- Academic Advisor
- Course Schedules
- Course Descriptions
- Faculty & Instructors
- UW Colleges Dept. of Engineering
- UW-Platteville Fox Valley Engineering Program
Overview
Engineers have a great impact on our lives. The engineering field has more than 25 different areas of specialization and many subdivisions. Whatever engineering branch you choose, application of the theories and principles of science and mathematics to practical technical problems are taught.
The engineer works as a member of a team and is often the leader. Such teams include both scientists and technicians. Scientists investigate the fundamental laws of nature and define principles in solving problems in creating something useful. As engineer-pioneer von Karman said, “Scientists explore what is; engineers create what has never been.”
An engineering education is in a sense a liberal arts education. It requires solid foundation in humanities and social studies as well as a thorough knowledge of chemistry, physics, mathematics, and engineering principles. It demands understanding and awareness of environmental problems.
If you’re planning to major in engineering, your freshman and sophomore years of college are spent studying basic science in chemistry and physics, humanities, social sciences, mathematics and composition. The University of Wisconsin- Fox Valley offers courses that cover the pre-engineering curriculum. Your junior and senior years at your transfer institution are devoted in large part to specialized engineering coursework.
Career Opportunities
What are some of the engineering specialties from which you may choose? If you enter aerospace engineering, you’ll be involved with designing, developing, and producing commercial and military aircraft, missiles, or spacecraft. You may even specialize in structural design, navigational guidance and control, instrumentation and communication, or production methods.
Another choice is agricultural engineering. In this area, you may design agricultural machinery and equipment, or develop methods to improve the production, processing, or distribution of food or other agricultural products.
The chemical engineer applies the principles of chemistry and engineering to solve problems involving the production or use of chemicals. Chemical engineers design equipment and develop processes for manufacturing chemicals in chemical plants, plan and test methods of manufacturing and products and supervise production. Chemical engineers may also work in the areas of electronics or aircraft manufacturing.
Civil engineers, who work in the oldest branch of engineering, design and supervise the construction of roads, airports, tunnels, bridges, water supply and sewage systems, and buildings. Many civil engineers hold supervisory or administrative positions, ranging from a supervisor of a construction site to a city engineer.
Electrical and computer engineers are concerned with the analysis, design, development, operation, and research of electrical and electronic systems and their component parts. You might specialize in a major area such as integrated circuits, computers, data processing, electrical equipment manufacturing, communications or power generation and distribution.
Industrial engineers determine the most effective way for an organization to use the basic factors of production: people, machines and materials. The focus is on results that need to be achieved, rather than just on the techniques to be applied. Industrial engineers design the systems that organizations use to produce goods and services.
Mechanical engineers plan and design tools, engines, machines and other mechanical equipment. Mechanical engineering is the broadest engineering discipline, extending across many interdependent specialties. They are often called “general practitioners” of engineering. Many mechanical engineers receive a strong background in other selected areas such as automatic control systems, environmental studies, computer-aided design, and others. The areas listed are just a few of the potential engineering programs.
Curriculum Guidelines
The courses needed vary from one engineering specialty to another. However, the freshman and sophomore has many common components. UWFox can offer you the freshman and sophomore curriculum needed to begin any engineering field. The courses outlined below are to be used as a guide. You should refer to the catalog of the bachelor-degree-granting institution. Faculty or Student Services advisors can help plan a course of study at UWFox that meet the requirements of the university of your choice.
Engineering Core Courses
- Calculus I & II & III
- Ordinary Differential Equations
- Chemistry I & II
- Graphics
- Statistics
- Physics I & II
- Dynamics
- Strength and Materials
- Engineering Economics
Liberal Arts Courses
- Oral/ Written Composition
- Social Sciences
- Humanities
- Ethnic Studies
This curriculum may vary according to the intended field and transfer campus. The beginning English and mathematics classes are dependent on placement scores.
Academic and Career Advising
Faculty are available to assist you in their respective discipline. Student Services advisors are available to assist you with both academic and career selection. The staff can help you select course to fulfill academic requirements for desired majors. Advisors are available to assist you with career exploration through computerized interest inventories, resource materials, and job shadowing opportunities. To set up an appointment with an advisor, call the Student Services Office at (920) 832-2620.
Further Information
- E-mail address is foxinfo@uwc.edu
Web address is www.uwfox.uwc.edu
Career information web address is www.collegeboard.com - Call the Student Services Office at (920) 832-2620
- Write to the following addresses:
Student Services Office
University of Wisconsin- Fox Valley
1478 Midway Road
Menasha, WI 54952 - Visit the campus Resource Room.
- Explore SIGI plus and Wisconsin Career computer programs in the Student Resource Room.