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Department of

Engineering
and Physics

Robert and Kay Onstead
College of Science and Engineering

The Department of Engineering and Physics at ACU deepens your understanding of the physical world through theory, application, analysis and practical design. As you develop technical knowledge and practical skills as a physics or engineering major, you learn to understand God’s handiwork in the laws of the universe and apply those principles to improve the lives of people everywhere.
Home/ Academics/ Robert and Kay Onstead College of Science and Engineering/ Department of Engineering and Physics

The Department of Engineering and Physics at ACU deepens your understanding of the physical world through theory, application, analysis and practical design. As you develop technical knowledge and practical skills as a physics or engineering major, you learn to understand God’s handiwork in the laws of the universe and apply those principles to improve the lives of people everywhere.

Main Content

Clinics as Good as Internships

The ACU Engineering Senior Clinic program offers a two-semester strategic partnership with industry and government sponsors. This innovative, strategic partnership provides a key component to training the next generation of engineers through hands-on project management and product development, testing and delivery to the client. This is an investment in your future.

Apply Today!

Onstead Building for Body Soul Hero

Meet the Faculty

It matters who leads you. Our engineering and physics professors not only lead stellar classroom discussions, engaging labs and strong mentorships, they’re leaders in their fields with experience doing the work they’re preparing you for. Our small class sizes give you the same advantages as large schools with more hands-on, personal opportunity.

 

Faculty and Staff

On-campus Undergraduate Programs

Engineering

From research and development to testing and production, engineers design and manage the products that improve our quality of life. Engineers improve transportation, develop better nano-technologies for healthcare, design electrical systems, protect the environment, streamline manufacturing and harness nuclear energy, among other undertakings. These careers can begin with ACU’s Bachelor of Science in Engineering or a more specialized degree in civil engineering, mechanical engineering or electrical engineering.

Engineering Degrees

Physics

ACU physics students gain extensive experience as undergraduates. Not mere observers of physics research, they are active, well-trained participants entrusted with key responsibilities in their work with faculty members and international scientists at national research laboratories.

Physics Degrees

B.S. in Physics
Available Tracks:

  • Computational Physics
  • Engineering Physics
  • Engineering Science Technology
  • Medical Physics
  • Physics

Physics is also available as a minor. Contact the department to learn more.

Teaching

Bachelor of Science
with High School Teaching Certification

Physics and Math
Composite Science – Engineering and Physics

For High School certification you will need to successfully complete a certain number of hours in the subject area prior to starting a certification program which collaborates with the School of Education. Information on requirements for this high school teacher certification can be found in the course catalog under the Engineering and Physics Department.

Student smiling at the camera

Outstanding Engineering Alumna

Demonstrating her talents in the classroom and in varsity athletics, Sydney Shelstead (’17) balanced serving as president of the Engineering Student Association while playing forward on the ACU women’s basketball team. Her leadership skills and campus experience prepared her for an extraordinary career at Raytheon as a systems engineer and liaison for ACU’s Senior Clinic program.

Mitchell Schneller

Protecting the World

Mitchell Schneller’s internship at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center resulted in a NASA grant to ACU’s Department of Engineering and Physics, bringing Schneller’s project to campus as a part of the Senior Clinic.

Schneller graduated in 2021 but continues to work with students as project manager for an RF detection system related to NASA’s Science and Heliophysics Antenna Array for Radar and Communication (SHAARC) program studying the sun and atmosphere to detect objects in outer space that could threaten the Earth and space travel.

Learn More about the NASA Engineering Grant

Researching with Results

Engineering and physics students have paid opportunities to work, study and intern at premier laboratories. Research opportunities are available on campus, at ACU’s Study Abroad locations, and at many other national and international locations, including Brookhaven National Lab, Los Alamos National Lab and Max Planck Institute.

Accreditation

ACU’s undergraduate General Engineering program has been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET for college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology.

ABET accreditation assures that programs meet standards to produce graduates ready to enter critical technical fields that are leading the way in innovation and emerging technologies, and anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public.

Once you graduate from ACU with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, you will be equipped to work in a number of engineering positions.

New programs as of 2024 (Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical engineering); retroactive ABET accreditation for each program will be sought as soon as the first student graduates under each of these degree plans, according to ABET requirements.

Engineering Accreditation