Engineering Options
The Elmhurst University Department of Physics offers several options for students who wish to study engineering. All of these options are designed to provide both a broader educational experience and a stronger basic science background than a traditional engineering curriculum provides.
To learn more, please email Prof. Venkatesh Gopal, program coordinator and chair of the Department of Physics.
Parallel Dual-Degree Program
A unique parallel dual-degree program offered in cooperation with Illinois Institute of Technology allows the student to simultaneously take basic science and Integrated Curriculum courses at Elmhurst and engineering courses at IIT. Engineering courses are taken at the IIT campus in Chicago. Curricula in electrical engineering, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, and civil engineering are available.
Upon completion of the program, which normally takes five years, the student receives a bachelor’s degree in physics from Elmhurst and a B.S. degree in engineering from IIT. A student enrolled in this program can participate in student activities and use all available facilities at both institutions. A resident student may remain on campus at Elmhurst during the entire program.
University of North Dakota (UND)-Elmhurst Electrical Engineering Dual-Degree
We now also offer an exciting new dual-degree program in physics and electrical engineering in collaboration with the University of North Dakota (UND). This affordable dual-degree program in physics and Electrical Engineering (EE) takes five years, at the end of which you will graduate with a B.S. in Physics from Elmhurst University and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from UND.
The electrical engineering classes with UND are entirely online, while the Elmhurst physics degree is a traditional in-person offering.
Electrical engineering is a rapidly expanding field, which, when coupled with a physics degree, provides pathways to numerous creative technical careers such as process control, robotic automation, and telecommunications, to name just a few.
Sequential Degree Alternative
An alternative chosen by many students interested in electrical, mechanical or nuclear engineering or materials science is to complete a physics degree at Elmhurst and then go to graduate school for one or two additional years to obtain a master’s degree in an engineering specialty.
There are two advantages to this approach: First, the student receives two sequential degrees rather than two degrees at the same level; second, a strong student can usually obtain an assistantship or fellowship to cover tuition and expenses during the period of graduate study.
For more information, contact Prof. Venkatesh Gopal, department chair.