Why Benedictine Engineering? Benefits of the Engineering Program

The School of Engineering offers excellent education, caring professors, and outstanding classmates. See how we prepare you for an engineering career at many excellent companies, learn our mission, and see what current students have to say about our programs.

Benedictine Prepares You for Engineering Work

By earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Electrical Engineering, you will develop into a thoroughly competent engineer, through rigorous classroom instruction and hands-on experience. You will develop a full understanding of general engineering principles as well as those of your specified discipline and will be well prepared to become a leader in the workforce.

By earning a Benedictine College engineering degree, you will possess a degree in one of the engineering fields with the most job opportunities, while also being prepared to transition (like many engineers do) into more specialized engineering disciplines, such as Aerospace Engineering, Bioengineering, Computer Engineering, and Petroleum Engineering. As a Mechanical Engineering student, you will gain instruction in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, dynamics, materials science, system dynamics and control, and mechanical engineering design, all of which form the foundation of Aerospace Engineering. Students engaged in Mechanical Engineering or Chemical Engineering study chemistry, materials science, fluid mechanics, and either mechanical engineering design or chemical process design, which prepare them for work in Bioengineering. Electrical Engineering and Computer Science students are qualified to work in Computer Engineering through instruction in circuit analysis, digital electronics, and computer applications in engineering, or database systems, operating systems and networking, and software engineering. Chemical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering students are equipped to work in Petroleum Engineering, as a result of studying chemistry, organic chemistry, and chemical plant design, or mechanical engineering design. If you have an interest in a specialized engineering field, the electives taken as part of your engineering degree can be targeted towards your interests.

School of Engineering Mission

The mission of the Benedictine College School of Engineering is to provide multidisciplinary undergraduate engineering education built on an authentically Catholic liberal arts foundation. Graduates of the program will be professionals who are excellent problem solvers, committed to the highest ethical standards, and proficient communicators. They will understand the role of engineering as a profession and their duty, as engineers, to promote the common good of society.

Benedictine College Engineering Students’ Thoughts On The School

“Being an engineer at Benedictine College is a great opportunity to get hands on experience through projects and design labs. The opportunities that are offered are unlike any other, and I have prepared me well to enter into the engineering industry.”

— Jake Thies, Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2019

“Being an engineering student at BC is very invigorating. It allows me to be with people who share similar likes/dislikes, and there are always new opportunities to grow in the faith available on campus. Because the class sizes are relatively small, teachers are able to easily answer student questions and build amicable relationships.”

— Matthew Johll, Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2018

 “Studying engineering at Benedictine College combines small class sizes with real world, hands-on projects. This has given me an opportunity to learn more quickly and more in depth. Also, due to the nature of Benedictine's Liberal Arts foundation, I have developed a well-rounded education including history, philosophy, theology, and many more classes than I would have anticipated in a STEM major.”

— Jeanne-Marie Potthast, Electrical Engineering, Class of 2018

 “It is challenging to be a BC engineering student. Your teachers have high expectations because they want to see you succeed. It takes a lot of sacrifice, but it is worth it in order to prepare you to serve the community as God intended.”

— Grant Lahm, Civil Engineering, Class of 2019

 “Engineering at Benedictine is more than applying math and science. It incorporates the whole human person. I have been able to get involved with the BC Engineering Mission trip the past two years. Along with an annual 10-day trip to a foreign country, the team designs an engineering project to help a community in a developing community. In past years the team has designed and built a greenhouse, water storage system, the roof for a community center, and several other projects.”

— Kienan McIntee, Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2019

 “As an engineering student at Benedictine, I get to walk into a professor’s office and get assistance with homework or projects, which you can’t get at a public university. The atmosphere is very welcoming and warm, but the best part about being here is the vibrancy of the Catholic faith. It’s a blessing to study in the science field while simultaneously being immersed in Benedictine hospitality.”

— Joshua Caasi, Chemical Engineering, Class of 2019

 “Being an engineering student at Benedictine College might be time-consuming and challenging, but it is even more so rewarding. Being in engineering has helped me to become a better student, it's increased my overall work ethic, and I've learned so much. The Engineering Department does a great job of offering fun and practical projects both in and outside of class, and I've been able to forge great friendships.”

— Hannah Hoekman, Civil Engineering, Class of 2020

 “As an engineering student at BC, I have had countless opportunities to interact with incredibly helpful professors who display an authentic interest in my education and future success in the engineering field. Specifically, I have discovered the versatility of the civil engineering major…making the decision process for which type of career within civil engineering I want to pursue much easier. On top of this, I have the opportunity to take philosophy, theology, and other various liberal arts courses which most engineering specific schools do not offer and which can certainly be applied to the engineering profession, such as ethics.”

— Benjamin Suhr, Civil Engineering, Class of 2019

“As a Benedictine College engineering student, I am challenged every day by my professors and peers to become a better version of myself both inside and outside of the classroom. Taking advantage of the unique opportunity to study engineering at a liberal arts college surrounded by an authentically Catholic community has been one of the best decisions of my life.”

— Ryan Spellman, Chemical Engineering, Class of 2018

 “As a BC engineering student, I have the ability to help form the program, shaping it for the success of future students. Also, the faculty are interested in knowing their students, even going so far as to ask for feedback and constructive criticism of their teaching.”

— Matthew Krishnan Myjak, Electrical Engineering, Class of 2020

 “There is a community here between the professors and students that doesn’t happen at larger schools. The Liberal Arts education definitely can make you a more well-rounded person.”

— Michael Green, Mechanical Engineering and Physics, Class of 2013

“I would recommend Benedictine College because of a devoted Engineering Department faculty. I can’t even tell you how many hours I’ve spent over the years speaking one-on-one with professors who are all earnestly invested in my education.”

— Graham Carson, Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2013

“The smaller class sizes at Benedictine allow for a more personal interaction between students and teachers, which makes it easy for me to get help with something I don’t completely understand”

— Corey Gaunt, Civil Engineering, Class of 2015

“The dual-degree from Benedictine College and the University of North Dakota allows you to get a full background in all Engineering principles while still being involved in a great community here at Benedictine College.”

— Darren Wellbrock, Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2013

“I am taking more lab classes than my engineering friends at other schools and spending much more time interacting with my professors on schoolwork as well as extracurricular projects. The small size of the program is a huge advantage.”

— Nicholas Suhr, Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2016

Engineers in Florence

As you probably know, Benedictine offers students an amazing opportunity to study abroad in Florence, Italy. But what you may be wondering is whether engineering majors can participate in this unique experience? In short, the answer is yes! Many students focus on fulfilling core requirements during their Florence semester, and oftentimes take an online engineering course to keep up with their major. You, too, will have the amazing opportunity to spend a semester abroad as a Benedictine College engineering student!

“From my own experience, the difficulties were most definitely worth it. Especially as a civil engineering student, I loved being immersed in the Italian culture- the architecture was amazing!”

— Katelyn Manos, Civil Engineering, Class of 2015

“As an engineering major in the Florence program, I realized how much I love what I study. I even missed doing lab reports. I cannot believe I typed that, but it is true. I took an online Dynamics class over the semester to stay on track. It was not the chore I thought it would be originally. Instead, it was refreshing and reminded me of home. There is something so specific and tangible that I treasure in my science and math classes. I did have to discipline myself and plan a little bit when it came to free time, but who would say those are not good skills to practice? Plus, I had the opportunity to focus intensely on that subject because I wasn’t taking four other overlapping engineering courses.”

— Monica Swingle, Chemical Engineering, Class of 2015

The opportunity to see all of the churches and experience firsthand ancient Roman and Gothic architecture was truly astounding.

— Eric Newton, Civil Engineering, Class of 2015

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