Engineering

ENGINEERING STUDENT EXPERIENCE EXAMPLES

• Building solar panels at our adopted Catholic high school in Haiti which allowed students to apply their engineering knowledge, advance their commitment to sustainability and provide service to those who are truly in need.
• Introducing the “E-Walk” so that Loras personnel from the Provost to Campus Safety staff can traverse the campus in sustainable, affordable and efficient ways.
• Creating the Loras logo for entry signs to the College as a senior capstone to demonstrate an ability to work collaboratively and provide a lasting gift to their alma mater.
• Serving a Dubuque Stamp and Manufacturing Internship whereby our students designed the entire 40,000 square foot facility expansion.
• Designing a functional, programmable, and user-friendly gaming console (e.g., Wii, Xbox) or green board that was selected as the first place winner at a prestigious regional competition.
• For the past two years 100% of Loras Engineering graduates have passed a mock assessment of the national Fundamental of Engineering exam (50% is the national average).

NASA Astronautics
Hands-on, engineering-based activities and with data collection technology integration for real-world analysis. Project-based learning that includes sustainable habitat construction, strategic scientific planning and investigations, a two-stage rocket launch, heat shield design, cryogenics chamber design, robotics underwater “astronaut training,” collaborative teaming and global awareness development. Behind-the-scenes access to including tours of actual astronaut training and work facilities, such as NASA Johnson Space Center, Rocket Park and the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. Hear from guest speakers about what it takes to work at NASA and the projects that prepare humans for space exploration.

Thermodynamics
The laws of thermodynamics. Topics include: properties of substances and phase equilibrium, the first and second laws of thermodynamics, entropy, power cycles and refrigeration cycles.

Engineering Prototyping
This course serves as an introduction to engineering design prototypes. The primary focus will be on the design, prototype, and test processes associated with creating a prototype. These prototypes will target designing electromechanical or biomedical systems. Skills practiced include teaming, project and time management, locating materials and services, conflict resolution, experimental design, oral and written reports. Students will complete self-reflection and self-assessment exercises.

Manufacturing Processes & Design
Method of commercial manufacturing. Includes topics of casting, forging, forming, joining, cutting, drilling, milling, and lathe work. Also includes: designing parts to make them easy to manufacture, workshop laboratories where students learn basic use and safety of metal and wood working equipment; completion of a project where students design and construct a project of their choosing; and tours of local manufacturing facilities. There are no prerequisites although a CAD background may be helpful.

Properties & Mechanics of Materials
Introduction to materials and solid mechanics of typical engineering materials. Introduces basic theory of deformable bodies by analyzing stress/strain relationships in objects. Topics in solid mechanics include strains, stresses, Mohr’s Circle, deflections of beams, and simple structural members.

View All Engineering Courses

The Loras College Engineering Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org. Our ABET accreditation ensures our Engineering program meets the highest quality standards. We are one of only a few Engineering programs in Iowa accredited by ABET.

Loras Engineering Program Mission
The engineering program engages students in a rigorous, challenging, and comprehensive study of the fundamentals in engineering, mathematics, and science required to analyze, design, build, test and operate engineered systems in a manner that emphasizes interdisciplinary leadership that contributes to the profession and to society.

Program Educational Objectives:
Within 3 to 5 years after graduation, graduates of the engineering program at Loras College will demonstrate the following:

• The ability to employ their knowledge and skills in the fundamentals of engineering in one or more of the following pursuits:
  • Demonstrating proficiency in the engineering profession performing one or more of the following: research and development activities of design, build, test, verification, and documentation.
  • Studying in a graduate school program in engineering or a closely related field.
  • Using their problem solving and analytical skills to benefit society in a positive way through volunteer work or in a nonprofit organization.
• Strong ethical standards and a sense of stewardship with economic and ecological resources consistent with Catholic Social Teaching.

Upon graduation from the Loras Engineering Program a student will have demonstrated the following:

• An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
• An 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
• An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
• An 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
• An 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
• An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
• An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Enrollment:

ENGINEERING (GENERAL OR MECHANICAL)
Division of Mathematics, Engineering & Computer Science
Robert Keller, Ph.D., Chair

Engineering, B.S., Biomedical Track  
Engineering, B.S., Computer Track  
Engineering, B.S., Electro-Mechanical Track  
Engineering, B.S., General Engineering Track  
Mechanical Engineering, B.S.  
Engineering Minor