ACU Onstead College of Science and Engineering Viewbook

Onstead College of Sc ience and Engineering

A Letter From the Dean

WELCOME TO ACU’S ONSTEAD COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING! In the Onstead College of Science and Engineering (OCSE), your education will be centered in real-world, hands-on experience. With program options in agricultural and environmental sciences, biology, chemistry and biochemistry, engineering, mathematics, and physics, opportunities to explore and engage with the natural world and become better stewards of God’s creation abound. Utilize critical thinking and analytical skills to study world problems and discover new solutions that can improve the quality of life for people around the globe.

The learning continues outside of the classroom and laboratory. Participate in undergraduate research with a faculty mentor to open the doors toward new discoveries and a greater understanding of the world around us.

Pursue an internship, study abroad and join student organizations to propel your curiosity and experience.

If you plan to pursue a career in health professions, OCSE programs will prepare you well. Working collaboratively through the Center for Pre-Health Professions, you will find ample opportunities to build a competitive portfolio for applying to professional schools.

We can’t wait for you to join the Onstead College of Science and Engineering community at ACU!

Dr. Charla S. Miertschin Dean, College of Science and Engineering

PURSUING EXCELLENCE The Onstead College of Science and Engineering is renowned for its unwavering commitment to academic rigor and cutting-edge research. With a steadfast focus on addressing pressing global challenges, the college has made significant strides in advancing clean-water solutions, sustainable fuel alternatives and safe energy technologies. Its distinguished faculty and dedicated students actively engage in ongoing field research, pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge and innovation. The college’s track record of success is exemplified by the impressive rates at which its graduates pursue further education or secure positions in the professional realm.

ACU graduates who apply to medical, dental and veterinary schools have been accepted at twice the national average for the past 10 years.

The average starting salary for students graduating from the Department of Engineering and Physics is $78,900.

Graduates of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry have seen 100% acceptance rate into Ph.D programs in the last five years.

WHAT TO STUDY Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Agribusiness Animal Health Professions Cooperative Animal Science • Livestock Production • Pre-Veterinary Medicine and Health Environmental Science • Environmental Sustainability • Wildlife and Natural Resource Management

Biology

Biology* • Cellular/Molecular Biology • General Biology • Health Professions • Organismal Biology • Pre-Veterinary Medicine • Wildlife Biology Health Professions – Biology

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Biochemistry • American Chemical Society • Biomedical Science • Pre-Vet Health Professions – Biochemisty Chemistry*

Engineering and Physics

Engineering • Civil Engineering • Electrical Engineering • General Engineering • Mechanical Engineering Physics* • Computational Physics • Engineering Physics • Engineering Science Technology • Medical Physics

Mathematics

Mathematics* • Actuarial Science • Applied Mathematics • Pure Mathematics

Minors

Agricultural Science Biology Chemistry Engineering Science Environmental Science Mathematics Physics *Teacher Certification available

Scan for a complete list of majors, minors and pre-professional programs.

acu.edu/OCSE

DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE

Building momentum is important to Sam Carter, both as an engineering major and as a linebacker for the ACU football team. In the department of engineering and physics, he has been on the ground floor of exciting new projects and research opportunities with NEXT Lab. He takes pride in the hands-on work he does at ACU, in the classroom and in leadership roles. Whether as a Wildcat Week director, an officer in the Noble Kings fraternity or engaging with fans at ACU athletic events, he loves to turn momentum into action.

“We’ve got a lot of really great momentum here,” he says. “It’s exciting to see new things grow before my very eyes.”

“It’s really special here – the way you can connect with others through your faith, through life, through school.”

— SAM CARTER

SAM CARTER

Electrical engineering major San Antonio, Texas Campus Activities: Presidential Scholar, NEXT Lab, ACU Football, Wildcat Week director, Noble Kings fraternity officer

DR. CYNTHIA POWELL

Professor and Director, Center for Pre-Health Professions

PREPARE FOR YOUR FUTURE

Dr. Cynthia Powell knows all about success. She’s watched year after year as students from ACU have been accepted at twice the national average into medical, dental and other health professional schools. But Powell’s definition of success is much broader: “Success isn’t all about getting into professional school. It’s about becoming a person who honors God with every aspect of your life.

Our first goal is to teach our students this truth and help them choose a career in which they will thrive.”

Professional schools want mature students who can not only handle difficult curriculum, but who also make decisions based on a strong moral compass, she says, and that’s exactly what they develop at ACU.

“We are working hard to help our students become mature people of faith who are able to be salt and light in the medical community.”

— DR. CYNTHIA POWELL

LIVE OUT YOUR CALLING

Joel Wells, M.D., had two wishes growing up – he wanted to play professional baseball and to become a physician. Surprisingly, he had the chance at both. His senior year at ACU he was drafted by the New York Mets and was accepted into medical school. He chose medicine and never looked back. He is now director of the Comprehensive Hip Center Program at Baylor Scott & White Health and is one of the top orthopedic surgeons in Texas. His pre-health courses at ACU fueled his success, he says, and playing baseball “taught me so much more than just playing on the field. The team, the service, the love for our Lord – all of it is so important.”

“I was better prepared than the majority of students in my class because the curriculum at ACU for pre-med is top notch.

The requirements to fulfill and the expectations to meet are tough.”

— JOEL WELLS

JOEL WELLS, M.D. (’06)

Orthopedic surgeon, McKinney, Texas

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING We believe in the importance of practical learning. For that reason, our college offers extensive opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in labs and through undergraduate research with professors, Study Abroad and internships.

Undergraduate Research In the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, students find invaluable experiences working with professors throughout the year by discovering safe and efficient energy alternatives and antibiotics to fight skeletal disorders. Students are collaborating with their professors in these research efforts, working hands-on in the labs central to these discoveries, and are even published as co-authors in academic papers, all in their undergraduate years.

Center for Pre-Health Professions Our strong connections with local healthcare providers create avenues for students to engage with the community and gain coveted experience in healthcare settings. The Center for Pre-Health Professions is dedicated to student success in all corners of science.

Our pre-health tracks incorporate intentional mentoring, shadowing opportunities and excellent coursework to foster success in future healthcare careers.

Real Application, Real Relationships In the engineering curriculum, students focus pinnacle effort on the culmination of the senior clinic, a year-long project and networking opportunity focusing on planning and execution. Over the course of the clinic, students create cohorts and establish a relationship with a company or organization, walking with them through every stage of engineering a product or system to meet the needs of that entity. Come graduation, each engineering student has personally experienced the full encapsulation of process in the world of engineering, all while building relationships with potential mentors and employers.

WHERE YOU’LL LEARN Dillard Science Engineering and Research Center

As a leader in the field, our college is engaged in national-level nuclear research projects in collaboration with renowned universities across the country. The new Dillard Science Engineering and Research Center further supports these groundbreaking initiatives. This state-of-the-art facility provides cutting-edge resources and advanced laboratories focused on research within the Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing Lab (NEXT Lab). The NEXT Lab incorporates the expertise of faculty as well as the findings from every department in the OCSE. All students in this college have the opportunity to aid in this nationally appraised research as employees and interns.

Halbert Walling Research Center and the Onstead Science Center All departments in the OCSE benefit from the expansive spaces for education and research found in pristine science facilities. The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry continues to seek out unique and meaningful discoveries in the worlds of pharmaceuticals, energy sustainability and gene cloning within the Halbert Walling Research Center.

In addition, the Onstead Science Center offers expansive research and laboratory spaces fit with industry-leading equipment where faculty and students alike work year round to further our knowledge of science and engineering.

Rhoden Field Lab Students in the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences have the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the real-world setting of the Rhoden Field Lab. Nestled on a sprawling 400-acre ranch just outside of campus, this expansive working farm serves as a living laboratory for hands-on learning. Here, students study and actively engage with animals and the environment.

NEXT STEPS

SCHOLARSHIPS

ACU’s undergraduate application was designed specifically for motivated students like you. Take your next steps to ACU:

At ACU, we understand education is a significant investment for our students and their families.

We’re committed to making the ACU experience as affordable as possible for everyone. All students admitted to ACU are considered for scholarships based on their application for admission. In addition to our merit-based awards, we offer several unique scholarships for specific interest areas such as service-learning and leadership and need-based aid for first-year students. You can view our scholarship offerings at acu.edu/scholarships.

Complete the application for admission* at acu.edu/apply** starting Aug. 1. Submit your application for free before Sept. 1.** After that date, there is a $50 nonrefundable application fee.

Send your official high school and/or college transcript(s) to: Mail:

ACU Office of Admissions ACU Box 29000 Abilene, TX 79699 Email: info@admissions.acu.edu Electronic: Various sources through your high school counselor

Request your ACT, SAT or CLT scores be sent to ACU. If you do not intend to send your college placement scores, you can choose to apply test-optional. Test-optional students are not eligible for the Presidential Scholarship or Honors College.

Should you be granted admission, you will be given access to confirm your admission, pay your $600 nonrefundable enrollment deposit and submit your housing preferences. The ACU enrollment deposit covers the cost of New Student Orientation, Wildcat Week and the First Year Experience. *Some programs may have additional application deadlines and admissions requirements. **Students who apply through ApplyTexas and/or CommonApp have a $50 nonrefundable application fee.

Scan for a complete list of available scholarships.

2023-24 Undergraduate Majors | Tracks and concentrations outlined beneath majors Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Art and Design Art* • All-Level Teaching • Graphic Design • Painting • Sculpture Art Therapy Graphic Design • Advertising • User Experience Interior Architecture and Design • Art and Design • Business Communication and Sociology Communication • Communication Studies • Corporate and Nonprofit • Persuasion and Advocacy Sociology History and Global Studies History* • Public History Global Studies Interdisciplinary Degrees and Majors Liberal Studies Journalism and Mass Communication Advertising/Public Relations Journalism* Multimedia • Film • Media Ministry Language and Literature English* Spanish* Music Instrumental Education Music* Vocal Education Vocal Performance Political Science and Criminal Justice Criminal Justice Political Science • International Relations and Comparative Politics School of Education Early Childhood/Elementary

Middle School • Language Arts • Mathematics • Science • Social Studies Special Education with Early Childhood and Elementary Theatre Theatre* • Acting • Dance • Design/Technical • Directing • Musical Theatre • Theatre Ministry Biblical Studies Bible, Missions and Ministry Bible and Ministry • Biblical Languages • Biblical Text • Christian Ministry • Missions Ministry and Vocation • Children and Family Ministry • Vocational Missions • Worship Ministry • Youth and Family Ministry Marriage and Family Studies Child and Family Services • Child Life Business Administration Accounting Accounting • Analytics and Reporting • General Accounting Dukes School of Finance Finance • Financial Analysis • Financial Management • Fintech and Analytics • Wealth Management Management Sciences Information Systems • Accounting Systems • Analytics • Application Development

Management • Analytics • Business Leadership • Entrepreneurship • Human Resource Management • Interdisciplinary • Operations Marketing • Analytics • Digital Marketing School of Information Technology and Computing Computer Science* • Computing Theory • Game Development • Software Engineering Digital Entertainment Technology • Game Development • Virtual Production Health and Behavioral Sciences Communication Sciences and Disorders Communication Sciences and Disorders Kinesiology and Nutrition Kinesiology • Generalist • Health Promotion • Sport and Recreation Management • Pre-Athletic Training • Pre-Occupational Therapy • Pre-Physical Therapy Nutrition • Didactic Program in Dietetics • Generalist Psychology Psychology School of Nursing Nursing School of Social Work Social Work Science and Engineering Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Agribusiness Animal Health Professions Cooperative Animal Science • Livestock Production • Pre-Veterinary Medicine and Health

Environmental Science • Environmental Sustainability • Wildlife and Natural Resource Management Biology Biology* • Cellular/Molecular Biology • General Biology • Health Professions • Organismal Biology • Pre-Veterinary Medicine • Wildlife Biology Health Professions – Biology Chemistry and Biochemistry Biochemistry • American Chemical Society • Biomedical Science • Pre-Vet Health Professions – Biochemisty Chemistry* Engineering and Physics Engineering • Civil Engineering • Electrical Engineering • General Engineering • Mechanical Engineering Physics* • Computational Physics • Engineering Physics • Engineering Science Technology • Medical Physics Mathematics Mathematics* • Actuarial Science • Applied Mathematics • Pure Mathematics *Teacher Certification available

Visit acu.edu/undergraduate for a complete list of majors, minors and pre-professional programs.

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