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Physics & Astronomy

Pre-engineering Education

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Denison offers two avenues for students to begin a study of engineering:

Undergraduate Degree

Excellent placement in Engineering graduate schools: Denison students who pursue the four-year undergraduate science or math degree route to engineering school have enjoyed exceptional success in gaining admission to a wide array of excellent engineering programs.

An undergraduate degree in science or mathematics at Denison preparatory to graduate work in engineering. The most common majors pursued by Denison students interested in entering engineering graduate programs are Physics, Chemistry, Math, Biochemistry and Computer Science.


Sampling of Graduate Programs
University Engineering Programs
Columbia University Mechanical
Cornell University Mechanical
Duke University Environmental
Georgia Tech University Atmospheric Science, Material Science
Miami University Applied Physics
The Ohio State University Aerospace, Environmental, Mechanical, Nuclear
University of Colorado Water Resources
University of Maryland Biomechanical
University of Michigan Biomechanical, Environmental
University of Texas Civil
University of Wisconsin Engineering Physics
U.S. Navy Nuclear

Combined Plan

In our combined plan program, you earn two bachelors degrees, one from Denison in your chosen major and a second bachelors degree from one of our partner engineering schools.You first will spend either three or four years at Denison, where you will complete both (1) your degree requirements for Denison and (2) the pre-engineering courses for your chosen program. Students majoring in Physics at Denison can typically complete all of the combined plan requirements in three years, while other majors may need three or four years at Denison. Our partner schools expect pre-engineering students to maintain at least a 3.0 average both in Science and Liberal Arts courses while at Denison. After Denison you will spend two years at one of our partner schools to complete your chosen program.

Most of the programs at our partner schools require the same set of pre-engineering courses to be completed while you are at Denison: At least four semester courses in Mathematical sciences: Calculus I, Calculus II, Calculus III and Differential Equations [MATH 123, 124, 222, 231]; Four semester-long courses in Physics: Quarks to Cosmos, Principles of Physics I and II, and Modern Physics [PHYS 125, 126, 127, 200]; two semester-long courses in Chemistry: General Chemistry I and II [CHEM 121, 122] (and a year-long course in Organic Chemistry for Chemical Engineering students); one semester-long course in Computer Science [CS 171]; and one semester-long Introduction to Economics for students planning to attend Columbia. Requirements for specific programs may differ slightly from the above, so interested students should plan their specific program in consultation with the pre-engineering advisor. 

Partnered Schools
University Location
Columbia University New York, NY
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY
Washington University St. Louis, MO


For more information regarding pre-engineering at Denison contact Dr. Wesley Walter, Pre-engineering Advisor.