FYE Pathways

First-Year Engineering is designed to be completed in two semesters of full-time, on-campus study. Students can take different pathways through the program, including:

Examples of plans of study for each pathway are shown below.  

Students should contact an FYE Advisor for assistance developing a personalized plan of study that incorporates individual interests, needs, and credit from other sources, such as AP. Furthermore, the list below shows typical plans of study within each pathway, but some students may take courses in other semesters. If you plan to deviate from any of the following plans of study, consult an FYE Advisor to ensure prerequisites and other constraints are met.

Main Pathway

First Semester

  • ENGR 13100 (2 credits): Transforming Ideas to Innovation I
  • MA 16100 or MA 16500 (4-5 credits): Calculus I
  • CHM 11510 (3 credits): General Chemistry I – and – CHM 11520 (1 credit): General Chemistry I Lab
  • Oral or Written Communication Foundational Outcome course, typically SCLA 10100 (3 credits) or COM 11400 (3 credits)

The first semester is typically 13-15 credits of FYE work.

Second Semester

  • ENGR 13200 (2 credits): Transforming Ideas to Innovation II
  • MA 16200 or MA 16600 (4-5 credits): Calculus II
  • PHYS 17200 (4 credits): Physics I
  • First Year Engineering Selective, typically either CHM 11610 (3 credits): General Chemistry II with CHM 11620 (1 credit): General Chemistry II Lab, or CS 15900 (3 credits): C Programming
  • Oral or Written Communication Foundational Outcome course, typically SCLA 10100 (3 credits) or COM 11400 (3 credits)

The second semester is typically 16-18 credits of FYE work.

EPICS Pathway

First Semester

  • ENGR 13300 (2 credits): Transforming Ideas to Innovation I – EPICS
  • EPICS 11100 (1 credit): First Year participation in EPICS I
  • MA 16100 or MA 16500 (4-5 credits): Calculus I
  • CHM 11510 (3 credits): General Chemistry I – and – CHM 11520 (1 credit): General Chemistry I Lab
  • Oral or Written Communication Foundational Outcome course, typically SCLA 10100 (4 credits) or COM 11400 (3 credits)

The first semester is typically 14-16 credits of FYE work.

Second Semester

  • EPCS 12100 (1 credits): First Year participation in EPICS II
  • MA 16200 or MA 16600 (4-5 credits): Calculus II
  • PHYS 17200 (4 credits): Physics I
  • First Year Engineering Selective, typically either CHM 11610 (3 credits): General Chemistry II with CHM 11620 (1 credit): General Chemistry II Lab, or CS 15900 (3 credits): C Programming
  • Oral or Written Communication Foundational Outcome course, typically SCLA 10100 (4 credits) or COM 11400 (3 credits)

The second semester is typically 15-17 credits of FYE work.

VIP Pathway

First Semester

  • ENGR 13300 (2 credits): Transforming Ideas to Innovation I – EPICS
  • VIP 17911 (1 credit): First Year Participation In Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) I
  • MA 16100 or MA 16500 (4-5 credits): Calculus I
  • CHM 11510 (3 credits): General Chemistry I – and – CHM 11520 (1 credit): General Chemistry I Lab
  • Oral or Written Communication Foundational Outcome course, typically SCLA 10100 (4 credits) or COM 11400 (3 credits)

The first semester is typically 14-16 credits of FYE work.

Second Semester

  • VIP 17912 (1 credits): First Year Participation In Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) II
  • MA 16200 or MA 16600 (4-5 credits): Calculus II
  • PHYS 17200 (4 credits): Physics I
  • First Year Engineering Selective, typically either CHM 11610 (3 credits): General Chemistry II with CHM 11620 (1 credit): General Chemistry II Lab, or CS 15900 (3 credits): C Programming
  • Oral or Written Communication Foundational Outcome course, typically SCLA 10100 (4 credits) or COM 11400 (3 credits)

The second semester is typically 15-17 credits of FYE work.

FYE Honors Pathway

First Semester

  • ENGR 16100 (4 credits): Honors Introduction to Innovation and the physical science of engineering design I
  • MA 16100 or MA 16500 (4-5 credits): Calculus I
  • CHM 11510 (3 credits): General Chemistry I – and – CHM 11520 (1 credit): General Chemistry I Lab
  • Oral or Written Communication Foundational Outcome course, typically SCLA 10100 (4 credits) or COM 11400 (3 credits)

The first semester is typically 15-17 credits of FYE work.

Second Semester

  • ENGR 16100 (4 credits): Honors Introduction to Innovation and the physical science of engineering design II
  • MA 16200 or MA 16600 (4-5 credits): Calculus II
  • First Year Engineering Selective, typically either CHM 11610 (3 credits): General Chemistry II with CHM 11620 (1 credit): General Chemistry II Lab, or CS 15900 (3 credits): C Programming
  • Oral or Written Communication Foundational Outcome course, typically SCLA 10100 (4 credits) or COM 11400 (3 credits)

The second semester is typically 14-17 credits of FYE work.

One-Semester Pathway

First (and only) Semester

  • ENGR 13000 (4 credits): Transforming Ideas to Innovation I and II
  • MA 16200 or MA 16600 (4-5 credits): Calculus II
  • CHM 11510 (3 credits): General Chemistry I – and – CHM 11520 (1 credit): General Chemistry I Lab or PHYS 17200 (4 credits): Physics I
  • Oral or Written Communication Foundational Outcome course, typically SCLA 10100 (4 credits) or COM 11400 (3 credits)
  • First Year Engineering Selective, typically either CHM 11610 (3 credits): General Chemistry II with CHM 11620 (1 credit): General Chemistry II Lab, or CS 15900 (3 credits): C Programming

The first semester is typically 15-20 credits of FYE work.

Updated: June 12, 2025