Notre Dame Program a Valuable Engineering Option for Stonehill Students

A Foundation Upon Which to Grow as a Person and a Professional

While the majority of Stonehill students interested in engineering choose to major in the College’s four-year computer engineering or electrical engineering program, the

3+2 Engineering Program gives select students a way to earn a bachelor of science degree in three years at Stonehill and then continue on to Notre Dame for two more years to earn a corresponding bachelor’s degree in engineering.

“Stonehill’s engineering program is exceptional,” says Fr. Kevin Spicer, dean of the May School of Arts & Sciences at Stonehill. “Our program’s emphasis on humanistic engineering not only reflects the College’s mission but also gives our engineering students a competitive advantage when entering the workforce. For our science students, the Notre Dame partnership offers another unique advantage.”

Of particular importance, the highly selective program provides students an educational experience that pairs the holistic mentorship-driven education offered at Stonehill with the opportunities available only at a world-renowned research university such as Notre Dame.

“The skills you develop through a liberal arts education are beneficial, especially when paired with an engineering curriculum,” says program graduate Sara Boukdad ’15, who is now an EV strategy manager at Con Edison. “Having a science, liberal arts and engineering background has allowed me to adapt to any situation, pick up new skills and communicate to different audiences.”

“It prepared me for so much more than engineering,” adds Patrick Burke ’84, a Stonehill trustee who is co-founder of Waverly Partners, which acquires, improves and operates specialty manufacturing businesses. “Program alumni have been very successful not only as engineers but also as patent attorneys, researchers and business consultants — and many as entrepreneurs.”

After working toward a Stonehill science degree for their first three years, students in this program then transfer to Notre Dame for two years to earn a second degree in one of several engineering disciplines:

• Aerospace engineering
• Chemical engineering
• Civil engineering
• Computer engineering
• Electrical engineering
• Environmental engineering
• Mechanical engineering

“This program gave me an incredibly unique experience to do both physics and engineering without really having to compromise the fullness of either experience,” says Woolf, who has also completed Stonehill’s Photonics & Optical Engineering Certificate Program.

“This program not only gave me the experience needed not only to do a project or complete an assignment but also to become a well-rounded engineer,” said Leonard, a physics major at Stonehill. “I didn’t know what to expect, but after I met lots of peers, I felt really engaged, really connected.”

Program Alumni Help Students When Launching Careers and Beyond 

In addition to support from faculty and career development advisors at Stonehill and Notre Dame, students also benefit from the support of those who have preceded them in the program.

“I really enjoy mentoring,” adds Burke. “It’s why I love being involved with Stonehill’s Industry Advisory Board, supporting tomorrow’s engineers.”

This commitment to giving back reflects Stonehill’s culture, which emphasizes compassionate leadership and encourages students to define success by their impact on others.

“A big aspect of leadership is being able to help others, to allow them to do their best,” says Woolf. “Stonehill and Notre Dame really teach that as a core part of their principles. Instead of having competition, you have collaboration. Everyone’s willing to work with each other, sort of lift each other up.

“I feel like I’ve barely begun to dip my toe into what I can become here and what I can do.”