Engineering at AUC Undergraduate Degree Programs

Throughout every engineering program at The American University in Cairo, creative applications of scientific knowledge in the analysis and design of components, processes and systems that are relevant to societal needs are emphasized. Students develop the relevant skills in theory and practice within a context of engineering ethics and professionalism, and an awareness of the engineers' social responsibilities. Students learn how to exercise judgment and find optimum solutions to open ended interdisciplinary problems. Enhancement of the students' ability to acquire new knowledge, independently and in groups, is an important feature of the programs that helps the students maintain professional competence throughout their future careers.

Undergraduate engineering education at AUC follows the general pattern and philosophy of engineering education in the United States - with the primary objective of preparing graduates for the practice of engineering at a professional level. The total requirements of the Bachelor of Science in Engineering programs are 162 semester credit hours including significant components in basic sciences, mathematics, engineering topics, and humanities and social sciences. Students normally take five years to complete the degree requirements.

Currently there are two undergraduate engineering programs at AUC: Mechanical Engineering and Construction Engineering with a program in Electronics Engineering soon to be offered. Students are initially accepted into Engineering at the freshman or sophomore level without declaration of a specific major. Selection of one of the two engineering majors normally takes place at the start of the third year of study. The sequence of courses of the engineering programs starts with the basic sciences, mathematics and introductory engineering courses in the earlier years and leads to engineering science, engineering design and specialized engineering courses in the later years. Concurrently, the students take the university's Core Curriculum which is designed to develop the student's proficiency in English language communication and provide breadth in the liberal arts areas.

The curricula of the Mechanical and Construction Engineering programs are structured as follows:

Students enrolled in the engineering programs are guided through these course categories by the university catalog, as well as close interaction with faculty advisors. Course prerequisites are carefully designed to ensure that students take their courses in a logical and coherent sequence.

University Core Curriculum

The Core Curriculum is an essential component of the liberal education approach to which AUC is committed. The Core lays the foundation of this liberal education through a series of required courses that reinforce the bicultural character of the university. Through courses in Scientific Thinking, Philosophic Thinking, Arab History, Society, Literature and the Seminar, the Core Curriculum aims at: (1) introducing students to different forms of inquiry, (2) exploring the limits and value of different kinds of knowledge, (3) deepening the students' appreciation of the diversity and complexity of human cultures, past and present, and (4) reinforcing the fundamental principle that learning is as much a process of self discovery and development as it is knowledge accumulation. Throughout all these courses the students are encouraged to adopt an analytical and critical habit of mind that can serve as the foundation for a lifetime of learning.

Common Science and Engineering Courses

All engineering programs at AUC include a common solid foundation in the basic sciences, mathematics, and engineering science. Courses in physics, chemistry and mathematics enable the students to understand natural phenomena and model its characteristics. Common engineering science courses develop the use of basic sciences in a variety of engineering applications. The approach is rigorous and makes extensive use of the analytical and experimental methods in each application area. Common engineering courses include: introduction to engineering, engineering drawing, mechanics, fluid mechanics, strength of materials, electrical engineering, engineering analysis and engineering economy.

Common Engineering Facilities

Laboratories that serve common engineering courses and functions include: GENERAL ENGINEERING COMPUTING LABORATORY. This laboratory is equipped with a variety of hardware resources including IBM compatible PCs, laser printers, color plotters, digitizers, a data show and slide maker. The laboratory is used by students while working on regular assignments in undergraduate and graduate courses. The equipment in the laboratory is locally networked to two servers. Commonly used software is permanently loaded on the servers. Other software packages are added to match instructional needs each semester. All engineering students have access to the Internet through this laboratory as well as others operated by the Academic Computing Services of the university.

COMPUTER AIDED DRAFTING AND GEOMETRIC MODELING LABORATORY. Equipment in this laboratory includes IBM compatible PCs, laser printers, color plotters and a data show. The computers and other auxiliary equipment are locally linked through a Novel network. The laboratory is extensively used in support of the engineering drawing and geometric modeling courses.

Computer Aided Design Laboratory

This laboratory primarily supports senior undergraduate and graduate courses and research. Equipment in the laboratory includes state of the art work stations and software to design and simulate the engineering performance of complex engineering systems.

Additional Laboratories

Other well equipped laboratories supporting common courses include the materials testing laboratories, the energy systems laboratories, and the machining and manufacturing workshop.

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