College of Engineering Viewbook

Become an Engineer‌

and something more

Whether you like to come up with new ideas, work with people, or want to make a difference in the world, engineering will open the most doors and engineering at Iowa will help you become that engineer…and something more.

“I started as an undeclared engineering major. After attending career fairs and learning about each discipline, I decided I really liked the courses and path for mechanical engineering, tailoring my focus to biomechanics so I can develop orthopedics.”

Jessica Mosqueda, Mechanical Engineering student

You are our next generation of leaders & problem solvers. majors •

Biomedical Engineering

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Chemical Engineering

•

Civil Engineering

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Computer Science and Engineering

The University of Iowa’s College of Engineering is educating the world’s next wave of planners, problem solvers, and innovators. At Iowa, you’ll experience the benefits of a Big Ten research university that emphasizes student success and collaboration. We offer a unique engineering environment that combines top of the line facilities and technology-laden classrooms with individualized attention from world-renowned faculty members, engineers, medical doctors, adjunct professors, and supportive staff members.

• Electrical Engineering • Environmental Engineering • Industrial Engineering • Mechanical Engineering

Take time to explore

From the first day of classes, you are free to explore. Iowa lets students enter engineering immediately without declaring a specific engineering major. You can take up to three semesters to find the engineering field that is right for you and still graduate in four years.

“With small class sizes and professors who teach multiple courses, Iowa makes it easy to get to know classmates and faculty.”

Austin Hangartner, Chemical Engineering student

Join a welcoming community

Engineering at Iowa is different—just ask our students. They’ll tell you Iowa’s College of Engineering feels more like a community of friends than a competition between rivals. With 100% of our undergraduate courses in engineering taught by faculty members, Engineering at Iowa educates you to solve problems in teams, not in crowds. Students know faculty want them to succeed. In turn, students support each other making Iowa’s College of Engineering a great place to learn and make lifelong friends.

You can also get involved in a variety of engineering student organizations to develop your leadership skills, become more engaged, and make new friends! The College of Engineering is home to more than 30 student groups comprised of honors organizations, departmental and multi-disciplinary organizations, diversity and professional organizations, and industry specific organizations. Find out more at: https://www.engineering.uiowa.edu/current-students/studentorganizations

Personalize your education

The direction you choose is up to you! Iowa enables you to personalize your education by selecting a major and one of many Elective Focus Areas (EFA). Your EFA can include courses within your major or in another field. You can even design your own, enabling flexible and engaging career paths!

Interested in doing research?

Begin doing undergraduate research as soon as your first year. Hear about a professor doing something interesting? Ask them to see how you can get involved—it’s that easy.

Double major or add a certificate You can even combine your bachelor’s degree in engineering with a second bachelor’s in a liberal arts and sciences or a business program, usually adding just one year to your studies. It is also very manageable to add on a minor or certificate without any additional time in your program.

Iowa was the first university to offer a Technological Entrepreneurship Certificate to complement engineering degrees. Certificates are also available in sustainability, wind energy and Naval hydrodynamics.

Travel the world

Global opportunities for students are becoming increasingly important.

It is very likely that, regardless of discipline, you will interact with customers and colleagues across the globe. At Iowa, you can study abroad for the summer, a winter break, or a full semester. For example, engineering students have recently studied in Italy, Germany, India, Spain, and Australia. www.engineering.uiowa.edu/ current-students/globalengineering

Take it further

Before graduating, you will complete a capstone senior design project, working with industry or medical partners on real-world problems.

Internships and co-ops offer handson experience and insight into the day-to-day life of engineers. You can start an internship as early as your first summer, working for an employer back home or finding an internship through one of our many resources. Our two annual engineering-specific career fairs bring in 100-130 engineering, manufacturing, healthcare, business, IT, government and non-profit organizations each semester.

The Engineering Professional Development staff and peers provide help researching companies, reviewing résumés, practicing interview skills, and evaluating job offers. www.engineering.uiowa. edu/current-students/ engineering-professionaldevelopment

“Iowa offers a curriculum that’s comprehensive but focused. You’re not tied solely to one discipline.

And the chance to work with faculty on research is fantastic.”

William Tollefson, Biomedical Engineering student

Want to continue your education?

We offer a five-year combined bachelor’s/master’s option that puts you on the fast track to a graduate degree.

biomedical Engineering

chemical Engineering

The biomedical engineer is trained at the intersection of the natural sciences, medicine, and engineering to solve problems related to living systems. For example, biomedical engineers work closely with physicians to design, evaluate, and manufacture prosthetic devices; translate complex organs and systems into computational models; analyze medical images and signals; and solve problems at the cellular and molecular levels.

Chemical engineers use math and science to solve problems that address the complex needs of today’s society while preserving opportunities and resources for future generations. Making medicines from microbes. Developing sustainable manufacturing and energy solutions. Purifying water. Processing food. Designing biomaterials for improved health. Chemical and biochemical engineers are doing all of these and more.

Biomedical engineers work in industry, academic institutions, hospitals, and government agencies. Some pursue advanced degrees and solve biomedical problems as physicians, patent attorneys, prosthetists and orthotists, physical therapists, professors, research scientists, and business managers.

At Iowa our class sizes are small, which enables close interactions between students and faculty. Our students develop leadership skills, have opportunities for work in industry and research, learn safe practices, and gain a strong foundation in math and science. We are home to world-class research facilities and offer unmatched opportunities to work on projects with Chemical and Biochemical Engineering professors and other professors in Iowa’s top-ranked colleges of Dentistry, Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing and Public Health.

Genevieve Goelz Major: Biomedical Engineering Minor: Mathematics Hometown: Algonquin, Illinois What is your favorite thing about Engineering at Iowa?

The friendly and collaborative environment, and also that it’s okay to be a nerd!

Why did you choose to attend Iowa for engineering?

Iowa’s engineering program emphasizes that your classmates are not your competitors; they are your teammates. During my time here I have realized that working with other students to solve problems is a valuable resource, and learning it as a skill makes you a marketable engineer.

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Paul Flanders Major: Chemical Engineering Minor: Business Hometown: Arlington Heights, IL Co-op or internship experience: Tapemark What Living Learning Community did you live in?

I lived in the People in Engineering (PIE) living learning community. I loved my experience and the people I met through it are still some of my best friends today. My favorite aspect of it was the collaboration. We would all study and do our homework together in the floor lounge almost every night. It was great because if I was struggling with a homework problem or concept, all I had to do was walk over and ask someone who already figured it out for help. During tough school weeks the floor was quieter and everyone was focused on their studies, but we also had lots of fun during the easier weeks.

Why did you choose to attend Iowa for engineering?

I chose Iowa because when I visited, it felt like a place I wanted to be a part of. The support systems here are incredible and I really felt like they cared about my success here. I wanted the fun and vibrant atmosphere of a Big Ten University without the competitive and overwhelming facets of large engineering programs. Iowa Engineering was the perfect fit.

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civil Engineering When it comes to building our nation’s infrastructure or protecting our natural environment, civil and environmental engineers are at the forefront. They not only design roads, bridges, and structures, provide clean drinking water, and protect people from natural hazards like flooding or earthquakes, they also engage with the public to create a more sustainable future. Civil engineers draw on their broad background in structures and soil mechanics, transportation systems, hydrology and hydraulics, and environmental processes in their work.

Kelly Wollner Major: Civil Engineering Hometown: Jackson, WI Co-op or internship experience: The City of Mequon What are you involved in outside the classroom?

STAR (Students To Assist Recruitment), American Society of Civil Engineers, concrete canoe, Chi Epsilon, lifeguard, and intramural sports What is your favorite thing about Engineering at Iowa?

It’s a small community inside a Big Ten university so I can have those big football games.

Why did you choose to attend Iowa for engineering and/or why have you stayed?

The friendly atmosphere and how the College of Engineering wants to see me succeed.

cee.engineering.uiowa.edu

environmental Engineering Environmental engineers apply engineering principles to design systems that control pollution and protect public health. Environmental engineers restore air, soil, and water quality at previously contaminated sites, and develop systems that convert waste into clean energy.

Environmental Engineering addresses the complex food, energy, and water issues of the 21st century. In your first year at Iowa you are exposed to current environmental issues in your first-year seminar. Many of our courses feature active and hands-on learning opportunities, including laboratory exercises that involve data collection on smartphones.

Environmental Engineering allows you to work in any aspect of environmental protection. The major areas include air pollution control, industrial hygiene, radiation protection, hazardous waste management, toxic materials control, water supply, wastewater management, storm water management, solid waste disposal, public health, and land management. And, within each of these major categories are many sub-specialties. Environmental Engineering and science provides limitless opportunities as to type of work, for whom you work, and where you work.

Kalley Matzen Major: Environmental Engineering Hometown: Manly, Iowa Why did you choose to attend Iowa for engineering?

I chose to come to Iowa because I fell in love with the campus.

Everyone here was and is super friendly, the campus is beautiful, and there are so many diverse opportunities available. I’ve stayed at Iowa, because I love the students and professors I have met here.

The University of Iowa has become home because of them.

What do you like about environmental engineering?

My favorite part of engineering is how diverse it is. I feel like I get to learn something new about how the world works every day. I’m especially excited about my new major, Environmental Engineering, I feel like I can take the knowledge I’m gaining each day and apply it to help make a better, more sustainable future.

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electrical Engineering Create the applications, devices, and systems that power daily life - now and tomorrow. Electrical engineers are building faster computers, stronger wireless networks, smaller phones, more sensitive medical instruments, and state of the art medical imaging.

Iowa’s program lets you work in close-knit teams alongside faculty experts seeking the next big discovery. You can also pursue your own research in areas such as optics, imaging, robotics, and software engineering.

Elaine Mou

computer science and Engineering

As the world becomes increasingly connected via the internet, smart technologies are revolutionizing everything from healthcare delivery to transportation systems. At Iowa, we combine the technical content of a Computer Science degree and a Computer Engineering degree into one single degree program. This ongoing technical revolution requires engineers who are competent in both computer software and hardware, and who possess the engineering skills to design and implement complex, intelligent systems.

Computer Science and Engineering graduates will have the foundational knowledge provided by a computer science education together with the critical thinking, problem solving, and system design skills at the heart of a computer engineering degree.

Major: Electrical Engineering Minors: Computer Science and Mathematics Hometown: West Des Moines, IA

Austin Strom

Co-op or internship experiences: NISC, Microsoft, and Google

Major: Computer Science and Engineering

What is your favorite thing about Engineering at Iowa?

It promotes a broad range of learning and engagement with the community. I’ve been exposed to many academic areas in my time here, which makes me confident in my career path and interests, and excited to apply them to different fields. I’ve also been able to give back time by meeting and teaching the next engineers as a teaching assistant, and I know our tutoring and student organizations encourage student-to-student mentoring and collaboration.

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Minor: Mathematics Hometown: Sioux City, Iowa Do you have any advice for incoming students?

My biggest suggestion for incoming engineering students is do not be afraid to ask for help. There are a lot of resources on campus such as free tutoring and supplemental instruction. There are also teaching assistant and professor office hours. The smartest students and the ones who succeed the most are the ones who seek out and utilize these resources.

What is your favorite thing about Engineering at Iowa?

My favorite thing about engineering at Iowa is definitely the people. Everyone here at the University is extremely friendly and always willing to lend a hand when it comes to homework, finding a class, or even just finding a good place to eat in the city. The Seamans Center is not only the building that houses the engineering students, but it houses an engineering family.

ece.engineering.uiowa.edu

industrial Engineering

mechanical Engineering

Better, faster, cheaper, safer. Industrial engineers enhance the systems and processes around us, exploring business challenges and finding innovative solutions that boost efficiency and effectiveness.

Iowa’s program emphasizes teamwork and hands-on projects that call for structured problem solving, process and quality engineering, statistics and big data analytics, and other techniques.

Working with faculty, you might develop robots for space exploration, a production system for a Fortune 500 company, data-mining tools for a hospital, or a new jet cockpit.

Jessie Blumberg Major: Industrial Engineering Minor: Business Administration Hometown: Gurnee, IL Co-op or internship experiences: Allsteel and the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics Office of Operational Excellence What is your favorite thing about Engineering at Iowa?

I love that our engineers find a balance between working hard and finding things to do outside of the classroom. So many of my engineering friends are in other organizations with me on campus and have diverse interests outside of the stereotypical math and science classes. It’s refreshing to see students doing other exciting activities on campus.

Why did you choose to attend Iowa for engineering and/or why have you stayed?

The “engineer and something more” motto really resonated with me when I was looking at colleges. I was really involved in high school and wanted to have the chance to continue in my extracurricular interests, even while pursuing a difficult degree. Being encouraged to broaden my horizons outside of the classroom has been really positive and beneficial to my college career. Meeting other people around campus makes me a better engineer because I can pull from those experiences in addition to my personal experiences.

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Cars, aircraft, medical devices, structures—all of these begin in the imaginations of mechanical engineers. Mechanical engineers use computers to simulate freezing human cells, casting processes, and failure of vehicle components, among other things. They improve alternative energy sources like fuel cells, wind, and biomass, and use realitybased design and optimization to boost performance.

Iowa’s program is especially strong in areas ranging from biomechanics to fluid mechanics, such as design optimization for ship hydrodynamics. The breadth of faculty expertise opens extensive options for students to do handson research.

Ryan Collins Major: Mechanical Engineering Minor: Mathematics Hometown: Coralville, IA Co-op or internship experiences: Whirlpool, HNI, and an EPSCoR research internship What are you involved in outside the classroom?

I play on multiple club soccer teams year round while playing as many intramural sports as possible. In addition I am part of the American Wind Energy Association student chapter and do research in the wind energy field.

What is your favorite thing about Engineering at Iowa?

The size, you get a small and personal college experience, but still have all the resources of a large Big Ten University.

mie.engineering.uiowa.edu

We’re committed to your success Iowa gives every student the tools to succeed. Take advantage of our academic workshops, free tutoring sessions, career advice, and large study areas. Iowa’s engineering facilities, social networks, and realworld opportunities provide tools for success inside and outside of the classroom while gaining a running start on your career.

The Seamans Center for the Engineering Arts and Sciences offers virtually everything you need under one roof. With a

new 65,000-square-foot addition, and outstanding student resources like the Engineering Machine Shop, Engineering Electronic Shop, Engineering Computer Services, tech-infused classrooms, a two-story tall Engineering Student Commons, over 50 research labs and much more, the Seamans Center provides the perfect environment for you to succeed as an engineer and something more.

The Lichtenberger Engineering Library provides resources for faculty and students alike, plus comfortable study areas. Library staff is here to help you find the information you need. You will have access to a wealth of online resources as well as more than 150,000 volumes in house.

The Hanson Center for Technical Communication is a

full-service student- and staff-run home for coaching on everything from scholarship thank you letters to resumes, lab reports, and PowerPoint presentations. Individualized comments, combined with assignmentspecific grading sheets, help students gauge their growth as technical communicators through every stage of the writing process.

The Engineering Tutorial Center offers free walk-in tutoring to all engineering students. Whether you are completing an assignment or studying for your next big exam, the Engineering Tutorial Center is here to help you throughout your college career.

Contact us

Online: engineering.uiowa.edu General Email: engineering@ uiowa.edu

Come visit us

Register for an Explore Engineering@Iowa Saturday program: bit.ly/VisitUIEngineering

Schedule an individual campus visit

Online: admissions.uiowa.edu/ visit-campus Call: 319-335-1566 Email: campus-visits@uiowa.edu

“Students all work together, while professors are here to help us succeed. I love that everyone here wants me to do well.�

Yashila Permeswaran, Electrical Engineering student

What will you engineer at the University of Iowa?

The University of Iowa prohibits discrimination in employment, educational programs, and activities on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, gender identity, associational preferences, or any other classification that deprives the person of consideration as an individual. The university also affirms its commitment to providing equal opportunities and equal access to university facilities. For additional information on nondiscrimination policies, contact the Director, Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, the University of Iowa, 202 Jessup Hall, Iowa City, IA 52242-1316, 319-335-0705 (voice), 319-335-0697 (TDD), diversity@uiowa.edu.

Photographer: Justin Torner

Contact us engineering.uiowa.edu engineering@uiowa.edu