Mission Statement

Calling

The engineering program equips students to glorify God by meeting the needs of the world with responsible and caring engineering.

Our program is marked by these features:

Christian
Integrating Christian faith into the curriculum as a foundation for understanding the role of science and technology in society and shaping engineers with a calling of service to the world

Global
Providing opportunities to prepare graduates with the cultural competencies for participation in the international marketplace and for addressing the challenges faced by people in the developing world

Innovative
Encouraging the cultivation of an entrepreneurial mindset, business acumen, and the leadership and learning skills that contribute to the growth of enterprises that build communities

Interdisciplinary
Emphasizing that today’s complex problems require integration and analysis across engineering disciplines, the sciences, and the liberal arts to inform engineering design decision-making, extend critical thinking, and advance communication skills

Practical
Infusing the classroom with real-world engineering experience, challenging students to address open-ended design problems with multiple constraints in a team environment, and facilitating internships for students

Student-Focused
Creating a hands-on learning community that features small classes in which a diverse array of students interact with each other and with experienced faculty committed to undergraduate teaching and mentoring

Sustainability
Advocating a thoughtful framework for technological development that stewards the resources of the world to enable the long-term flourishing of human and non-human aspects of God’s creation

Educational objectives

The BSE degree from Calvin is designed to provide a foundation for productive engineering work in God’s world. The objectives of the program are that recent graduates will:

• develop the basic principles and skills necessary for engineering (including mathematics, the sciences, business, and the humanities) for appropriate assessment and analysis of current and complex problems.
• generate effective solutions to problems and move them toward successful implementation.
• and communicate ideas successfully in multidisciplinary environments, exhibiting awareness of cultural context and team dynamics.
• commitment to social responsibility, sustainability, and the continued learning necessary to address the pressing problems of our contemporary world.

Throughout their lives, our graduates will act as Christ’s servants whose faith leads them to live with integrity and be called to leadership in advocating for appropriate engineering solutions that incorporate relevant technology.

Student outcomes

Calvin’s engineering program will demonstrate that its graduates have:

1. ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
2. ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
3. ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
4. ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
5. ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
6. ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
7. ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
8. ability to articulate the meaning of a Christian perspective for responsible engineering and technology development