Kenyon is an ideal place to begin a career in engineering. Students enjoy the small class size and small student/teacher ratio of Kenyon while taking their introductory physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, and English classes. They also have the advantage of a liberal arts education. In addition to its other benefits, engineers with liberal arts backgrounds generally communicate better and are more innovative in problem solving than their more narrowly trained peers.
There are several opportunities for combining a Kenyon degree with engineering training:
One option for getting an engineering education is termed a 3-2 program. Kenyon has formal relationships with Rensselaer Polytechnic in Troy, NY; Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH; and Washington University in Saint Louis, MO. In each case, students study for three years at Kenyon and two years at our affiliated school and receive two degrees, a Bachelor of Arts from Kenyon College and a Bachelor of Science from the affiliated school. As long as certain minimum requirements are met while at Kenyon, admission to the affiliated school is guaranteed. While the requirements vary slightly between the schools, they are: one year of physics with labs, one year of chemistry with labs, three semesters of calculus and a semester of differential equations, demonstrated proficiency in computer programming and English composition, and maintain a 3.2 GPA. Students must also meet the requirements of a Kenyon major, including a senior capstone. Meeting all of the requirements requires careful scheduling and needs to be considered early in one's Kenyon career.
A variation on the 3-2 program is a 4-2 option whereby students graduate from Kenyon and then take two years to acquire a bachelor's degree in engineering from one of our affiliated schools.
It is also possible to bypass an undergraduate engineering degree entirely. Each year a number of Kenyon physics majors are admitted to graduate programs in engineering directly.
While at Kenyon, prospective engineers are encouraged to take advantage of several opportunities to acquaint themselves with the practice of engineering. The College runs a job shadow program in which students spend a week during a College break observing a professional at work. A student interested in engineering should arrange to follow an engineer in this program. From time to time, our affiliated engineering schools send representatives to campus. Interested students should arrange to meet with these representatives. One of our affiliated schools, Washington University, offers what they call a J-Term program where Kenyon students can take an entire semester fundamental engineering course during Kenyon's Winter Break.
For additional information, please contact Aaron Reinhard at 740-427-5428 or by email at reinhard1@kenyon.edu.