Frequently Asked Questions About Engineering at Bethel

Q: Can you study engineering and go to Bethel?
A: YES, there are always more than two dozen students majoring in engineering at Bethel.

Q: What is the quality of the engineering education?
A: Bethel engineering students can receive the finest engineering education in North America.

Q: How can a small school provide such a strong engineering education?
A:Bethel utilizes a "dual-degree" or "3-2" program. Students spend 3 years at Bethel studying the physics, math, chemistry, computer science, and liberal arts that are common to all fields of engineering. Students then transfer to the engineering school of their choice to take the specialty courses particular to their field of engineering.

Q: At which schools can students complete their degree?
A: Any school that offers the engineering in which they wish to major. Many of our students choose the University of Minnesota because it is close by and one of the finest engineering schools in the country. The dual-degree program, however, will work with almost all engineering schools.

Q: Why is it called the "dual-degree?"
A: The student receives the engineering degree from the school of his or her choice and simultaneously receives a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bethel.

Q: What good are two bachelors degrees?
A: Engineers spend a significant part ot their careers working in teams and communicating with customers and management. Unfortunately, many engineers, although highly skilled technically, lack good people skills. Such skills often make the difference between a mediocre engineer and an outstanding one. Earning a B.A. form a liberal arts college develops communication and leadership skills. Employers understand this and are thrilled to hire such well-rounded engineers.

Q: What does "3-2" mean?
A: Three years at Bethel and then two years at a university.

Q: Wait a minute! Doesn't the "3-2" program mean it takes a year longer to finish school?
A: Not really. These days almost no one completes an engineering degree in only four years. Officially such programs exist, but the national average for an engineering degree is more than five years. Most of our students can and do complete the "3-2" program in five years, although for some engineering majors this may require taking classes during the summer before transferring.

Q: If you want to be an engineer, doesn't it make more sense just to start out at the university with the engineering degree?
A: The advantages of the Bethel "dual-degree" are numerous. Small class sizes in the introductory science and math courses (35 students in General Physics compared with 200 to 300). Faculty members, not teaching assistants, teach all classes and labs. Students receive both an engineering degree and the broad-based liberal arts degree. Students benefit from all the advantages of an evangelical Christian college education. Bethel's students have an outstanding track record.

Q: Can you stay for four years at Bethel and still be an engineer?
A: Yes! An increasingly popular option is graduate engineering or the "4-2" program. Students complete a physics major at Bethel and then enter graduate school in almost any engineering field (especially Mechanical, Electrical, Biomedical, or Optical) for an M.S. (typically 2 years) or even a Ph.D. degree. During the past 10 years, we've had at least a dozen outstanding students do this with full financial support.

If you have any further questions, please email Dr. Beecken. He will be glad to assist in any way possible.