Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
A basic utility vehicle (BUV) built by a Calvin senior design team from salvaged automobile parts placed second in the 2007 BUV Design Competition sponsored by the Institute for Affordable Transportation.
Consider these questions as you compare engineering programs.
- 1. Is the engineering program accredited?
- Yes, Calvin’s engineering program is ABET accredited.
- 2. How does Christian faith make a difference in the engineering program?
- Our teaching is marked by a strong emphasis on responsible design that builds upon a foundation of faith in Jesus Christ. Calvin faculty serve God by engaging both the profession and the general public through research and consulting that enhances our primary mission of teaching. Together, faculty and students use our technological gifts and skills to care for and serve our neighbors locally and globally.
- 3. Which engineering disciplines are offered?
- Calvin offers concentrations in chemical, civil/environmental, electrical/computer, and mechanical engineering. All of these are within the context of a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) program, which stresses interdisciplinary approaches to engineering problem solving.
- 4. When do students start taking engineering courses?
- Calvin’s engineering program begins in a student’s first semester with a full schedule of coursework, including a real design project working with real customers.
- 5. When are students required to declare their engineering concentration?
- Since the first two years of Calvin’s program are the same for all of the disciplines, students do not have to select their field of engineering until after they have completed their sophomore year. This gives each student several semesters to explore the various disciplines.
- 6. How many students are enrolled in the engineering program?
- Approximately 350. The first-year class is typically 125 and the graduating class is typically 65. Some students discover that engineering isn’t really for them and switch to another major. The vast majority of students choosing a different major stay and graduate from Calvin.
- 7. What is the average number of students in a typical engineering class?
- Approximately 21. Laboratories typically have 15 students.
- 8. What percentage of engineering graduates complete their degree in four years?
- Approximately 80% of Calvin engineers complete their degree in four years. This is a very important point to consider when choosing an engineering program. In many programs, students take five or even six years to graduate. Staying a fifth year means giving up a year of engineering wages as well as paying an additional year of tuition.
- 9. What percentage of the students taking the FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam pass the exam on their first attempt?
- At least 95% (compared with national averages much lower). Passing the FE exam is the first step to obtaining a Professional Engineer’s (PE) license.
- 10. What percentage of engineering graduates pursue graduate education?
- On average, 15-20% of Calvin graduates go directly to graduate school as full-time students. In addition, many other graduates who go on to full-time employment continue their education on a part-time basis (either immediately or at a later time).
- 11. Does the institution have a formal internship program?
- Calvin has both domestic and international internship programs. Approximately 90% of our students have had at least one internship before graduation. Employers prefer graduates who have had an internship as part of their undergraduate studies. In fact, many employers will not grant employment interviews to graduates unless they have had an internship.
- 12. What percentage of the graduating students have had an international experience?
- Approximately 70%. In today’s global economy it is advantageous for graduates to have some type of international experience. Many employers seek out graduates with international experience. Calvin has eight international engineering programs specifically created for engineering students: a semester program in the Netherlands, a summer program in Germany, an international internship program and interim courses in China, the Netherlands, Europe, South Africa and Cambodia.
- 13. Can students graduate with an international designation?
- Students can graduate from Calvin with an international designation in any of the concentrations. The degree awarded would appear as BSE-International Mechanical Engineering Concentration, for example. Students who graduate with the international designation often find that their resumes are on the top of the pile when seeking employment.
- 14. What other activities do engineering students get involved in?
- Calvin students are involved in student chapters of professional engineering societies, undergraduate research projects, varsity and intramural athletics, music and theater performance groups, renewable energy special interest groups, and entrepreneurship programs. Calvin even offers a student club for women in engineering! In addition, students have taken additional academic programs like Japanese, accounting, and international development studies.
- 15. What are common themes for senior design projects?
- Our students are free to choose their project topics; some are related to missions/third-world development, some are projects for local companies, and some are based on their own innovative ideas.
- 16. What percentage of the faculty has significant (more than ten years) industrial experience?
- 45% of the Calvin engineering professors have 10 to 30 years of industrial experience in a wide range of industries. Bringing such experience to the classroom greatly benefits Calvin students.
- 17. Do professors teach all classes and labs or do teaching assistants (TAs) teach some classes and labs?
- Since teaching and mentoring are the primary focus at Calvin, professors teach all classes and labs. Calvin’s engineering program includes 15 full-time professors, six part-time professors and four staff members. There are no Teaching Assistants.