About

Want to make an impact and solve some of the world’s most challenging technical problems?

Engineers design creative solutions to improve our world, guided by science and using the tools of mathematics and technology. Engineering is often ranked nationally as a top major for degree value, career satisfaction and strong income potential.

At ECU, students pursuing a degree in engineering take a common core of engineering courses to gain a breadth of knowledge across multiple engineering disciplines. They also gain depth in a specific discipline by choosing from six concentration areas: biomedical engineering, bioprocess engineering, electrical engineering, environmental engineering, industrial and systems engineering, and mechanical engineering. To complement technical skills, professional skills in project management, technical communication and others are infused throughout the curriculum. The result is a well-rounded engineer who can work flexibly and collaboratively in a range of industries and positions.

Students begin our program in their first year or upon transfer. During the senior year, all students complete a capstone design project. In this course, students work in teams to complete an engineering project for an industry or campus partner. The design experience is intended to mirror the type of work a first-year engineer does in the field.

Our graduates work in North Carolina and beyond or choose to enroll in graduate programs to continue their education. Our program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Committee of ABET, so graduates can become licensed professional engineers after passing national exams and gaining required work experience.

ECU Advantage

The vibrant culture, energy and opportunities of a large university combined with a small, student-focused program make ECU engineering a top choice for undergraduate engineering education. Our class sizes are typically under 30 students. All courses, including labs, are taught by our faculty, not graduate students. Students can get to know their professors and work directly with them, conducting hands-on research and making an impact in the community. Since our program’s founding in 2004, we have collaborated with industry leaders to build a program that fits the needs of eastern North Carolina and beyond.

As an ECU student, you can research your future career in Steppingblocks. Explore real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with data-powered career exploration tools designed for doers like you.

What You Will Study

Concentration Program Coordinators:

The degree requires a minimum of 125 s.h. as follows:

1. General education requirements including those listed below - 40 s.h.

(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)

  • BIOL 1050 - General Biology
  • BIOL 1051 - General Biology Laboratory
    • OR
  • BIOL 1100 - Principles of Biology I
  • BIOL 1101 - Principles of Biology Laboratory I

  • CHEM 1150 - General Chemistry I

  • The following two courses may be taken by students in the electrical engineering, environmental eng
    • Notes:
    • When selecting general education courses, it is important to check first with your advisor to get a list of mathematics and science courses that cannot count toward the engineering degree due to accrediting agency restrictions.
    • See notes in Section 3 regarding cognate courses that count toward the general education requirement.
    2. Engineering foundation - 44 s.h.
    • ENGR 1000 - Introduction to Engineering
    • ENGR 1012 - Engineering Graphics
    • ENGR 1016 - Introduction to Engineering Design
    • ENGR 2000 - Engineering Design and Project Management I
    • ENGR 2001 - Linear Algebra Laboratory
    • ENGR 2022 - Statics
    • ENGR 2050 - Introduction to Engineering Computation
    • ENGR 2070 - Materials and Processes
    • ENGR 2450 - Dynamics
    • ENGR 2514 - Circuit Analysis
    • ENGR 3000 - Engineering Design and Project Management II
    • ENGR 3024 - Mechanics of Materials
    • ENGR 3034 - Thermal and Fluid Systems
    • ENGR 3050 - Sensors, Measurements, and Controls
    • ENGR 3420 - Engineering Economics
    • ENGR 3800 - Quality Control for Engineers
    • ENGR 4010 - Senior Capstone Design Project I
    • ENGR 4020 - Senior Capstone Design Project II
    3. Cognates - 19-21 s.h.
    • CHEM 1151 - General Chemistry Laboratory I

    • MATH 2152 - Engineering Calculus II OR
    • MATH 2172 - Calculus II

    • MATH 2153 - Engineering Calculus III OR
    • MATH 2173 - Calculus III

    • MATH 2171 - Calculus I
    • MATH 3307 - Mathematical Statistics I
    • MATH 3331 - Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations
    • PHYS 2350 - University Physics I
    • PHYS 2360 - University Physics II
      • Note:
      • Three semester hours (3 s.h.) of MATH 2171 will count toward the mathematics general education requirement.
      • Three semester hours (3 s.h.) of PHYS 2350 will count as the general education elective for this degree.
      4. Concentrations - 22 s.h.

      (Choose one)

        Biochemical engineering concentration (22 s.h.)
        • BCHE 3013 - Fundamentals of Biochemical Engineering
        • BCHE 3250 - Biochemical Engineering Systems
        • BCHE 4006 - Biochemical Engineering Validation and Quality
        • BCHE 4010 - Biochemical Separation Engineering
        • BCHE 4020 - Biochemical Plant Design, Simulation and Analysis
        • CHEM 1160 - General Chemistry II
        • CHEM 1161 - General Chemistry Laboratory II
        • Technical elective, 3 sh. as approved by the academic advisor.
        • Technical elective, 3 s.h. as approved by the academic advisor. 
        Biomedical engineering concentration (22 s.h.)
        • BIME 2080 - Foundations of Biomedical Engineering
        • BIME 4030 - Biomechanics
        • BIME 4040 - Physiological Systems and Modeling for Engineering I
        • BIME 4050 - Physiological Systems and Modeling for Engineering II
        • BIME 4200 - Biomedical Instrumentation
        • Technical electives, 6 s.h. as approved by the academic advisor.
        • Technical electives, 6 s.h. as approved by the academic advisor.
        Electrical engineering concentration (22 s.h.)
        • EENG 2410 - Digital Electronics
        • EENG 3013 - AC Circuits
        • EENG 3023 - Signals and Systems
        • EENG 3040 - Microprocessors
        • EENG 3750 - Electric Power Systems
        • EENG 4510 - Control System Design
        • Technical electives, 3 s.h. as approved by the academic advisor.
        • Technical electives, 3 s.h. as approved by the academic advisor.
        Environmental engineering concentration (22 s.h.)
        • CHEM 1160 - General Chemistry II
        • CHEM 1161 - General Chemistry Laboratory II
        • ENVE 3103 - Water Quality
        • ENVE 3203 - Water and Wastewater Treatment
        • ENVE 3303 - Air Quality Engineering
        • ENVE 4103 - Engineering Surface Water Hydrology
        • ENVE 4203 - Engineering Groundwater Hydrology
        • Technical electives
        • Technical electives, 3 s.h.as approved by the academic advisor.
        Industrial and systems engineering concentration (22 s.h.)
        • ISE 3010 - Principles and Methods of Industrial and Systems Engineering
        • ISE 3060 - Systems Optimization
        • ISE 4010 - Work Measurement and Human Factors
        • ISE 4020 - Analysis of Production Systems and Facility Design
        • ISE 4065 - Discrete Systems Modeling
        • Technical electives, 7 s.h. as approved by the academic advisor.
        • Technical electives, 7 s.h. as approved by the academic advisor.
        Mechanical engineering concentration (22 s.h.)
        • MENG 3073 - Engineering Thermodynamics
        • MENG 3624 - Solid Mechanics
        • MENG 4153 - Engineering Fluid Mechanics
        • MENG 4263 - Engineering Heat Transfer
        • MENG 4650 - Machine Design
        • Technical electives, 7 s.h. as approved by the academic advisor.
        • Technical electives, 7 s.h. as approved by the academic advisor.
      For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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