Curriculum - General Engineering

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree is intended for students who have a clear idea of their educational objectives in which a more flexible and interdisciplinary course of study would be more appropriate.

In the first two years, a student must complete a minimum of 55 credits in core engineering, engineering sciences (ESC) and interdisciplinary engineering (EID) courses, thereby building a strong analytical background, in addition to fulfilling all the requirements for the bachelor's degree as summarized here:

  Credits
Core Courses (freshman and sophomore) 55
Humanities and Social Sciences
(over and above the core courses)
6
minimum
Engineering and Engineering Sciences
(over and above the core courses)
44
minimum
Free Electives 30
Total credits 135

 

For junior and senior year, students are advised to identify one or more areas in which they would like to focus their plan of study and to find a academic advisor(s) in those fields for specific guidance. Students may choose from all courses available at The Cooper Union and may work in such interdisciplinary areas as environmental and energy resources engineering, systems and computer engineering, bioengineering and ocean and aerospace engineering.

Students who are considering applications to other professional schools after completing the engineering degree are advised to take one year of organic chemistry and one year of biology for medicine and dentistry, additional courses in the social sciences for law, and one year of economics for business or finance. Such students should consult their faculty advisors in order to design a program to meet professional goals and degree requirements.

Freshman Year Credits

Fall Semester: Credits
ESC 000.1 Professional Development Seminar 0
Ma 110 Introduction to Linear Algebra 2
Ma 111 Calculus I 4
Ch 110 General Chemistry 3
EID 101 Engineering Design and Problem Solving 3
CS 102 Computer Programming for Engineers 2
EID 102 Engineering Graphics 1
HSS 1 Freshman Seminar 3
   
Total Credits Fall Semester 18

 

Spring Semester:  
ESC 000.2 Professional Development Seminar 0
Ma 113 Calculus II 4
Ch 111 General Chemistry Laboratory 1.5
Ch 160 Physical Principles of Chemistry 3
Ph 112 Physics I: Mechanics 4
HSS 2 Texts and Contexts: Old Worlds and New 3
   
Total Credits Spring Semester 15.5

 

Sophomore Year Credits

Fall Semester: Credits
ESC 000.3 Professional Development Seminar 0
Ma 223 Vector Calculus 2
Ma 224 Probability 2
Ph 213 Physics II: Electromagnetic Phenomena 4
Ph 291 Introductory Physics Laboratory 1.5
HSS 3 The Making of Modern Society 3
Electives 6
   
Total Credits Fall Semester 18.5

 

Spring Semester:  
ESC 000.4 Professional Development Seminar 0
Ma 240 Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations 3
Ph 214 Physics III: Optics and Modern Physics 3
HSS 4 The Modern Context: Figures and Topics 3
Electives 10
   
Total Credits Spring Semester 19

 

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.