General Engineering

Our First-Year General Engineering program is designed to prepare first-year engineering students for academic success in their future degree-granting engineering program. 

• In General Engineering you will have time to explore all 14 of our Engineering majors and select an engineering major that aligns with your interests and goals. Around 30% of all first-year Engineering students change their mind about what Engineering major they want major from the major they originally intended to pursue when they applied to Virginia Tech. In General Engineering we will give you the tools and information needed to make an informed decision about your academic future. Even if you stick with the Engineering major you originally intended, our program can help you be more confident in your decision. General Engineering will prepare you to make the right choice for you! 
• Our program will help you build the academic, technical, and professional knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the following years. 

One of the purposes of the General Engineering Program is to give you time to explore Engineering majors and make a decision about what Engineering major you want to pursue based on your interests and goals. During your time in General Engineering you will have many opportunities, both inside and outside the classroom, to learn about all of Virginia Tech's Engineering degree programs. Students also have access to many resources they can use on their own to explore majors. 

Students in General Engineering must complete a set of requirements in order to declare their Engineering major. These change of major requirements are part of every restricted engineering degree and most students complete these requirements by the end of their first year in General Engineering. To become eligible for entry into one of the restricted engineering majors, students must meet the below course, hour, and GPA requirements. Please also review the list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding the entry process and familiarize yourself with the complete program requirements for your intended major(s).

Course Requirements

1. ENGE 1215~*: Foundations of Engineering
2. ENGE 1216~: Foundations of Engineering
3. MATH 1225: Calculus of a Single Variable
4. MATH 1226: Calculus of a Single Variable
5. ENGL 1105: First-Year Writing

~ These courses may be substituted with ENGE 1414: Foundations of Engineering Practice. ENGE 1414 is typically taught in the fall semester only. Only College of Engineering students are permitted to take this course (Pre-Requisite: ENGL 1105; MATH 1225; MATH 1226; 19 earned transfer hours)

*ENGE 1215 is offered in fall, winter, spring, and Summer II. General Engineering students may enroll in any term. Non-engineering students are eligible to enroll during winter or spring only.

Hour Requirements

• Minimum: 12 GPA Hours - includes any A-F graded courses taken at Virginia Tech.

GPA Requirements

• Minimum: 2.0 Overall VT GPA
• Guarantee: 3.0 Overall VT GPA (for engineering students)
• Guarantee: 3.5 Overall VT GPA (for non-engineering students)
  

Most engineering majors accept students below the GPA guarantees. In previous application reviews, Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering were the only programs not able to admit students below the GPA guarantees. Regardless of past historical trends, we encourage all eligible students to apply to their top-choice major. 

*All Engineering majors require at least 2–3 science classes. For most students this includes includes Chemistry (CHEM 1035: General Chemistry Lecture and CHEM 1045: General Chemistry Lab and Physics (PHYS 2305: Foundations of Physics with lab). But science requirements vary across all 14 engineering majors, so it’s important to review the requirements for the majors you’re interested in. Science requirements for all Enigneering majors can be found on the Virginia Tech Catalog Degree Requirements. 

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.

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.

ENGE 1215: Foundations of Engineering (2 credits)
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.

Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. In fall semesters, ENGE 1215 is typically restricted and reserved for General Engineering students.

ENGE 1216: Foundations of Engineering (2 credits)
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.

Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer.

ENGE 1414: Foundations of Engineering Practice (4 credits)
The ENGE 1215 + ENGE 1216 courses may be substituted with ENGE 1414: Foundations of Engineering Practice; this is a 4-credit course that combines the two first-year engineering courses into one course offered in the fall semester. To be eligible to take ENGE 1414, you must have earned at least 19 total transfer credits (including credits for ENGL 1105, MATH 1225, and MATH 1226).

Offered: Fall semesters only. Restricted to only General Engineering students, with two sections reserved for Engineering transfer students.

Is ENGE 1414 right for you?

Reasons why you might consider taking ENGE 1414:

• It would allow you the opportunity to declare you intended engineering major at the conclusion of your first fall semester in General Engineering.
• If you are bringing in a large number of transfer credits where the majority of the courses fulfill class requirements needed for your degree.
  • If this situation applies to you, then it could potentially allow you the opportunity to graduate earlier than the traditional 4-year timeline in some Engineering majors. However, in some majors may be challenging to graduate prior to 4-years based on the curriculum structure.
• If you are interested in an engineering major that has strict major restrictions on many of their major-specific courses.
  • Taking ENGE 1414 could allow opportunities to take major-specific courses during your second semester that would traditionally not be available for General Engineering students.
  • This could include Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Ocean Engineering, and a few more.

Reasons why you might consider taking the our ENGE 1215 and ENGE 1216 year-long sequence instead of ENGE 1414:

• If you are not 100% sure which engineering major you want to pursue. Taking the full year curriculum of ENGE courses will allow you more time and opportunities to explore Virginia Tech's engineering majors.
• If you are interested in an engineering major that allows General Engineering students to take early level major-specific courses without being in the major. This could include Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Construction Engineering and Management, Electrical Engineering, and a few more. 

Talk with your assigned General Engineering advisor during your summer orientation experience if you have questions about whether or not ENGE 1414 would be right for you!

ENGE 1004: Explore 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. This course is a free elective and is not required by any majors at Virginia Tech.

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. This course is a free elective and is not required by any majors at Virginia Tech.

ENGE 1984: Special Study: SS: AI Literacy and Practice for Engineers
This course is for first-year engineering students only. Students will explore practical applications of AI, develop AI literacy skills, and work on projects that align with their specific engineering disciplines and career goals. The course is designed to be engaging, flexible, and relevant to the rapidly evolving role of AI in engineering. The course is packed with valuable resources, hands-on activities, and project opportunities centered on students’ individual engineering interests. This course is a free elective and is not required by any majors at Virginia Tech.

ENGE 2634: Introduction to Restricted Research 
Introduction to multi-disciplinary, team-based undergraduate engineering research. Emphasis on Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community missions and projects. Exposure to current restricted research performed around campus. Guest speakers from national labs. Engineering research methods (tools, research integrity/safety/ethics, and communication of results). Deep dive into International Traffic in Arms Regulations-restricted multi-disciplinary DoD engineering problems, potential careers, and security protocols surrounding restricted research and careers. This course is a free elective and is not required by any majors at Virginia Tech. (Enrollment is limited to US Citizens Only)

Digerati: An Emerging Technology Living-Learning Program

Digerati fosters a culture of peer support that encourages students to engage in the academic, social, and career development aspects of college life. This collegial environment of peer support in Digerati extends to include collaborating faculty from various university departments, industry leaders, and community-based partners. This network of support will promote habits of both independence and interdependence as students grow as engaged scholars and professionals.

This community is designed to create supportive, multi-generational communities where students can:

• discover development opportunities and support resources within and beyond the College of Engineering
• develop the professional/interpersonal skills necessary for a successful career
• contributing to a welcoming environment
• expand their knowledge of emerging technologies and their applications in a collaborative environment

The CEED Peer Mentoring Program creates small, supportive, peer-led groups that help first-year engineering students transition into Virginia Tech. Through guidance from an upper-class mentor and connection with fellow new students, mentees learn about academic success strategies, campus resources, and opportunities within the College of Engineering. The program aims to:

• Help first-year students learn from the experiences of a more advanced engineering student
• Build community among new students with shared majors, interests, and goals
• Introduce mentees to academic, professional, social, and wellness resources across the College of Engineering and Virginia Tech