Mission Statement
"Preparing engineering students of excellence and character, with a Christian worldview, who are called to serve, equipped to lead and sent to engage the world with their lives and the appropriate use of technology."
CBU College of Engineering Distinctives
A Christ-centered, learning community
Modeling Christ’s attitude of service, we facilitate a learning environment where students are encouraged to care as much about their classmates’ success as their own. Learning is a “holy” activity that is liberating, challenging, fun and equips one for a life of service. We believe “God uses prepared people.”
Both "excellent" and "average" students will have opportunities for growth
The true test of an excellent program is not how many A+ students are sent on to top graduate schools. (Although, we have had our share of students who have gone on to MIT, Oregon Graduate Institute, Penn State, Stanford, University of Colorado, University of Pennsylvania, University of Washington, etc.) Rather, the true test of a program is if it can take an "average C to B student" and produce a very good engineer. Our vision is to equip all students with an opportunity to contribute their strengths and receive attention in their areas of weakness. A+ students are made better engineers by teaching and by learning from students with different capabilities and strengths than their own.
Hands-on, team-oriented projects all four years
Starting with a team design project incorporating 3D printing in their freshman year and culminating with a yearlong capstone design project their senior year, all of our students will be able to practice their passion to work with things and not just ideas. An emphasis will be on team projects, which in order to be successful will require students to learn how to communicate and to draw out the abilities of each person on the team. Obtaining a provisional patent on some aspect of their work is strongly encouraged.
Required internships within an industry or with a nonprofit organization
An internship is an essential and required part of the learning experience at CBU. We assist students to find internships through our industry relationships that will prepare them for a career in engineering. This official internship is usually undertaken in the summer following a student’s junior year, although other internship opportunities may arise sooner.
The mathematics required for engineering is taught just in time, in context and with hands-on labs
Math is taught using engineering applications by people who understand the teaching of math in the context of engineering. Math concepts are taught just-in-time as part of the core engineering and physics classes and are reinforced by hands-on labs. CBU is one of 15 schools nationally that were originally funded by NSF to further develop engineering mathematics.
Training in project management and an exposure to the business side of engineering
Industrial representatives continue to emphasize the value that new engineers with project management experience bring to their organizations. Students in their junior year will be working on design projects and working with business and leadership concepts to enhance these skills.
Emphasis on broad life skill training (e.g. teamwork, communication etc.) in addition to technical skill sets
Along with the technical, “hard” skills needed to be an engineer, we also develop “soft” skills in the areas of communication (oral and written), collaboration with others, and the ability to take initiative. During the first two years we will place an emphasis on developing a heart and mind for engineering as service. This will serve as a foundation for small group discussions of leadership, emotional intelligence and global awareness topics during the third year. Students will be required to participate in and facilitate these groups and put into practice the things discussed on their various team projects. Students will have numerous opportunities to improve writing through the use of executive summaries, developing project specifications and project documentation.
All students will have a cross-cultural experience
This can be achieved several ways including participating in an International or Engineering Service Project (ISP or ESP), choosing a senior capstone project with cross-cultural emphasis, taking an approved intercultural studies course, or going on an approved study abroad.
Engineering Scholarships
College of Engineering scholarships based on academic merit are available. Interested students are encouraged to contact coescholarships@calbaptist.edu for more information.
See more undergraduate scholarships and grants.
CBU's College of Engineering Goals
- To be a school that reflects the institutional commitment of fulfilling its God ordained role in the great commission.
- To be a school that is sensitive to the Holy Spirit and thus models a globally aware and engaging Christ-like community to all of its constituents.
- To be a school that produces graduates of competence and character who are informed by the Christian worldview and thus are called to serve, equipped to lead and sent to engage the world with their lives and the appropriate use of technology.
- To be a school that provides an excellent dynamic curriculum taught by highly competent and caring faculty.
- To be a school that plays a decisive role in strategically motivating young people to pursue engineering and science as a vocation.
- To be the school of choice for Christian engineering prospective students worldwide beginning with California.
- To be the school of choice for new Christian faculty and staff in the field of engineering who are called to the Christian academic environment either as employees or while on sabbatical.
- To be the school of choice for hiring from individuals, businesses and organizations who share our values and need competent, personable and value-centered engineering graduates.
CBU's College of Engineering Program Objectives
We believe that achievement and ongoing development of all of the engineering program objectives are dependent upon a thorough understanding of the Christian worldview and its implications and relevance for the individual and their interaction with and service to humanity. Hence our first goal is foundational to all of the rest.
Our alumni will show evidence of integrating a Christian worldview into their life and vocation by following the example of Christ in being an articulate, ethical and empowered servant leader. This implies being aware of and meeting the needs of humanity by doing most if not all of the following:
- serving community and faith-based organizations,
- serving professional societies,
- and serving employers by being a steward of time, competencies and resources.
Our alumni will show competence to apply fundamental engineering concepts in a professional setting by active participation in professional engineering activities. These activities will involve some of the following: creating, researching, innovating, designing, building, testing, inspecting, evaluating, estimating, planning, allocating, forecasting, selling, educating, communicating and collaborating.
Our alumni will continue to develop professionally through involvement in postgraduate learning activities. These activities would include participating in training or continued education, receiving a postgraduate degree, attending and or delivering presentations, papers or posters at professional conferences, taking and passing the EIT and PE exam, and/or attending or delivering presentations at professional society meetings or in academic and educational settings.
Our alumni will show evidence of success in at least one of a variety of postgraduate experiences. These experiences include but are not limited to employment in industry, public service, education, missions/NGO's, and/or participation in graduate school, and success could be demonstrated through achievements such as promotion, completion of an advanced degree or awards.