The Department of Basic Engineering at Tennessee Technological University serves two purposes associated with two different cohorts of students. One cohort will consist of students seeking a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree, a joint degree program with East Tennessee State University (ETSU). The other cohort will consist of incoming students who have not yet chosen a specific engineering discipline. <br><br>The Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree is a general engineering degree that includes coursework in several engineering disciplines. The general engineering area is one of the more rapidly growing engineering degrees in the United States with many similar programs already in existence. Students graduating with a major in Engineering will be prepared to use their focused study in math, science, and engineering to solve problems and design solutions in a variety of industries and settings. The multi-disciplinary nature of the program will prepare students to serve needs in general manufacturing, technical services, construction, and engineering management. <br><br>The joint Bachelor of Science in Engineering program offered through TTU and ETSU is composed of 128 credit hours. The coursework includes: 36 credit hours of General Education, 22 - 24 credit hours of mathematics and science, 54 credit hours of engineering, 12 credit hours of technical electives, and 2 - 4 credit hours of other electives.<br><br>The primary mission of the Basic Engineering Program is to provide an initial major for entering students who have not decided on a specific engineering discipline. This is a common situation for many entering students, who often have not had sufficient exposure to the various engineering disciplines to make a selection. Students who are eligible for admission to the College of Engineering may choose to major in Basic Engineering during their first year. Advising staff in the College of Engineering Students Success Center will advise these students and assist them in the selection of a degree-granting major.<br><br>The Basic Engineering Program also provides academic and administrative support to the degree-granting programs in the College of Engineering. Academic support includes courses in engineering graphics, computer programming, and connections to engineering and technology. All courses are designed to prepare TTU engineering majors with the foundation knowledge and skills required to succeed in an engineering baccalaureate degree program. The administrative support functions vary by degree-granting program and include recruiting activities, mathematics placement testing, registration activities, transfer credit evaluation, student advisement, and student records management.