General Engineering Major
While part of the General Engineering program, students complete three different types of courses:
First-Year: the required change of major courses for a restricted engineering degree, which include two semesters of calculus, one semester of English, and two semesters of foundations of engineering.
ENGE: courses that help fill out the foundational engineering experience, including major exploration, engineering success skills, and connecting with others.
Pathways to General Education: required courses that count towards the university's general education requirement. Students learn about important human challenges and contemporary problems of the 21st century.
Fall Semester
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGE 1215 | Foundations of Engineering | 2 |
| ENGL 1105 | First-Year Writing | 3 |
| MATH 1225 | Calculus of a Single Variable | 4 |
| CHEM 1035 | General Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 1045 | General Chemistry Lab | 1 |
| Pathways Elective (Pathway 2, 3, or 6a) | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 16 |
Spring Semester
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGE 1216 | Foundations of Engineering | 2 |
| ENGL 1106 | First-Year Writing | 3 |
| MATH 1226 | Calculus of a Single Variable | 4 |
| PHYS 2305 | Foundations of Physics | 4 |
| *CHEM 1045 | General Chemistry Lab | 1 |
| Additional Course or Pathway Elective | 2-3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 15-18 |
*CHEM 1045: General Chemistry Lab may be moved to the spring semester. For students interested in Chemical Engineering (CHE), it's very important to take CHEM 1035 and 1045 in the first fall semester to stay on track with the curriculum.
The College of Engineering change of major required courses for a restricted engineering degree are ENGE 1215 + ENGE 1216 (or ENGE 1414), MATH 1225 + MATH 1226, and ENGL 1105. Although CHEM 1035, CHEM 1045, ENGL 1106, and PHYS 2305 are no longer change of major requirement courses, they may still be necessary for degree progression and completion. Pathways and additional courses are not required to declare a restricted engineering major, but may be necessary to remain on-track for specific disciplines.
Consult the graduation requirements for your engineering majors of interest for degree requirements. If you are expecting transfer credit, you must send all official score reports and transcripts to Virginia Tech. Also, there are equivalency charts, guides, and databases to help you determine if your credit will transfer to Virginia and how it applies to your intended major.
ENGE 1215 and 1216: Foundations of Engineering
A first-year sequence to introduce general engineering students to the engineering profession, including data collection and analysis, engineering, problem-solving, mathematical modeling, design, contemporary software tools, professional practices and expectations (e.g., communication, teamwork, ethics), and the diversity of fields and majors within engineering.
ENGE 1004: Exploring Engineering
Students will participate in a seminar-style experience guided by representatives from different engineering disciplines to learn more about the programs offered by the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech to aid the change of major process.
ENGE 1034: The Connection Project
The Connection Project brings together engineering students to get to know one another while discussing the key components of making meaningful connections. Led by trained, upper-class student facilitators, a group of about 10 students will engage in activities and dialogue that highlight what brings people together, what keeps people apart, and how these things manifest in Virginia Tech’s social culture. Students will develop foundational knowledge of current research on the social, biological, emotional, and cognitive impacts of human connection. Students will also learn about and discuss application of various communication styles and conflict resolution strategies, and further consider how these variations in communication can impact social interactions and connection.
All Virginia Tech students will complete a general education curriculum, known as the Pathways to General Education. Within the Pathways requirements students will complete courses in seven concept areas, outlined below. Some courses required as part of the engineering curriculum will satisfy Pathways requirements and are outlined in the table below. The remaining Pathway courses are each student's choice are referred to as Pathway Electives. Many students will take at least one Pathways Elective course in their first year, however, this is not required. These requirements must be met by the time a student graduates.
PATHWAY TO GENERAL EDUCATION |
||
| Pathway 1 | Discourse Foundational: Fulfilled with ENGL 1105 and 1106 Advanced: Major Choice |
9 credits |
| Pathway 2 | Critical Thinking in the Humanities All Majors: Student's Choice |
6 credits |
| Pathway 3 | Reasoning in the Social Sciences AE, MSE, OE: require ECON 2005 CEM: requires ECON 2005-2006 All other majors: Student's Choice |
6 credits |
| Pathway 4 | Reasoning in the Natural Sciences CS: Fulfilled with two of the following - BIOL 1105/1115, CHEM 1035/1045, or PHYS 2305 |
8 credits |
| Pathway 5 | Quantitative and Computational Thinking Foundational: Fulfilled with MATH 1225-1226 Advanced (CS): Fulfilled with CS 3114 Advanced (All other majors): Fulfilled with MATH 2214 |
11 credits |
| Pathway 6 | Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts Arts: Student's Choice Design: Fulfilled with ENGE 1215-1216 or ENGE 1414 |
7 credits |
Learn beyond the classroom with our hands-on engineering programs, with opportunities for engineering students.
Frith First-Year Makerspace
The Frith First-Year Makerspace is designed to support the development of young engineers through hands-on learning, peer mentoring, and authentic problem-solving. Part collaboration and innovation space, part fabrication and prototyping space, and part learning laboratory, the Frith Lab is integrated into the first-year foundations of engineering courses and enables General Engineering students to learn by dissecting, designing, making, and analyzing engineering products.
Rising Sophomore Abroad Program
The Virginia Tech Rising Sophomore Abroad Program combines a Spring course with a two-week international module abroad in May immediately following the end of the Spring Semester. By giving students a taste of an international experience and increasing their comfort level with global travel, the program promotes additional, more extended international academic experiences such as internships, study abroad programs, or faculty-led programs. The program also allows students the opportunity to make initial contact with a company or university in another country to further their student experience or career prospects.
Due to personnel changes, the Rising Sophomore Abroad program will not take place in spring 2025. In response to these changes, the College of Engineering is taking the opportunity to reimagine RSAP in a structure that better supports strategic goals of the College and meets students’ requirements for graduation.
RSAP is expected to return in spring 2026, so please check back for updates in summer 2025.
Undergraduate Research
For students interested in research, but don't know where to start, or think they're lacking credentials to join a team/group, try undergraduate research with Drs. Ben Chambers or David Gray! Work with a team of fellow undergrads, earn academic credit, and build your credentials for internships, co-ops or even graduate school.
Dr. Ben Chambers, Associate Professor of Practice | bdc0112@vt.edu
Dr. David Gray, Associate Professor of Practice | dagray3@vt.edu
We have a team of academic advisors dedicated to guiding students through the first-year engineering program, General Engineering. Students can view their academic advisor assignment on Hokie Spa > View your General Student Information.
