About the Engineering Field

students working

UNK's Engineering Foundations Program prepares students in the subjects of math, physics, chemistry, and engineering so they can transfer to UNL (or another ABET accredited university) after their sophomore year. Our program is broadly designed to meet UNL’s College of Engineering requirements.

Choose from two routes to begin your engineering education at UNK:

2+2 Engineering Foundations Program


Bachelor of Science in Engineering from UNL

Here, we duplicate the first two years of larger, full-degree engineering programs, such as UNL. Once you have completed your first two years at UNK, we will work to ensure your transition for the final two years of your engineering program is as seamless as possible. This program is loosely structured so students who spend two years in the Engineering Foundations Program at UNK and two years in the College of Engineering at UNL will be eligible to attain one Bachelor's degree in Engineering from UNL.

Because requirements for specific engineering programs at other universities may vary, students should consult with their advisor before registration.

3+2 Dual Degree Program


Bachelor of Science in Engineering from UNL
Bachelor of Science in Physics from UNK

The 3+2 Dual Degree Program provides the exciting opportunity to supplement your engineering degree with a Bachelor of Science in Physics. This program is structured so students who spend three years in the dual-degree program at UNK and two years in the College of Engineering at UNL will be eligible to attain a Bachelor's degree in Physics from UNK, AND a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from UNL. Because requirements for specific engineering programs may vary, students should always consult with their advisors before registration.

Types of Engineering

Agricultural engineers use science and math to meet challenges in agriculture – helping farms grow better and more food, conserving soil and water, and designing tools and equipment. If you have a passion for the outdoors, biology, math, and machinery, you can combine these interests to help meet the world’s needs in food, water energy, and clean natural resources.

At UNK you will focus on the basics of the first two years of your engineering education. At UNL, you will choose your focus from machine design, soil and water resources, or sensors and controls.

Career Opportunities

  • Machine Testing
  • Consulting
  • Environmental Remediation
  • Product Management
  • Equipment Design
  • Natural Resources Management
  • Research
  • Irrigation

Potential Employers

  • Eaton Corporation
  • John Deere Company
  • USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • Con Agra Foods
  • General Mills
  • Pella Corporation
  • Cargill, Incorporated
  • Case-New Holland Corporation
  • BobCat Company
  • Polaris

 

Civil engineers design, build, supervise, operate, and maintain construction projects and systems in both the public and private sector, including roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment. As a civil engineer, you’ll design and maintain structures like roads, bridges, dams, buildings, water systems, and more. You’ll help protect and enhance our quality of life while sustaining our natural resources.

At UNK you will focus on the basics of the first two years of your engineering education. At UNL, you can specialize in areas of environmental, geotechnical, structural, transportation, or water resources. A specialization in civil engineering is offered at both the Lincoln and the Omaha campuses.

Career Opportunities

  • Consulting design firms
  • General and specialty construction companies
  • Industries that explore for natural resources that produce energy
  • Municipal, county, state and federal government agencies

Potential Employers

  • Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad
  • Olsson Associates
  • Peter Kiewit & Sons
  • U.S. Army Corp of Engineers
  • Lamp, Rynearson & Associates
  • Union Pacific Railroad
  • Nestle
  • Federal Highway Administration

Electrical engineers develop and oversee electrical systems and equipment. They work with everything from power grids to computers, and telephones to cars. As an electrical engineer, you’ll be leading cutting-edge technologies and gaining high-demand skills in a wide variety of career areas, not only engineering, but in law, medicine, and business. Electrical engineers command how electricity works, how to use it to power our lives, and how to create innovations and ideas.

At UNK you will focus on the basics of the first two years of your engineering education. A specialization in electrical engineering is offered through UNL on both the Lincoln and the Omaha campuses.

Career Opportunities

  • Electrical Engineer
  • Project Engineer
  • Systems Engineer
  • Instrumentation Designer
  • Control Systems Specialist

Potential Employers

  • Boeing Company
  • Garmin International
  • National Instruments
  • St Microelectronics
  • Nebraska Public Power District – Cooper Nuclear Station
  • Intel
  • Microsoft Corp.
  • General Dynamics
  • Black & Veatch
  • Burns & McDonnell
  • Texas Instruments

Mechanical engineers develop, build, care for, and improve tools, machines, and systems. If your curiosity extends to developing, designing, and testing equipment or technology, power-producing devices, or using nanotechnology to create high-performing materials and components, consider becoming a mechanical engineer. You’ll be in demand in many types of complex operations, in research, design, production, sales, and management.

At UNK you will focus on the basics of the first two years of your engineering education before continuing your education at UNL.

Career Opportunities

  • Project Engineer
  • Systems Engineer
  • Mechatronics Engineer
  • Materials Analyst
  • Combustion Technician
  • Aerodynamics Researcher
  • New Product Developer
  • Instrumentation Designer
  • Control Systems Specialist

Potential Employers

  • Union Pacific Railroad
  • Omaha Public Power District (OPPD)
  • Kellogg’s
  • Pella
  • Hamilton-Sundstrand
  • Nasa
  • Ford Motor Company
  • Nestle

Computer engineering integrates electronic engineering with computer sciences. Computer engineers design and develop computer systems and other technological devices. Most computer engineering jobs require at least a bachelor's degree in computer engineering. Many employers also require state certification to be a professional engineer. Students can focus on computer software engineering or computer hardware engineering.

Tasks involving computer engineers include writing software and firmware for embedded microcontrollers, designing VLSI chips, designing analog sensors, designing mixed-signal circuit boards, and operating systems. Computer engineers are also suited for robotics research, which relies heavily on digital systems to control and monitor systems like motors, communications, and sensors.

Career Opportunities

  • Telecommunications Engineer
  • Project Engineer
  • Systems Engineer
  • Mechatronics Engineer
  • New Product Developer
  • Instrumentation Designer
  • Control Systems Specialist

Potential Employers

  • Union Pacific Railroad
  • Hamilton-Sundstrand
  • Microsoft
  • Northrop Grumman