B.S. Electromechanical Engineering

Pre-Engineering Program

B.S. Physics/Secondary Education Teaching

B.S. Electromechanical Engineering

The department offers a four-year degree in Electromechanical Engineering, culminating in a Bachelor of Science (B.S.).  This page explains what Electromechanical Engineering is and shows a suggested 4-year plan of study.  

Electromechanical Engineering is a mixture of mechanical engineering and electrical engineering, and it also entails some computer programming and controls engineering.  The emphasis of our major is on mechanical engineering.  The interdisciplinary nature of the degree fits very well into a liberal arts college, whose goal it is to produce broadly-educated graduates.

Typical products created by electromechanical engineers are referred to as smart products, or intelligent products - these are products that make their own choices based on information they obtain from sensors. Smart products usually consist of mechanical linkages (such as the arms of a robot) that are moved with respect to a frame by means of electric motors, electrical actuators, pneumatic actuators, hydraulic actuators, gears, pulleys, belts, and chains. The position of the machine and its linkages is determined by various sensors (e.g., touch sensors, distance sensors, noise sensors, light sensors, temperature sensors, magnetic sensors) which communicate with a microcomputer. The microcomputer is programmed to make decisions based on the sensor information and to send control commands to the motors and actuators - that is why it is also called a microcontroller.

Examples of electromechanical (smart) products range from large systems like industrial robots to microelectromechanical systems like microscopic password-protected computer hard drive locks. Other examples include automotive fuel injection systems, implantable insulin pumps, pacemakers, artificial limbs, programmable thermostats, automatic microwave ovens, building elevators, amusement park rides, programmable robotic toys, maglev (magnetic levitation) trains, autonomous submarines, and automotive anti-lock braking systems (ABS).

A Suggested Four-year Program of Study in Electromechanical Engineering

This portion includes a description of our pre-engineering program and a list of courses (curriculum) required to complete the program.

Pre-Engineering Program, 2-2 Program, 2-3 Program:

Pre-engineering programs are for those students who decide they do not desire to specialize in Electromechanical Engineering.  Instead, such students decide in the course of their first two years that they desire an undergraduate degree in another engineering discipline, such as biomedical, chemical, nuclear, or environmental engineering.  Students whose interest is not Electromechanical Engineering and who plan to go on to graduate school should also consider remaining at Loras to earn the B.S. in Electromechanical Engineering.

Our pre-engineering program conforms to national standards - in other words, most U.S. engineering schools require the same courses during the first two years.  The program is designed to allow students to transfer to major engineering schools after spending two years at Loras College.  Students who are not prepared to start with calculus in their first semester should plan to spend three years in the pre-engineering program.  Our pre-engineering alumni find it easy to integrate into major engineering schools at the junior level.  The time they spend at the engineering school depends on the course requirements of their major: civil and mechanical engineers only need two additional years to earn their degrees (2-2 program), while electrical and chemical engineers require three more years (2-3 program). A great majority of our pre-engineering alumni go to Iowa State University, with which we have formal 2-2 and 2-3 agreements.

3-2 (Two-Degree) Program:

3-2 (Two-Degree) Programs are formal agreements between colleges and universities that allow students to earn two degrees: a liberal arts degree (B.A.) from Loras and an engineering degree (B.S.) from the engineering school.  Such programs typically involve three years at Loras and two years at the engineering school. Our department has such 3-2 agreements (two-degree affiliations) with the following universities:  Iowa State University, University of Iowa, University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, the New York State University System, University of Detroit, Marquette University (Milwaukee), and the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
 

We also offer a degree intended for students desiring a State of Iowa endorsement for teaching physics at the secondary level. In addition to departmental courses, Teacher Education requirements (33 credits) must also be met. We reccommend that you consult with an education advisor if you are considering pursuing this degree.

A Suggested Four-year Program of Study in Physics/Secondary Education