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Freshman Program

Villanova Multidisciplinary Engineering and Research Experience: A Dynamic New Program for Engineering Freshmen

Starting in fall of 2009, all Villanova freshman engineering students will participate in a new program that gives them a multidisciplinary experience in engineering analysis, design, and research. For the first half of the fall semester ( EGR 1200 - Egr. Interdisciplinary Proj. I ), all students will take a core course that introduces them to engineering using an active-learning, problem-based approach. This course will be taught by teacher-scholar faculty who are enthusiastic about this challenging new program. During the second half of the fall semester, the students will work on one multidisciplinary engineering project that they have chosen from among six options. The general categories of these projects are

  • Nanoscale and Bioengineering
  • Sustainability/Energy/Environment
  • Infrastructure and Systems
  • Robotics
  • Interfaces
  • Materials
  • Engineering and Business

While working on these projects, the students will be mentored by teaching and research faculty in whose fields these projects are based. For the first several years of this new program, the projects will be

# Title Days/Times Offered
1 Robotics and MATLAB Programming M,W - 3:00-4:15 T,Th - 11:30-12:45
2 The Load/Deflection Character of a SMARTBEAM M,W - 3:00-4:15 M,W - 4:30-5:45
3 Application of Acoustic Technologies for Predicting Structural Failure M,W - 3:00-4:15 M,W - 4:30-5:45
4 Electric Car Design T,Th - 11:30-12:45 T,Th - 1:00-2:15
5 The Artificial Kidney: Improving Dialysis T,Th - 11:30-12:45 T,Th - 1:00-2:15
6 Aerodynamics of Vehicles: Reducing Drag/Saving Energy T,Th - 11:30-12:45 T,Th - 1:00-2:15

In the spring semester of freshman year ( EGR 1205 - Egr Interdisciplinary Proj II ), the students will select a different multidisciplinary engineering project on which to work. With the knowledge and experience that they have gained from the core course and these projects, students will be able to make a better informed decision on their choice of engineering major. After selecting a major in the middle of the spring semester, each student will complete this new program by a seven-week educational experience in his or her major.