Pre-engineering
2+2 Program 3+2 Program


Full-Time Faculty: H. David Sheets, Director (’09-’10), Kenneth Scherkoske, Director (’10-’11); James C. Lauffenburger, Robert Selkowitz, Michael Wood


3+2 Dual Degree Physics-Engineering Articulation Programs

The 3+2 Dual Degree Engineering programs are ideal for students interested in scientific or industrial research and development careers. The dual degree programs, which provide extensive grounding in both science and engineering, consist of three years of study at Canisius and two subsequent years at one of our cooperating institutions.  This leads to a B.S. in Physics from Canisius and a B.S. in Engineering from the partner institution. There are currently four articulation programs:

  • B.S. in Physics, from Canisius and B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University at Erie
  • B.S. in Physics from Canisius and B.S. in Electrical Engineering from SUNY at Buffalo
  • B.S. in Physics from Canisius and B.S. in Industrial Engineering from SUNY at Buffalo
  • B.S. in Physics from Canisius and B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from SUNY at Buffalo.
2 + 2 Engineering Transfer Programs
These programs cover the first two years of a four-year engineering major.   The 2+2 program covers the science, mathematics and engineering courses that form the basis of study for the first two years of most engineering school curricula.


The completion of the engineering degree normally takes an additional two years of study at an engineering school.  Most students have chosen to transfer to SUNY at Buffalo, but students have also completed engineering degrees at a wide variety of schools such as Cornell, Clarkson, RIT and RPI. Canisius also maintains an articulation agreement in engineering with the University of Detroit Mercy.

Student Learning Goals and Objectives
Goal 1: Students in the Pre-Engineering program will be able to produce analytical solutions to engineering problems using sound critical-thinking skills.  Students will:

A: Clearly identify what the problem is; i.e., what is being sought; generating equivalent statements of the problem;
B: Delineate the principles of science and analytical techniques which will be used to obtain a  solution;
C: Correctly apply the principles and techniques delineated in Objective B to obtain a solution;
D: Test the correctness of the solution by showing that it yields expected results in limiting and  special cases.


Goal 2: Students in the Pre-Engineering program will be able to produce non-analytical solutions to engineering problems.  Students will:
A: Be able to apply numerical methods, graphic approaches and other approximations for solving engineering problems too complex to allow for analytical solutions;

Goal 3: Students in the Pre-Engineering program will be able to communicate ideas in engineering with precision and clarity.  Students will:
A: Be able to produce precise and clear expository written material about engineering.
B: Be able to produce a well-organized and clear oral presentation of engineering material.


Advisement: 
Students should consult with their major advisor every semester to discuss course offerings and the courses needed to meet graduation requirements. Some courses, including CSC107 and most 300 and 400 level physics courses are offered only in alternating years.

Recommended Schedule: 2+2 program

Fall           Spring      
Freshman Year      
CHM 111 4 credits CHM 112 4 credits
EGR 111 3 credits Elective (optional) 3 credits
CSC 107 or Elective 3 credits PHY 223 4 credits
MAT 111 4 credits MAT 112 4 credits
 
Sophomore Year      
MAT 211 4 credits MAT 222 4 credits
PHY 224 4 credits PHY 225 4 credits
EGR 211 3 credits PHY 226 or Elective 4 credits
Elective or CSC 107 3 credits EGR 208 or Elective 3 credits
EGR 207 or Elective 3 credits EGR 214 or Elective 3 credits


Recommended Schedule 3+2 Program, Associate of Arts in the Business Track.


Fall              Spring      
Freshman Year      
CHM 111 4 credits CHM 112 4 credits
MAT 111 3 credits MAT 112 4 credits
CSC 107 4 or 3 credits PHY 223 4 credits
 
Sophomore Year      
MAT 211 4 credits MAT 222 4 credits
PHY 224 4 credits PHY 225 4 credits
CSC 107 4 or 3 credits PHY 226 4 credits
 
Junior Year      
Students must complete the following list of courses during their third year at Canisius, and during their subsequent studies at an Engineering institution.  Some course will satisfy electives in both the Physics Major and the Engineering Major, many are offered on a two-year alternating cycle.  Careful advising is necessary to insure timely completion.  The courses are:  PHY 330, PHY 331, PHY 332, PHY 443, PHY 350, PHY 351, PHY 447, PHY 499,  MAT 335,  MAT 336

COURSES: 2009 - 2011


EGR 111 Introduction to Engineering Design         3 credits
Introduction to the subject of robotics as well as some of the quantitative tools engineers use to solve problems; including model classification, optimization methods and deterministic, probabilistic and economic models.  Fall

EGR 211 Thermodynamics           3 credits
Fundamental concepts and laws of thermodynamics, equilibrium. Applications to physical and chemical systems. Prerequisite: PHY 223.  Fall

EGR 207 Engineering Statics           3 credits
Forces and torques on rigid bodies, couples, moments, centroids and moments of inertia. Equilibrium conditions, friction, free body diagrams. Applications to beams, trusses, frames and other structures. Prerequisites: PHY 223, MAT 112. Fall

EGR 208 Engineering Dynamics           3 credits
Kinematics of particles and rigid objects. D’Alembert’s Principle, moving reference frames, work-energy methods, impulse and momentum, vibration. Applications to engineering problems. Prerequisite: EGR 207.  Spring

EGR 214 Strength of Materials          3 credits
Behavior of materials under mechanical loading. Stress and strain relationships, shear, bending moments, torsion and deflection. Beams, columns, energy methods and failure criteria. Prerequisite: EGR 207.  Spring




Pre-Law
The Frank G. Raichle Pre-Law Center

Faculty: Robert Klump, Director, Department of Political Science; Patricia E. Erickson, Criminal Justice/Sociology; Peter J. Galie, Department of Political Science; Robert Klump, James V. Jones, Director, Career Center; Walter G. Sharrow, History.

Students wishing to choose law as a career may major, as undergraduates, in any field or fields. They should bear in mind, however, that their aim must be the attainment of a broad liberal education. Specifically, they should attain considerable skill in language, knowledge of human institutions and values and an ability to reason critically. The committee therefore recommends that students wishing to choose law as a career include in their undergraduate programs of study the following:
  1. Courses which develop skills of accurate  comprehension and precise expression in language. 
  2. Courses in which knowledge of human institutions can be attained, with special reference to American constitutional law and history.
  3. Courses which develop abilities in logic and appreciation of ethical and political values. 
  4. Courses in elementary accounting and economics.
Recommended Electives
  • Philosophy: Ethics, Logic
  • Economics:  ECO 101 & 102: Micro and Macro Economics
  • English:  CMP 302: The Art of Successful Writing
  • Political Science: PSC103: American Constitution; PSC 320 & 321: Constitutional Law
  • Accounting: ACC 201 & 202: Financial and Managerial Accounting
The Frank G. Raichle Pre-Law Center assists students who wish to enter the legal profession by offering counseling and advisement regarding law schools and the Law School Admissions Test and by providing scholar incentive awards.

The center also sponsors an annual lecture series on problems of law and American society.

Students interested in law are encouraged to contact a member of the pre-law committee at their earliest opportunity and are encouraged to join the pre-law fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta.

The Program

Freshman Year:
Fall semester
LEG 100 Exploring Legal Careers................................ 1 credit


A one credit course providing pre-law students with information on the following:
  • What is the Raichle Pre-law Center? 
  • What is the legal profession all about? 
  • What opportunities does the practice of Law provide? 
  • Should I go to law school?
  • Building a resume that will help get you into law school 
  • Choosing a curriculum that will be attractive to law school admissions committees 
  • Choosing internships wisely 
  • The LSAT (Law School Aptitude Test)
Sophomore Year

CMP 302 Basics of Writing for pre-Professionals...................  3 credits
This course serves pre-law students, among others, who need to sharpen their writing skills. Students will draft prose and develop effective strategies for revising editing and proofreading.


Junior Year

Spring Semester
Getting into Law School: A Strategy for Success....................Non-credit


A service provided by the Raichle Pre-Law Center consisting of sessions on the following topics:
  • Selecting the right law school 
  • Applying to law school 
  • Preparing for the LSAT 
  • Writing the personal statement 
  • Updating resumes 
  • Obtaining letters of recommendation
LSAT preparation
Prep courses offered by Kaplan and Princeton on campus


Senior Year
Fall 
Advisement sessions: Applying to Law school



    Pre-Med (and Related Health Sciences)

    Laura J. Hechtel, Director; Susan M. Aronica, Biology; James Lauffenburger, Physics; Mary C. O’Sullivan, Chemistry; Richard H. Escobales, Mathematics; Jessica L. Childs-Disney, Biochemistry, Justine D. Price, Fine Arts;  Terri L. Mangione, Dean of Students.

    Students interested in professional careers in medicine, dentistry, podiatry, optometry, physician assistant and veterinary medicine most frequently major in biology, chemistry or biochemistry. Further information can be found in the catalog sections for each of those departments. Recently, a growing number of students have majored in psychology, physics, mathematics, English and philosophy. A general plan for these non-science majors appears below. Specific course requirements vary somewhat from one professional school to another, but there are some common requirements:

    Biology: At least one year of general biology with laboratory (BIO 101-102).

    Chemistry: One year of general chemistry and one year  of organic chemistry with laboratories (CHM 111-112, 227-228).

    Physics: One year of introductory physics with laboratory (PHY 201-202 or 223-224).

    English: One year of college English which stresses composition (ENG 101-102).

    Calculus:  Many of the more competitive medical schools require one year of college level calculus.

    Behavioral Science: One year of either psychology or sociology.

    The Dr. George E. Schreiner Pre-Medical Center has been established to enhance the quality of the undergraduate experience for students who wish to enter the various fields of medicine. Its greatest impact is in helping pre-medical students to crystallize their ideas concerning medicine as a profession and to provide them with some understanding of the unique aspects of the various medical specialties. This crystallization is accomplished with information about various medical schools, medical specialties and medical practices.

    The center assists students in choosing the right medical school and helps them to prepare for entrance examinations to these institutions. Through an increasing number of scholarships, the center provides financial assistance to qualified students pursuing medical and health-related professional degrees. The Pre-Medical Center also sponsors a distinguished lecture series where nationally and internationally known speakers address significant topics in the medical field.

    Students interested in medicine should contact members of the Health Science Advisory and Recommendations Committee (listed above) at their earliest opportunity.

    Early Assurance Program

    The Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental Early Assurance programs at Canisius are offered in conjunction with the State University of New York at Buffalo Medical School and Dental School and the State University of New York Upstate Medical School in Syracuse, New York. Since these are public institutions which are financially supported by the State of New York, they give preference to students who either are residents of the state or who attend college in the state.

    During their sophomore year, students with the required overall GPA and SAT scores may apply for the early assurance admission. Upstate Medical School requires SATs of 1300 or more and a GPA of 3.5 in order to apply. Once accepted, students must maintain this GPA until graduation. SUNYAB Dental School requires a 3.5 GPA and 1250 SATs. Students must maintain this GPA and also must take the Perceptual subtest of the DAT and achieve a score equal to the average of the previous year’s entering class. SUNYAB Medical School requires 1400 SATs and a GPA of 3.75 in order for students to apply for Early Assurance. Once accepted, students must maintain a 3.7 overall GPA. For both medical schools, Early Assurance students are not required to take the MCAT. These are highly competitive programs that accept few students.

    Joint Degree Programs
    Canisius College has a seven-year joint-degree program with a growing list of professional schools including the State University of New York at Buffalo Dental School, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, the New York College of Podiatric Medicine and the SUNY State College of Optometry. The first three years are spent at Canisius and the last four years at the professional school. A bachelor’s degree (B.A.) will be awarded from Canisius College after completion of the first year of dental, osteopathic, optometic or podiatric  medical school. The D.D.S., D.O., D.P.M., or O.D. degree will be awarded at the end of seven years. To remain in good standing, students must fulfill all requirements established by the professional school.

    For further information on any of the above programs, students should consult one of the advisors listed above.

    During the past ten years, Canisius graduates have enjoyed an overall acceptance rate of 92 percent, with an acceptance rate of 94 percent specifically for medical school.

    Pre-Med Professional Program for Non-Science Majors:

    Fall             Spring  
    Freshman Year      
    FYS 101 3 credits ENG 102 3 credits
    BIO 101 4 credits BIO 102 4 credits
    CHM 101 4 credits CHM 112 4 credits
    Calculus or Statistics 4 credits Calculus or Statistics 4 credits
    Total 15 credits Total 15 credits
     
    Sophomore Year      
    PHI 101 3 credits RST 101 3 credits
    CHM 227 5 credits CHM 228 5 credits
    Courses in major
    and/or Core
    9 -11 credits Courses in major
    and/or Core
    9 -11 credits
    Total 16-18 credits Total 16-18 credits
     
    Junior Year      
    PHY 201 4  credits PHY 202 4 credits
    BCH 301 or BIO 203 3 credits Courses in major
    and/or Core
    12 credits
    Courses in major
    and/or Core
    10  credits
    Total 17 credits Total 16 credits
     
    Senior Year      
    Course in major 15 credits Course in major 15 credits
    Total 15 credits Total 15 credits
         Total  125-129 credits

    The program is flexible; it represents a model that could easily be modified to meet the requirements of most departments. Once students have decided upon a major, they must design their own curriculum with the guidance and approval of both the chair of that major and a Health Science advisor. The program must meet the requirements of the core curriculum, the particular major chosen (i.e., English, philosophy, psychology, etc.) and the requirements of the health-professional schools. In place of the core curriculum, the All-College Honors Program is highly recommended.


    Note: This program satisfies both the 120-credit hour and 40-course requirements for graduation.



    Pre-pharmacy

    Health Professions Advisor: Laura J. Hechtel

    Students interested in a career in Pharmacy have the option of completing a four-year degree in any major or completing only two years of study before starting pharmacy school, as long as the required courses are taken. Most students at Canisius College choose the 4 year option majoring in either Chemistry (Health Professions Track), Biochemistry, or Biology. Further information can be found in the catalog sections for each of those departments. A general plan for pre-pharmacy appears below. Specific course requirements vary somewhat from one professional school to another, but there are some common requirements.

    Biology: One year of general biology with laboratory (BIO 101-102). Some schools also require one year of Anatomy and Physiology with laboratory (BIO 107-108) and Microbiology with laboratory (BIO 307).

    Chemistry: One year of general chemistry and one year of organic chemistry with laboratories (CHM 111-112, 227-228). Some schools also require Biochemistry (BCH 301)

    Physics: One to two semesters of introductory physics with laboratory (PHY 201-202 or 223-224).

    English: One year of college English which stresses composition (FYS 101 and ENG 102).

    Mathematics: One to two semesters of Calculus (MAT 111 and 112) and 1 semester of Statistics (MAT 141 or PSY 201).

    Humanities and/or Social/Behavioral Sciences: One to four semesters of psychology, sociology, anthropology, speech communications, U. S. history, theology and/or philosophy.

    Economics:  One semester of micro- or macro- economics

    Fall             Spring  
    Freshman Year      
    FYS 101 3 credits ENG 102 3 credits
    BIO 101 4 credits BIO 102 4 credits
    CHM 101 4 credits CHM 112 4 credits
    Calculus 4 credits Calculus or Statistics 4 credits
    Total 15 credits Total 15 credits
     
    Sophomore Year      
    PHI 101 3 credits RST 101 3 credits
    CHM 227 5 credits CHM 228 5 credits
    PHY 201 4 credits PHY 202 4 credits
    Courses in major
    and/or Core
    5 -7 credits Courses in major
    and/or Core
    5 -7 credits
    Total 16-18 credits Total 16-18 credits
     
    Junior Year      
    BCH 301 3 credits ECO 101 or 102 4 credits
    BIO 307 4 credits Courses in major
    and/or Core
    12 credits
    Courses in major
    and/or Core
    10 credits
    Total 17 credits Total 16 credits
     
    Senior Year      
    BIO 107 4 credits BIO 108 4 credits
    Course in major 11 credits Course in major 11 credits
    Total 15 credits Total 15 credits
         Total  125-129 credits

    The program is flexible; it represents a model that could easily be modified to meet the requirements of most departments. Once students have decided upon a major, they must design their own curriculum with the guidance and approval of both the chair of that major and a Health Science advisor. The program must meet the requirements of the core curriculum, the particular major chosen and the requirements of the health-professional schools.