Pre-Engineering

Overview

Pre-engineering programs teach students about a variety of topics.

Pre-engineering programs include topics such as:

• Physics
• Chemistry
• Calculus
• Principles of engineering

Schools

Many community colleges offer associate degree programs in pre-engineering. An associate degree program usually takes two years of full-time study.

A few colleges and universities offer bachelor's degree programs pre-engineering. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study.

See schools that offer this program.

Related Educational Programs

• Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical Engineering
• Agricultural Engineering
• Architectural Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
• Engineering and Industrial Management
• Engineering Mechanics
• Engineering Physics
• Engineering, General
• Environmental Engineering
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Laser and Optical Engineering
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Materials Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Nuclear Engineering
• Structural Engineering

Related Careers

Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study

• Aerospace Engineers
• Agricultural Engineers
• Architects
• Architectural and Engineering Managers
• Bioengineers
• Biomedical Engineers
• Chemical Engineers
• Civil Engineers
• Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Energy Engineers
• Environmental Engineers
• Fuel Cell Engineers
• Industrial Engineers
• Manufacturing Engineers
• Materials Engineers
• Mechanical Engineers
• Mining Engineers
• Nuclear Engineers
• Petroleum Engineers
• Photonics Engineers
• Renewable Energy Engineers
• Robotics Engineers
• Safety Engineers
• Validation Engineers
• Wind Energy Engineers

Program Admission

You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computer Science and Programming
• English Composition
• Physics
• Trigonometry

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

An associate degree program in this field typically includes courses in the following subjects:

• College Algebra and Trigonometry
• Estimating and Planning
• Engineering Graphics
• Statistics
• Strength of Materials
• Surveying

A bachelor's degree program often assumes that you have taken the math courses listed above while in high school. It typically includes the other courses listed above, plus the following:

• Applied Differential and Integral Calculus
• Dynamics
• Engineering Economics

Things to Know

Many jobs in this field require a lot of writing and clear communication. Taking writing and speaking courses will develop your communication skills.

Schools

East Side Area

Big Bend Community College

• Pre-Engineering (Electrical/Computer) Major Ready Pathway
• Pre-Engineering (Mechanical/Civil/Aeronautical/Industrial/Materials Science) Major Ready Pathway

Walla Walla Community College

• Civil and Mechanical Engineering Pre-Major
• Electrical and Computer Science Engineering Pre-Major
• Energy Systems Technology--Plant Operations
• Engineering Pre-Major

Wenatchee Valley College

• Engineering Pre-Major

Wenatchee Valley College (Omak Campus)

• Associate of Applied Science
• Associate of Science--Transfer

King-Snohomish Area

Bellevue College

• Associate in Science Track 2 Electrical & Computer Engineering
• Associate in Science Track 2/MRP Chemical and Bio-Engineering
• Associate of Science Track 2--Civil, Mechanical, & Other Engineering

Cascadia College

• Associate in Science: Engineering Track Two--Bioengineering & Chemical engineering
• Associate in Science: Engineering Track Two--Computer & Electrical Engineering
• Associate in Science: Engineering Track Two--Mechanical, Civil, Aeronautical, Industrial & Material Science Engineering

Edmonds Community College

• Bioengineering, Chemical Pre-Engineering
• Computer and Electrical Pre-Engineering

Everett Community College

• Pre-Engineering Technology: Electrical and Computer
• Pre-Engineering Technology: Industrial, Mechanical, Applied, and Technology Education
• Pre-Engineering Technology: Mechanical, Manufacturing, & Plastics
• Pre-Engineering: Electrical & Computer
• Pre-Engineering: General Engineering
• Pre-Engineering: Mechanical, Civil, Aeronautical, Industrial, and Materials Science

Green River College

• Mechanical/Civil/Aeronautical/Industrial/Materials Science Pre-Engineering
• Pre-Bioengineering and Chemical Pre-Engineering
• Pre-Computer and Electrical Engineering
• Pre-Engineering, Computer Science, Physics and Atmospheric Science

Highline College

• General Engineering (Transfer)
• Pre-Engineering

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

• Associate in Pre-Engineering--Biochemical & Chemical Engineering
• Associate in Pre-Engineering--Computer & Pre-Electrical
• Associate in Pre-Engineering--Mechanical, Civil, Aeronautical, Industrial & Materials Science

North Seattle College

• Associate in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or Atmospheric Science

Seattle Central College

• Engineering

Seattle University

• Civil Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering--Computer Engineering Specialization
• Mechanical Engineering

Shoreline Community College

• Aeronautical, Civil, Industrial, Manufacturing, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or Plastics and Composites Pre-Engineering
• Bioengineering and Chemical Pre-Engineering
• Computer and Electrical Pre-Engineering
• Engineering, General (no specific major)

South Seattle College

• Associate of Science Track 2: Engineering, Physics, Atmospheric Science, or Computer Science
• Associate of Science: Mechanical, Civil, Aeronautical, Industrial, or Materials Science Pre-Engineering
• Computer and Electrical Pre-Engineering
• Environmental Pre-Engineering
• Mechanical Pre-Engineering

Kitsap Area

Olympic College

• Engineering Pre-Major
• Pre-Engineering: Biological and Chemical
• Pre-Engineering: Computer and Electrical
• Pre-Engineering: Mechanical, Civil, Aeronautical, Industrial, Materials Science

Spokane Area

Spokane Community College

• Engineering Pre-Majors

Spokane Falls Community College

• Engineering Pre-Majors

Whitworth University

• Pre-Engineering 3-2 (Dual Degree)

Tacoma Area

Bates Technical College (Central/Mohler Campus)

• Civil Engineering Technology

Pierce College Fort Steilacoom

• Aeronautical & Astronautical, Civil, and Mechanical Pre-Engineering
• Bioengineering & Chemical Engineering Pre-Major
• Computer & Electrical Pre-Engineering
• Computer Engineering & Systems Pre-Major

Pierce College Puyallup

• Aeronautical, Astronautical, Civil, and Mechanical Pre-Engineering
• Computer & Electrical Pre-Engineering
• Computer & Systems Pre-Engineering

Tacoma Community College

• Biological & Chemical Engineering Pre-Major
• Computer Engineering Pre-Major
• Electrical Engineering Pre-Major
• Mechanical, Civil, Aeronautical, Industrial and Material Science Engineering Pre-Major

Tri-Cities Area

Columbia Basin College

• Engineering Pre-Major

Vancouver Area

Clark College

• Bioengineering & Chemical Pre-Engineering
• Computer & Electrical Pre-Engineering
• Engineering (Transfer)
• Mechanical, Civil, and Aeronautical Pre-Engineering

West Side Area

Bellingham Technical College

• Engineering Technology--Composites Specialization
• Engineering Technology--Electronics Specialization
• Engineering Technology--Mechanical Design
• Pre-Engineering--General

Centralia College

• Associate in Science Track 2: Atmospheric Sciences, Computer Science, Engineering, and Physics
• Bioengineering & Chemical Engineering
• Computer/Electrical Pre-Engineering

Grays Harbor College

• Biological & Chemical Engineering Pre-Major
• Mechanical, Civil, Aeronautical, Industrial and Material Science Engineering Pre-Engineering
• Pre-Engineering

Lower Columbia College

• Bioengineering or Chemical Pre-Engineering
• Engineering Pre-Major
• Engineering--Computer and Electrical Pre-Engineering

Peninsula College

• Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, and Atmospheric Sciences

Skagit Valley College

• Engineering Pre-Major

South Puget Sound Community College

• Associate in Science Track II

Whatcom Community College

• Bioengineering & Chemical Engineering Transfer Degree
• Computer & Electrical Engineering Transfer Degree
• General Engineering Transfer Degree
• Mechanical, Civil, Aeronautical, Environmental, Industrial and Materials Science Engineering Transfer Degree

Yakima Area

Heritage University

• Pre-Engineering

Yakima Valley College

• Engineering Pre-Major