Engineering Exploratory

What Makes ONU’s Engineering Exploratory Program Unique

Let our engineering exploratory program be your launchpad. In your first year at ONU, you’ll build foundational engineering knowledge while gaining hands-on experience across disciplines. Every course counts toward graduation, so you can explore without hesitation. Along the way, faculty mentors support you in and out of the classroom, helping you create a future-proof plan and unlock your potential.

Our Engineering Exploratory program takes a hands-on, forward-thinking approach,
ensuring you’re prepared for what’s next.

Discover which engineering discipline fits your niche and ignites your creativity.
Build a marketable skill set that can help you launch and advance your career.
99% of our graduates in 2024 had a job in their field within six months of
graduation.
Access state-of-the-art lab space and industry-standard equipment, empowering
you to put theory into practice.

Small Classes, Big Opportunities

At ONU, you learn in community. Our average class size of 19 students provides a close-knit, supportive environment where you’re surrounded by professors and classmates who inspire you to challenge yourself, embrace new growth, and build your independence. In this environment that celebrates exploration and connection, you and your peers can discover the right engineering path — together.

Experiential Learning Starts Here

Engineers create, build, and problem solve with purpose. That’s why ONU’s engineering exploratory program weaves experiential learning throughout your training. Beginning in your first semester, you gain practical knowledge through hands-on projects, team design work, and guided experimentation. This equips you for co-op and internships and for joining the workforce.

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Find Your Passion: Engineering Major Options at ONU

Pursuing an engineering degree invites adventure and opportunity into your educational journey. Over the course of your first year at ONU, you investigate the nuances of each engineering discipline, engage in hands-on projects, make professional connections, and explore different industries and career options.
At the end of the year, you’ve examined the possibilities and are ready to choose your engineering major with clarity and confidence. And because we designed every course in our Engineering Exploratory program to keep you on track, you’ll move forward with purpose and direction.

Check out the different majors below

Transform communities and shape the future through infrastructure design. Select this major if you are passionate about developing large-scale projects to improve transportation systems, solve environmental issues, and more.

BS in Civil Engineering
Do you like building computers and connecting hardware with software? Apply to this major to design systems and devices that power our digital world.

BS in Computer Engineering
Create cutting-edge software solutions that transform the technology landscape across industries. If you love coding and programming, choose the CS major to solidify these skills.

BS in Computer Science
Curious how you can blend the technical skills of computer science with another passion? Pursuing our new Computer Science + X major enables you to apply coding expertise to a second field of study and chart a career path that’s uniquely yours.

Computer Science + X
Power tomorrow's innovations through electrical system design. This major is perfect for those interested in driving technological advancements in areas like power generation, electronics, and telecommunications.

BS in Electrical Engineering
Combine your passion for engineering with teaching to inspire the next generation of innovators. This major is for those who want to become a licensed teacher for middle school and high school students.

BS in Engineering Education
Mechanical engineering is the broadest engineering discipline, where you turn ideas into reality through the design and manufacture of mechanical systems. Consider this major if you are fascinated by how things work, love building machines, and enjoy solving problems involving motion, energy, and force.

BS in Mechanical Engineering

What Will You Learn?

Get ready to create fearlessly and lead with purpose. Through our Exploratory Engineering pathways, you will:
● Solve real-world problems with imaginative, collaborative thinking.
● Build technological expertise and an in-depth understanding of engineering principles.
● Strengthen your analytical and synthesis skills through the application of theory and practice.
● Understand the ethical responsibilities related to engineering and design-build projects, and acquire knowledge of professional practice and research.

12th in the Nation, by U.S. News & World Report 2024

Which Engineering Major Is Right For Me?

Not sure which engineering discipline to choose? That’s okay. In our Engineering Exploratory program, you can let your curiosity lead you. As you study the different branches of engineering, you’ll also learn about who you are — and the kind of engineer you want to become.

You can also connect with industry professionals who share real-world insights, join student organizations and competition teams that match your interests, and work closely with faculty advisors to identify your strengths.

Every step of the way, you’ll feel supported and inspired by our faculty and staff.
Ready to uncover new possibilities in engineering and computer science? Let’s get started.

Learn About Academic Advising

The Ultimate Learning Environment for Engineers

Study in our James Lehr Kennedy Engineering Building. The 105,000-square-foot facility accommodates hundreds of students and offers more than 10,000 square feet of large-scale project and design space for capstone projects, competitive engineering projects, and other direct industry engagement. Further, it provides flexible space that can be adjusted to various projects and features more than 2,000 square feet for research labs that can exist on their own or can be combined into larger spaces for bigger projects.

A look inside the new James Lehr Kennedy Engineering Building

The James Lehr Kennedy Engineering Building is a Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building.

The new home of the College of Engineering

Join Competition Teams

Discover what’s possible through teamwork, collaboration, and innovation by joining ONU’s award-winning competition teams. Build concrete canoes, design radio-controlled aircraft, or create off-road vehicles while competing against top engineering schools nationwide and making lifelong friends.

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What makes the college of engineering so special to me is the support group I have with professors and fellow students. This support helped me select the best major for me.

Jackson Spencer, BS '18

Follow Your Curiosity: Find the Best Engineering Major at ONU

Embark on an engineering adventure at Ohio Northern University, where bold questions and hands-on discovery guide your growth. Whichever engineering discipline you choose, immerse yourself in our supportive community and create a future where you thrive.