate or associate degree does not meet the education requirement by itself.

Where to study pre-engineering

SpainExchange lists 14 schools for this subject: 12 in the United States, one in Nicaragua and one in Hungary. The US schools are community colleges, such as Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon, and Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and universities such as Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, Morehead State University in Kentucky and Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville. Teaching in the US schools is in English.

For international students the community college route can lower the cost of the first two years. Chemeketa Community College states that completing the first two years there saves thousands of dollars in tuition. Admission requirements are usually modest; Ferris State University asks new students for a high school GPA of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale and a minimum composite ACT score of 17 or SAT 900.

Careers

Pre-engineering leads to further study, not directly to an engineering job. Graduates of the full bachelor's degree work in fields such as civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, computer and industrial engineering. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that overall employment in architecture and engineering occupations will grow much faster than the average for all occupations from 2025 to 2035, with about 174,800 openings each year on average.

Frequently asked questions

Is pre-engineering an engineering degree?

No. It is the preparatory part of one: foundation courses in mathematics, science and engineering, followed by a transfer or by entry into an engineering major.

What is a 3+2 engineering programme?

A dual-degree route with three years at one institution and two at an engineering school. At Morehead State University it leads to a physics degree from Morehead State and an engineering degree from the University of Kentucky.

Can I become a licensed engineer with pre-engineering studies alone?

No. According to NCEES, licensing boards generally require a bachelor's degree from an EAC/ABET-accredited programme, plus work experience and the FE and PE exams.

Will my credits transfer to an engineering school?

It depends on the agreements between the two institutions. Ask the school for its transfer agreements and confirm them with the university where you plan to finish.