Pre-Engineering

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The world needs engineers. But few engineers have the depth and breadth of the so-called T-shaped engineer. Become a highly desired T-shaped engineer by developing deep technical and broad soft skills at Luther College.

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Why Study Pre-Engineering?

Are you curious about how things work? How to make mechanical or electrical systems and processes operate efficiently? You may wish to consider engineering as a career path!

Engineers develop new ways of doing things. They improve existing ideas, and generate innovative solutions to our world’s challenges. The best engineers combine critical thinking skills with creative approaches to problem solving.

The pace of technology and innovation has increased demand for engineers. New fields and career paths for engineers are emerging every year.

Why Study Pre-Engineering at Luther?

At Luther, you’ll lay the groundwork to becoming a well-rounded engineer. The T-shaped engineer has both vertical depth of knowledge in scientific and technical areas and horizontal breadth in literature, the arts, philosophy, and more. The breadth of education at Luther will foster in you that added spark of curiosity and creativity that will drive your success. Luther faculty will help you develop these key skills and hone your interests in engineering as a discipline.

Unlike at a public university, here you don’t have to pick an engineering field to specialize. Instead, you have the flexibility and time to consider what field you’d like to enter. You can tailor your program of study to fit your future needs.

And from Luther, you’ll go places. Our graduates excel in engineering positions in diverse organizations such as NASA, IBM, Apple, John Deere, the US Navy, and major universities.

Research Opportunities

Work side-by-side with experienced faculty. Put your knowledge into practice, stretch yourself, and solve cutting-edge real-world problems. These project-oriented opportunities hone your skill in working on complex problems in a collaborative environment. They’re an excellent training ground for those seeking a future in engineering.

T-Shaped Engineer

“A scientist trained in the liberal arts has another huge advantage: writing ability. The study of writing and analyses of texts equip science students to communicate their findings as professionals in the field.” —Washington Post

Internships

Luther’s connected alumni network helps you find career opportunities and get professional work experience. The Rochester Semester Program provides a unique opportunity for you to do an engineering-related, semester-long internship in Rochester, Minnesota.

What You’ll Learn

You will develop robust practical and theoretical knowledge in physics and related fields. You will take coursework across the physics curriculum, with a focus on engineering courses, mechanics, electricity and magnetism. You’ll further enhance your understanding in upper level courses tailored to your interests in engineering.

The Pathway to Engineering at Luther

Luther students interested in becoming engineers typically complete their bachelor’s at Luther, and then go on to complete a masters in their engineering field. Our alumni thrive in graduate programs. Luther provides a rigorous experience in physics and mathematics—the foundation of engineering.

Luther pre-engineering students most often major in physics, with significant study in mathematics. Students interested in all engineering fields usually also take some computer science coursework.

There are different majors and minors you’ll want to consider, depending on the area of engineering you’d like to pursue. For example:

Electrical/computer engineering—consider a computer science major
Biomedical engineering—consider a biology major or minor
Chemical engineering—consider a chemistry major, with significant coursework in physics and mathematics
The physics faculty will work with you to design a course plan that supports your goals.

RECOMMENDED COURSES

[My study at Luther] was illuminated by compelling discussions, presentations, and experiments with faculty and friends, inside and outside of the classroom.

Nicholas Behrens '21

PHYSICS MAJOR

Careers and Outcomes

The pre-engineering program at Luther College prepares you for an in-demand career in engineering. Fields include mechanical, electrical, civil, environmental, and aerospace engineering. Over the past 20 years, our graduates have successfully pursued masters’ degrees and are now thriving as engineers, having gotten their starts here at Luther.