Program Overview

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Introduction to the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Program

The Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) program at the Colorado School of Mines is a flexible, interdisciplinary degree that combines the strengths of engineering, design, and the humanities. The program focuses on the creation of innovative solutions to complex problems facing people, societies, and the world.

Program Description

The BSE program is designed to educate future leaders who will address the challenges of attaining a thriving, sustainable global society. The program provides students with a rigorous, flexible, and creative education that integrates engineering, design, and the humanities.

Program Requirements

The BSE program requires a minimum of 133.5 credits, including:

• Core Curriculum: 23.5 credits
• Mathematics and Basic Sciences: 23.5 credits
• Physical Activity: 2.0 credits
• Freshman Orientation and Success: 0.5 credits
• Free Electives: 9.0 credits
• Humanities and Social Science (H&SS) Requirement: 15.0 credits
• Distributed Science Requirement: 10.5 credits
• Engineering Coursework Requirements: 30.0 credits
• Integrative Design Studios: 19.0 credits
• Focus Area and Capstone Design: 24.0 credits

Engineering Coursework Requirements

The engineering coursework requirements include:

• Engineering Fundamentals: 15.0 credits
• Engineering Electives: 15.0 credits
• ENGINEERING FUNDAMENTALS courses are:
  • Thermodynamics
  • Statics
  • Circuits
  • Materials
  • Fluid Mechanics
• ENGINEERING ELECTIVES can be chosen from a list of approved courses, including:
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Geological Engineering
  • Geology
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
  • Mining Engineering
  • Petroleum Engineering

Focus Areas

The BSE program offers several focus areas, including:

• Energy Studies
• Robotics and Automation
• Water Security
• Music, Audio Engineering, and Recording Arts
• Corporate Sustainability
• Community Development
• STEM Teaching
• Individualized Focus Areas

Focus Area Requirements

Each focus area has specific requirements, including:

• Energy Studies: 18 credits, including courses in energy, nuclear energy, geothermal energy, and energy engineering
• Robotics and Automation: 18 credits, including courses in dynamics, feedback control systems, embedded systems, and robotics
• Water Security: 20 credits, including courses in engineering terrain analysis, environmental engineering, hydrology, and water resources engineering
• Music, Audio Engineering, and Recording Arts: 18 credits, including courses in audio/acoustical engineering, music theory, and music technology
• Community Development: 18 credits, including courses in engineering for social and environmental responsibility, community-based research, and sustainable community development
• Corporate Sustainability: 18 credits, including courses in engineering for social and environmental responsibility, corporate social responsibility, and sustainable engineering design
• STEM Teaching: 18 credits, including courses in educational psychology, dynamic teaching, and curriculum design

Capstone Design

The capstone design sequence is a two-semester course that provides students with a unique, client-sponsored, hands-on, interdisciplinary engineering project experience. The capstone design sequence includes:

• Senior Design I: 3.0 credits
• Senior Design II: 3.0 credits

Program Educational Outcomes

The BSE program is designed to produce graduates who are:

• Comfortable taking risks and energized by the belief that engineers help make the world a better place
• Design thinkers who confidently approach engineering problems from a human and nature-centric perspective
• Impact makers who are responsible and visionary leaders in their chosen fields

Student Outcomes

Graduates of the BSE program will have attained ABET Student Outcomes 1-7, including:

• An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
• An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
• An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs
• An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
• An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
• An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
• An ability to communicate effectively

Curriculum

The BSE curriculum includes a combination of core mathematics, basic and advanced sciences, engineering fundamentals, and foundational studies in the social sciences and humanities. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a broad foundation in engineering and the humanities, as well as specialized knowledge in their chosen focus area.

Minor in Engineering for Community Development

The minor in engineering for community development requires 18 credits, including:

• Introductory courses: 9 credits
• ECD required course: 3 credits
• H&SS elective: 3 credits
• Elective: 3 credits

Minor in Leadership in Social Responsibility

The minor in leadership in social responsibility requires 18 credits, including:

• Introductory courses: 9 credits
• LSR required course: 3 credits
• H&SS elective: 3 credits
• Elective: 3 credits

Area of Special Interest in Humanitarian Engineering

The area of special interest in humanitarian engineering requires 12 credits, including:

• Intro course: 3 credits
• Select one of the following: 3 credits
• Select two of the following: 6 credits

Courses

The BSE program offers a variety of courses, including:

• EDNS151: Design I
• EDNS155: Design I: Graphics
• EDNS156: AutoCAD Basics
• EDNS157: SolidWorks Basics
• EDNS191: Introduction to Integrative Design
• EDNS192: Design and Human Values
• EDNS198: Special Topics
• EDNS199: Independent Study
• EDNS200: Design Communications
• EDNS205: Programming Concepts and Engineering Analysis
• EDNS251: Design II
• EDNS261: Design II: GIS
• EDNS262: Design II: AutoCAD
• EDNS263: Design II: Materials
• EDNS264: Design II: Geology GIS
• EDNS269: Design II: Engineering Physics
• EDNS291: Design Unleashed
• EDNS292: Design for a Globalized World
• EDNS298: Special Topics
• EDNS299: Independent Study
• EDNS301: Human-Centered Problem Definition
• EDNS315: Engineering for Social and Environmental Responsibility
• EDNS375: Engineering Cultures
• EDNS391: Design & Modeling of Integrated Systems
• EDNS392: Synthesize Design Identity
• EDNS398: Special Topics
• EDNS399: Independent Study
• EDNS401: Projects for People
• EDNS430: Corporate Social Responsibility
• EDNS475: Engineering Cultures in the Developing World
• EDNS477: Engineering and Sustainable Community Development
• EDNS478: Engineering and Social Justice
• EDNS479: Community-Based Research
• EDNS480: Anthropology of Development
• EDNS491: Senior Design I
• EDNS492: Senior Design II
• EDNS498: Special Topics
• EDNS499: Independent Study