Technological Expertise with Liberal Education: The Dartmouth College A.B. in Engineering Sciences

The Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College was founded in 1867 with the goal of producing engineers educated in the liberal arts as well as thoroughly trained in technical subjects. Since the mid-1960s, the founding vision has been implemented as a Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) program in engineering sciences, followed by a fifth year leading to the Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) degree. About half of the courses taken for the A.B. are humanities, social sciences, or free electives. The major proper features an interdisciplinary approach to engineering sciences and numerous team design experiences. Students can modify the major with another science, economics, or studio art. Most graduates complete the ABET-accredited B.E. program, but a considerable number go from the A.B. to graduate studies in business, medicine, or law as well as engineering. This paper describes the philosophy, implementation, and outcomes of Dartmouth´s A.B. program in engineering sciences