<p>The OP may want to look at the admission requirements and expectations for engineering MS and PhD programs, because choices made during undergraduate study will affect whether MS or PhD study in engineering is possible. Of course, undergraduate study in engineering is usually preferred as preparation for MS or PhD study in the same major.</p>
<p>In particular, most biology and neuroscience majors do not take enough math and physics courses to be adequately prepared for upper division (much less graduate) engineering work. If the OP chooses to major in such a subject, s/he would need to take additional math and physics courses to keep the engineering options open.</p>
<p>Sledger, after reading your post a second time, I’ve re-thought the options which I would suggest to you. Firstly, I’d recommend that you attend a comprehensive university, where you’ll have a broad selection of Humanities as well as Life Sciences offerings to supplement your interest in engineering. In short, I say directly enroll in an engineering major.</p>
<p>Now if you want an undergraduate course schedule that significantly resembles that of an a LAC student, as a practical matter that can’t happen at most engineering departments. However, I don’t believe being able to take a few extra liberal arts courses is worth the added expense of time and money if a graduate engineering degree is your ultimate goal. Better to take as many Humanities and Life Science courses as your engineering department will allow while you’re an undergraduate. Of course, engineering schools do accept Chemistry, Physics and Math majors to their engineering M.S. programs.</p>
<p>You might find satisfactory Humanities and Life Science opportunities at the following universities which have engineering departments. These schools are also very near attractive recreational areas.</p>
<p>Seattle University
U of Portland
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
Colorado School of Mines
Virginia Tech
U of Virginia
N. Carolina State University</p>
<p>Va Tech and NCSU are large, but as you progress the engineering department classes get much smaller.
And Va Tech has a reputation for being very focused on the undergraduate student community with personal attention. U of Virginia is smaller than Va Tech.</p>
<p>Also, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and U of Rochester are situated in somewhat declining urban areas, but they are not far from the great outdoors and both are superior engineering universities that provide room for the Humanities in the curriculum.</p>
<p>Note that ABET accredited engineering bachelor’s degree programs include the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>At least 37.5% engineering courses. However, depending on the major and school, the engineering course requirements may be greater, perhaps 50%.</li>
<li>At least 25% math and science courses. These include the math and physics (often chemistry and sometimes biology) prerequisites to upper division engineering courses.</li>
<li>Humanities and social studies breadth requirements. ABET does not specify the amount, but typical is about 20-25%, though some schools may be outside that range.</li>
</ul>
<p>S1 majored in a ‘hard science’ at Vassar and is now in a top ten engineering grad program. Vassar’s math and physics prepared him well for the graduate engineering courses. His second major at Vassar was in the arts. The engineering graduate school saw that as a positive. Since there are few distribution requirements, it is easier to double major in a school like Vassar (also Hamilton and Amherst come to mind). Vassar is in a ‘suburban’ area of Poughkeepsie and has the Vassar Farm (which is a huge chuck of land adjacent). There are numerous outdoor activities in the Hudson Valley and it is a beautiful place. The same can be said of the areas Hamilton and Amherst are located. Smith and Mount Holyoke (right near Amherst) are also great suggestions since both have strong sciences and opportunities through the five college consortium. </p>
<p>Which science and which type of engineering? In particular, the most popular science, biology, is poor preparation for engineering PhD programs, except possibly bioengineering, and then only if the biology major takes suitable math and physics courses (as opposed to the light-math versions offered to biology majors) and perhaps other preparatory electives.</p>
<p>If a student wants to follow the path of science BA/BS to engineering PhD, then the undergraduate school needs to have good physics and math. Other sciences could also be important, depending on the type of engineering being aimed for (e.g. statistics for industrial engineering, chemistry for chemical or materials engineering, biology for bioengineering, geology for mining or petroleum engineering).</p>
<p>^^ Yes, and even though Vassar’s program worked out for your S, Vassar isn’t really known for having strong math and physics programs. Students I have spoken to were particularly underwhelmed by the offerings, and OP could ask around if she wishes. I mean, I’m sure it’s not bad, of course not, but unless OP feels that Vassar is the perfect fit, OP ought to look at LACs known for their strong science programs.</p>
<p>Is this not like a general engineering program? I know at places like Virginia Tech and Clemson, you must begin as a general engineering student, and then you specialize more and more as time progresses. </p>