Indiana Wesleyan University is exploring the possibility of adding an Engineering program that will offer five specialization in Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Design Engineering. Pending full accreditation approval from the Higher Learning Commission, the program will likely launch in Fall 2022. In the meantime, students interested in Engineering can enroll in the Pre-Engineering track that is housed within the Math & CIS academic division. IWU will seek ABET (engineering-specific accreditation) pending full accreditation approval from the Higher Learning Commission.
Proposed designs for the future Engineering space at IWU-Marion:
Engineering Facility Floorplan
The Indiana Wesleyan University Pre-Engineering program provides students with the foundation to pursue a degree in engineering. The curriculum includes the freshman year coursework at most engineering schools to allow smooth entry into the sophomore year of an engineering program. Students may also take additional math and science courses that would be required in later years of an engineering program.
Engineering Program Timeline
Engineering Program Timeline
Faculty
Dr. David Che is the current Pre-Engineering director and professor who teaches introductory engineering courses. He earned a doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, where he also did postdoctoral research. Dr. Che has extensive experience in both academia and industry. He has developed and taught in engineering programs at schools similar to IWU, giving him a thorough knowledge of the background knowledge necessary for students to progress toward an engineering degree. Before this, he was a senior project and research engineer for General Motors Corporation for many years, giving him insight into the skills necessary to enter the engineering workforce.
Dr. Melvin Royer is a Professor of Mathematics in the Division of Mathematics and Computer Information Sciences in which the Pre-Engineering program is housed. Dr. Royer has a master's degree in Electrical Engineering, a doctorate in Mathematics, and a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering - all from Purdue University. Along with several other faculty in the division, Dr. Royer teaches background math, computer science, and physics courses required for engineering programs. Dr. Royer has done digital circuit design as an intern for IBM Corporation.
Dr. André Fonteles joined Indiana Wesleyan University's Division of Mathematics and Computer Information Sciences in 2018. Dr. Fonteles spent 5 years in France where he obtained his doctoral degree in Computer Science from Université Grenoble-Alpes. He also worked as a full-time lecturer and researcher for one year at the university and spent another six months as a post-doctoral researcher at Université de Pau et Pays de l’Adour. His technical and research interests include recommender systems, context-sensitiveness, software adaptation, mobile computing and app development. His experience in Computer Science focuses on crowdsourcing systems, mobile and context-aware applications and recommender systems.
Career Paths
Engineers work in a broad range of functions including research and development, teaching, design, construction, production and operations, consulting, and management.
Courses
EGR 121 Introduction to Engineering provides the fundamentals of engineering design and analysis through solving problems in a project team approach as well as individual study/lab sessions. The course also covers engineering from the lens of the Scripture and illustrates the importance of mathematics and communication.
EGR 142 Computer-Aided Design teaches engineering graphics and computer-aided design (CAD) using a 3D solid modeling software package. The course involves design projects including topics such as geometric construction, sketching, orthographic projection, isometric, sectional, and detailed views, engineering drawings and assemblies, parametric solid modeling, and motion simulation/animation.
Students in consultation with their advisor choose additional coursework from among the following depending on their background and future plans:
CHE-125 General Chemistry I
CIS-121 Introduction to Programming
COM-100 Intro to Speech Communication
ENG-120 English Composition
MAT-253 Calculus I
MAT-254 Calculus II
MAT-255 Calculus III
MAT-353 Differential Equations
PHY-221 University Physics I
Proposed Engineering Program FAQ
Upon approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), IWU will offer one four-year Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) degree with five specializations for students to choose from. IWU also offers an Engineering minor.
- Electrical Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Design Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
Indiana Wesleyan University’s development of an Engineering program began with a desire to produce graduates who are diverse and widely recognized for their motivation and faith-inspired call to service, outstanding technical proficiency, broad development from a Christian liberal arts perspective, and mature relational and leadership skills. There was a desire to graduate engineering professionals who could take their Christian witness and newly acquired skills into the marketplace in the United States as well as abroad – becoming world-changers and examples of God’s command to develop natural resources for human use and to be good stewards of these resources.
Engineering has been on the radar for many years at IWU. The academic planning that resulted in the acquisition of the space where the Engineering facilities will be located began in 2015.
The proposed Engineering program, in particular the concentration on Design Engineering, will be built around design thinking and have an intentional partnership with IWU’s Art + Design division. Design thinking will be an integral part of the curriculum and overall engineering education with some courses taught by Art + Design faculty. IWU will be the only Christian college or university offering design engineering as a specialization. There will also be an emphasis on environmental ethics and the stewardship of creation.
Class sizes will be small and focused on hands-on learning from day one. With the addition of an engineering program in the near future, IWU will be offering a complete STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education package.
The university has committed $5.88M to build out 15,000 square feet for the creation of a new, state-of-the-art engineering building on campus. Construction is on-track to be completed by June 30, 2022.
The new building will include some offices and dual use classrooms, engineering shops, computer labs, robotics and automation lab, circuits and instrumentation lab, civil engineering lab, materials lab, thermo-fluid lab, and senior design and collaborative space.
Engineering Facility Floorplan
Dr. David Che joined IWU in 2020. He holds degrees his M.S. from Ohio State University and his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. Dr. Che has extensive experience starting and accrediting engineering programs at other Christian colleges and universities (Geneva College, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Bryan College, Anderson University). He brings a vast background of expertise having worked for General Motors Corporation in Detroit as a senior research and project engineer for eight years, on the mission field for three years, and in Christian Higher Education for 14 years.
There are four faculty for Engineering currently (Dr. David Che, Dr. Yang Zhau, Dr. Melvin Royer, Dr. Andre Fonteles). The current plan is for at least three more engineering faculty to be hired in the next three-four years.
Approval is expected by the end of May, 2022.
Accreditation is expected by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) by July 2026.
Yes, students can minor in engineering as a complement to another degree.
Students need to have a good grasp of basic algebra, geometry, trigonometry, physics and chemistry in order to succeed in the program.
Remedial classes are offered at IWU for those who need improvement in those areas.
No, but engineering students need to maintain a grade of at least “C” in major courses.
The Engineering job market continues to be strong for all specializations in engineering . The expected placement rate within three months of graduation is 100%. The expected starting salary for new graduates is $65,000 - $70,000.
- This is a four-year program.
- A total of 135-136 credit hours are required for graduation.
- The expected number of credit hours per semester is 17.
