Welcome to Mechanical, Environmental and Civil Engineering!
About Our Department:
All of our programs engage students in rigorous, hands-on curricula through which they apply engineering principles and problem-solving to create innovative, real-world solutions.
All of our programs incorporate faculty and peer mentoring to promote and nurture student success. Our students enjoy access to facilities and research equipment comparable to large research institutions. With today’s world of rapid change, new advancements are needed to make lives safer, more enjoyable, and more productive. A degree from our department will open the doors to an exciting career in engineering so that you can turn your dreams and ideas into realities.
Undergraduate Programs
The B.S. Mechanical, B.S. Environmental and B.S. Civil Engineering programs at Tarleton State University are each accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
- Civil Engineering This program was launched at Tarleton in Fall 2014, but it is one of the oldest engineering disciplines in the history of mankind. Civil engineering focuses on the design, planning, construction, and evaluation of the infrastructure around you, such as roads, bridges, dams, buildings, transportation, and water supply systems. The civil engineering program is offered at both the Stephenville campus and the RELLIS campus.
- Environmental Engineering Environmental engineers develop innovative and sustainable solutions to environmental systems such as recycling, waste disposal, water treatment, and air pollution control. They design processes and systems that reduce the negative effects of human activities on the environment, thus improving our health, happiness, and safety.
- Mechanical Engineering This program was launched at Tarleton in Fall 2017. Mechanical engineers design and implement innovative technologies in a breadth of areas including automotive engines, aircraft controls, robotics and automation. The mechanical engineering program is offered at both the Stephenville campus and the RELLIS campus.
Graduate Programs:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering This degree is offered in both completely online and face-to-face (at the Stephenville campus) formats, starting in the Fall semester 2021. Either format allows a choice between thesis and non-thesis.
Program Entrance Requirements and Math Placement
The Civil, Environmental, and Mechanical Engineering programs do not have separate admission standards from that of the university, however, math preparedness is a critical component to success in either program. Thus it is very important for potential majors to strive to prepare in mathematics prior to entering college.
Civil, Environmental, and Mechanical Engineering degrees start at Calculus 1, and the Math department requires math placement for incoming freshmen to register for Calculus 1. The math placement can be satisfied in any of the following ways:
- Prior college credit (dual credit) for either Plane Trigonometry (MATH 1316) or Precalculus (MATH 2412), since either is a prerequisite for Calculus 1
- Passing the NextGen Advanced Academic Functions (AAF) Accupplacer test with a score of 276 or higher
- This placement test can be taken at any time at a variety of testing centers, e.g. most community colleges offer it. You can also take it at our testing center when you visit our Tarleton or Ft. Worth campuses; more info is available on the Stephenville Testing Center webpage, where you can also sign up online for testing prior to your visit. You can also contact the testing center at 254-968-9423 or [email protected] to sign up for testing or with any questions.
- If your score on the NextGenAAF Accupplacer test is 263 or higher, you are eligible to register for Plane Trigonometry (MATH 1316), and, upon passing it, you will be able to take Calculus 1 in your second semester.
If you have neither dual credit nor the Accuplacer test (but you have the TSI math requirement satisfied), you can enroll in Precalculus (MATH 2412), and, upon passing it, you will be able to take Calculus 1 in your second semester.
It is possible to get credit directly for Calculus 1 without taking the class, in the following ways:
- Advanced Placement (AP) scores of
- 4 or 5 in the Calculus AB exam, or
- at least score of 3 in the Calculus BC exam – with an AB sub-score of at least 4
- College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) score of at least 50 in the CLP Calculus exam.
If you plan to start at a community college and then transfer to one of our programs:
- Coursework in engineering degrees is very sequential – each course has one or more prerequisites – so it is important to start taking courses in your majoras early as possible if you wish to graduate in a four-year timeframe.
- Choosing to take only general education courses before transferring to one of our degrees is not recommended. Please contact the department for guidance on including appropriate math, science, and introductory engineering content – we’ll be happy to help!
Learn more about mechanical, environmental, and civil engineering careers
- DiscoverE – Engineering Careers
- ACM jobs website
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook – Engineering Occupations
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook – Computer Occupations