School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - WSU Tri-Cities

The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), an academic unit within WSU's Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture, offers Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degree programs.

The undergraduate programs lead to the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE), Computer Science (BSCS), Electrical Engineering (BSEE), and Mechanical Engineering (BSME). An internship program is available for all students to gain industrial experience during their academic careers. Accredited by ABET, the undergraduate curricula provide students with firm foundations to meet the challenges of their individual career paths confidently and to adapt to ever changing technologies rapidly.

At the graduate level SEAS offers programs leading to the Master of Science degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. Students interested in earning a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering, or a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering should apply for admission to the corresponding Pullman program and state in their application an intention to reside on the Tri-Cities campus. Through integrated undergraduate and graduate advising, qualified students may be admitted into accelerated Master’s programs. The graduate programs prepare students for advanced research to qualify to join research organizations and peer universities.

Engineers and computer scientists integrate knowledge, experience, judgment, and creativity to elevate societies. Located at Washington State University's campus in the Tri-Cities, SEAS directly serves students in the southeastern region of Washington and graduates them as professionals who can advance the operations of regional as well as national and international engineering and computer science companies and organizations.

CIVIL ENGINEERING

Civil engineers plan, design, construct, and operate the physical works and facilities essential to modern life. Civil engineers are responsible not only for creating the facilities required by a modern civilization, but also are committed to the conservation and preservation of the environment. Examples of these facilities include bridges, highways, buildings, airports, flood control structures, purification plants for drinking water, waste treatment and disposal facilities, offshore structures, tunnels, irrigation systems, space satellites, and launching facilities.

The program leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering (BSCE) is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org, which is the nonprofit, non-governmental organization that accredits college and university programs in the disciplines of applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. The mission of the BSCE program is to provide a premier undergraduate education in civil engineering that prepares our graduates to contribute effectively to the profession and society, for advanced study, and for life-long learning; to conduct world-class disciplinary and interdisciplinary research that is integrated with both graduate and undergraduate education in selected areas of excellence; and to serve a diverse constituency through technology transfer, public service, and outreach.

The education objectives for the BSCE program are:

• Graduates are engaged in civil engineering careers in industry, government or academia, or pursuing advanced studies;
• Graduates are successful team members or team leaders who conduct themselves with integrity and high standards of ethics;
• Graduates demonstrate competence and ongoing development of their professional skills to adapt to changes in technology and the needs of a globalized society.

The student learning outcomes for the BSCE program are that graduates will attain:

• 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

Courses can be selected to provide in-depth studies in environmental, infrastructure, water resource, and structural engineering. Because design and planning are essential in the civil engineering profession, these activities are introduced in early CE courses. As students advance, they face open-ended assignments with alternative solutions, feasibility studies, safety considerations, economics, social and environmental impacts, and other concerns that stimulate their creative ability. An engineering internship program is available for students to gain industrial experience during their academic careers.  An engineering internship program is available for students to gain industrial experience during their academic careers.  All students complete a senior capstone design class in which much of earlier course work is applied. All seniors are encouraged to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam prior to graduation. Two purposes of this exam are: (1) It is a required step in becoming a licensed professional engineer; and (2) It serves as an assessment tool for meeting the school's objectives. 

COMPUTER SCIENCE

Computer Scientists study, plan, develop, and deploy computer- and software-based systems that impact essentially every aspect of our lives. These system encompass artificial intelligence, analysis and design of algorithms,  computer networks and cybersecurity, computer vision and graphics, database systems, human computer interaction, machine learning, numerical analysis, operating systems, parallel and distributed systems, programming languages, software engineering, and theory of computing. For instance, these systems generate applications that perform efficiently on handheld devices, uphold privacy and security objectives, and delight consumers.

The BSCptS is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

The coursework in computer science prepares students for a variety of careers that involve the extensive use of computers. Graduates in Computer Science will have a solid technical background in mathematics and sciences. The BS degree requires substantial basic and advanced computer science course work and is the traditional computer science degree.
 

The education objectives for the BSCS is:

• Our graduates have professional careers in industry or academia or are engaged in advanced studies.
• Our graduates keep abreast and adapt to changes in technology as well as the needs of a globalized society.
• Our graduates are successful team members or team leaders who conduct themselves with integrity and act ethically.

The student learning outcomes for the BSCS program are that graduates will be able to:

• Analyze a complex computing problem and apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
• Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
• Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
• Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.an understanding of professional, ethical, legal, security, and social issues and responsibilities
• Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline
• Apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce computing-based solutions
• Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies. 

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

Electrical engineers study, plan, and design systems that rely on electrical power. These systems include smart phones and tablets, computers, navigation, and radar equipment, wired and wireless communication hardware, power generation installations, electric motors,  the nation’s power grid, and even the microchips within personal electronic devices.

The curriculum in electrical engineering provides students with fundamental knowledge in the areas that support essentially all electrical engineering fields. Emphasized are the basic theory and concepts that prepare students for engagement in the multifaceted activities of the profession including research, design, development, operations, management, teaching, and consulting. To this end, laboratory experience provides students with familiarity with electrical, electronic and computing equipment as well as experimental techniques. An engineering internship program is available for students to gain industrial experience during their academic careers. The program culminates in a two-semester senior design project that typically involves industry cooperation, and trains students in the application of their knowledge and skills to solve real-world problems.

The education objectives for the BSEE program are:

• Our graduates have professional careers in industry or academia or are engaged in advanced studies.
• Our graduates keep abreast of, and adapt to, changes in technology as well as the needs of a globalized society
• Our graduates are successful team members or team leaders who conduct themselves with integrity and act ethically.

The student learning outcomes for the BSEE program are that graduates will attain:

• 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

 
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Mechanical engineers study, design, and develop systems that address: (a) the use and economical conversion of energy from natural sources into other useful energy to provide power, light, heat, cooling, and transportation, (b) the application of machines to lighten the burden of human work, (c) the efficient use of energy and resources, (d) the processing of materials into products useful to people, and (e) the integration of machines and algorithms for autonomous systems. Engines, vehicles, airplanes, solar and wind energy installations, the international space station, these are typical mechanical engineering systems. Employment opportunities for graduates exist in the areas of mechanical design, systems design, equipment development, manufacturing, CAD/CAM, algorithm development, project engineering, production management, applied research, and sales and service.

The BSME program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

The program interweaves computer applications throughout its courses. The undergraduate curriculum emphasizes foundation third-year courses that are fundamental to all aspects of mechanical engineering. These courses focus on both analysis and design with accompanying laboratory courses that provide opportunities for hands-on experiences. The courses in the fourth year emphasize the integration of fundamental engineering principles into various applications in mechanical engineering. Students have an opportunity to complete a sequence of electives in one of three concentrations or follow a general path taking technical electives of their choice. The concentrations include Thermo-fluids, Manufacturing, and Autonomous Systems. By completing a concentration, students will have deeper knowledge in a specific area of mechanical engineering they would like to pursue in their future careers. An engineering internship program is available for students to gain industrial experience during their academic careers. The undergraduate program culminates in a two-semester senior capstone design project that typically involves industry cooperation and trains students in the application of their knowledge and skills to solve real-world problems. Graduates are prepared to enter the field as engineers or to continue into a graduate program.
 

The education objectives for the BSME program are:

• Graduates will be involved in the practice of engineering or in pursuit of graduate studies.
• Graduates will perform successfully as members of professional teams in the global arena.
• Graduates will function professionally and continuously improve their professional skills.

The student learning outcomes for the BSME program are that graduates will attain:

• 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