Engineering Program Profile
The Dordt University engineering program strives to provide serviceable insight in the field of engineering from a distinctively Christian perspective while demonstrating the highest quality undergraduate teaching and learning; an education that will equip students for the task of life-long Christian discipleship.
More about EngineeringProgram Strengths
- Distinctively Christian - Our professors are leaders in the development of a biblically guided engineering curriculum that extends from the introduction to engineering sequence through the capstone engineering design course.
- Academic Excellence - Our track record of industry placement, graduate school appointments, and exceptional performance on the nationally administered Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam have together earned us a reputation for engineering education excellence.
- Teaching and Learning Focused – In contrast to many engineering programs at research universities, our faculty focus on undergraduate teaching. Our average class size of 20 students is ideal for building a close-knit learning community of faculty and students.
- ABET Accredited* - Our engineering program is dedicated to ongoing innovation and continuous improvement, through its regular assessment and accreditation processes. Dordt Engineering is one of only a few Christian colleges that has offered an ABET accredited engineering program for 30+ years.
- Faculty Experience - With over 60+ years of combined engineering experience, the engineering faculty understand the opportunities and challenges of working in the world. This experience comes from serving in companies such as Aerojet, Du Pont, or at engineering consulting firms that serve industries and organizations across the globe. Many of the engineering faculty are licensed professional engineers having attained the required industry experience and professional expertise for certification in their respective discipline (civil, electrical, and mechanical).
- Integral Core Curriculum - Engineering majors receive a broad education that serves them well in an increasingly interdisciplinary profession.
*The engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the General Criteria.
Student Outcomes
The following curricular outcomes provide specific means of achieving the institutional and program educational objectives.
0. Faithfulness and Responsibility. An ability to articulate and faithfully practice responsible engineering that grows out of Christ’s all-encompassing work as Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer.
1. Fundamentals. An ability to identify, formulate, critically evaluate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics faithful to the analytical, sensory, biotic, physical, kinematic, spatial, and numeric aspects of creation.
2. Design. An ability to holistically design systems, components, or processes that flow from a vision of responsible engineering, giving consideration to models of normative technology faithful to the fiduciary, ethical, juridic, aesthetic, economic, social, lingual, and cultural aspects of creation.
3. Communication. An ability to openly, honestly, and effectively communicate with a broad range of audiences using a variety of oral, written, and graphical forms.
4. Context. An ability to recognize how professional and ethical engineering grows out of our faithful response to the cultural mandate and therefore must be grounded in an understanding of contemporary issues within the broader context of historical, cultural, societal, global, economic, and environmental development.
5. Teamwork. An ability to function effectively on a team by serving alongside others to provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
6. Experimental Development and Analysis. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experiments, analyze and interpret data, and use holistic judgment to draw conclusions.
7. Lifelong Learning. An ability to humbly acquire and apply new knowledge, insights, and skills as faithful stewards of creation.
Program Educational Objectives
- Religious Orientation: The Dordt University engineering program seeks to guide students as they develop a Christian worldview, so that graduates of the engineering program will recognize that they are empowered by the spirit of Christ in order to responsibly serve the Creator, fellow humans, and the entire creation through their calling as an engineer.
- Creational Structure: The engineering program is structured as a cohesive curriculum of diverse courses, such that graduates will engage in life-long learning in any area of the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Graduates of the program will have the passion and competencies necessary for successful service as engineers in either graduate school or industry.
- Creational Development: The program and curriculum highlights the various aspects of human responsibility and involvement in the process of dynamically unfolding the creation. Graduates from the Dordt University engineering program will reflect a desire to unfold the potential of creation through science and technology as responsible stewards. Graduates will articulate the historical roots and philosophical moorings associated with contemporary science and technology and critically assess how the spirits of the age impact technological direction.
- Contemporary Response: The engineering program enables students to convert their insights and competencies into committed action in service to God and their neighbor. Graduates of the Dordt University engineering program will have the tenacity and perseverance necessary for engineering service. A Dordt University engineering graduate will articulate a vision for a community of kingdom-committed citizens who serve as lights in a dark world by developing normative technological models and living faithful lives. Graduates will recognize the need for bringing the Gospel of redemptive healing to technology and seek to develop technology in ways that reflect a desire for the well-being (social, economic, ecological, etc.) of all of God’s creatures.
Engineering Program Statistics
- 2022 Engineering Graduates: 30
- 2022 Engineering Enrollment: 186