Engineering Honors

The Engineering Honors learning community (EHLC) is designed to enrich first-year Engineering Honors students’ transition to college.  This year-long experience seeks to foster a seamless academic and social adjustment for students as they as they enter college and explore the applications and rewards of engineering as a profession.  Students in the EHLC live, study, and engage meaningfully with other first-year Engineering Honors students, Engineering Honors Peer Mentors, faculty and staff.

Students in Engineering Honors complete ENGR 16100 during the fall semester, and ENGR 16200 during the spring semester.  This academically rigorous sequence satisfies the First-Year Engineering (FYE) design requirement, and the FYE Physics requirement.  The coursework is designed to highlight the value of collaboration, and foster the growth of students’ confidence in their ability to apply analytical skill and creativity to overcome initially daunting problems.

First-year Engineering Honors students synthesize theoretical concepts, practical application, and accountability in and outside the classroom through their first year of college.  Simultaneously, the EHLC seeks to provide career identity and developmental support as students are identifying the area of engineering that best fits their strengths and interests.  Students in the EHLC have the opportunity to travel to, and tour, one of many corporate partners representing a broad range of engineering disciplines.  During both semesters, students in the EHLC are paired with Peer Mentors (students who have completed the first year of the Engineering Honors program, and have successfully transitioned to a professional program in Engineering).  The Peer Mentors lead the EHLC students in an exploration of the various professional programs in Engineering, as well as sharing academic and other campus resources from the student perspective. 

Outside the classroom, EHLC students live with the Honors College and Residences, which promotes higher productivity and increased confidence in collaborative academic projects as well as meaningful interactions among peers.  Learning community events provide balance to academics; students can elect to participate in socially-focused activities (like ice skating, movie nights, pumpkin decorating, picnics, and game nights), and in leadership development events (the Boiler Challenge Low Ropes and High Ropes teambuilding courses), and in academically-directed sessions designed to help students succeed in examinations and projects.

Please note: If you have accepted your invitation to the Honors College and Residences and are admitted into the First Year Engineering program within the College of Engineering, you will automatically be enrolled in the Engineering Honors Learning Community. You do not need to apply through our application. However, you must still complete a housing contract with University Residences by May 5th to participate.