Extensive hands-on work experience requirement and complementary liberal arts minor is unique for an undergraduate program
MEADVILLE, PA — Allegheny College, one of the nation’s most historic and innovative four-year colleges, today announced a new major in Engineering Physics. The interdisciplinary program merges the fundamental principles of physics with practical engineering applications and is ideal for students who want to delve into the scientific foundations of modern technology while gaining hands-on experience in engineering design, analysis and problem-solving. The Engineering Physics major is a program in the Mathematics and Natural Sciences division.
The new major’s requirement of three semesters of work experience is unique for an undergraduate program, equipping students to navigate the complexities of today’s technological landscape effectively. Those pursuing an Engineering Physics degree must complete a senior project with a local industry-community partner and an internship in their junior year, presenting graduates with the flexibility to explore a range of fields, pursue graduate study or work in industry.
“Engineering ranks among the top five most requested majors by our applicants,” said Allegheny College’s interim provost, Jennifer Dearden. “The new engineering physics major is a strong addition to Allegheny College’s roster of more than 35 majors that fulfill our unique requirement of unusual major-minor combinations for graduation so our alumni can enter the workforce or graduate school as well-rounded engineers.”
“With this new major, we are approaching physics and engineering to fully prepare students for careers that require the ability to break down complex issues using both scientific and engineering principles to develop innovative solutions,” said Adelé Dresler, Ph.D., associate professor and program chair of Engineering Physics at Allegheny College. “Our graduates have always been able to explain to hiring managers why they would be a good fit – but now with the title, course offering and almost 18 months of work experience on their resumés, hiring managers will intrinsically understand that Allegheny College’s Engineering Physics majors approach challenges from multiple perspectives, making them highly adaptable for jobs of the future.”
Dresler added that physics majors at Allegheny College have for decades been leveraging their physics degrees to pursue advanced degrees in engineering or to get good jobs in engineering fields. She references at least a half-dozen alumni, including Michelle Greiner (class of 2000 graduate with a degree in physics and psychology) who is a maritime navigation analyst in Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory’s Force Projection Sector, and Molly Shelton (class of 2016), a physics major with a minor in dance and movement studies, currently a power systems engineer who leads a team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
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About Allegheny College
Allegheny College, founded in 1815, is one of the nation’s most historic and innovative four-year colleges. With the distinct requirement of completing a major and minor in different academic areas, students receive multidisciplinary learning that celebrates their unusual combinations of interests. This develops creative, independent thinkers with a path for educational depth and intellectual growth, preparing students for a successful launch after graduation and even for a future career that may not yet exist. Located in northwestern Pennsylvania, 1.5 hours equidistant from Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Buffalo, Allegheny College is one of 40 colleges featured in Loren Pope’s “Colleges That Change Lives” and recently ranked #4 by The Princeton Review in its Top 20 Best Private Schools for Making an Impact. In its 2026 rankings, U.S. News recognized Allegheny College as one of the country’s top 75 national liberal arts colleges, with special distinctions among the top 25 Best for First-Year Experiences, Senior Capstone, Top Performers in Social Mobility, and Most Innovative.