Along the shore of Lake Michigan, Carthage College engineering students work on real projects with real impact.

A new engineering major offers a non-disciplinary approach, rooted in science and mathematics and infused with the liberal arts. This innovation gives Carthage engineering students a new path to success, applying their skills broadly.

Iris Toney, a junior at Carthage, values gaining a broader engineering skillset. Iris affirms that the combination of a very rigorous engineering core and Carthage’s liberal arts curriculum work together.

What also sets Carthage’s engineering program apart is its personalized approach. Faculty build connections with students as they work together on research and hands-on projects.

These projects will often benefit local businesses. For example, sophomore engineering students are designing bracketry to mount exhaust solutions for Engineered Exhaust Systems, a company based in Saukville that manufactures exhaust systems for outdoor power equipment.

The new Engineering Center, opened in 2023, provides collaboration space for students and faculty. Design studios have a movable partition to transform the space to accommodate different class sizes. A maker space features state-of-the-art lab equipment such as Dremel and MarkForged 3-D printers, a Universal laser cutter, Snap-on hand and power tools, and a ShopBot CNC router. This summer, Carthage will add teaching labs and faculty offices to the space.

“The Engineering Center represents an exciting new engineering pathway for Carthage and brings a local engineering education presence to Kenosha,” says Robert Nagel, director of engineering.

Midway through their undergraduate experience, students choose to pursue either a Bachelor of Science that prepares them to pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, or a Bachelor of Arts that pairs with business, arts or the humanities.

The college expects Carthage engineers will stand out for their critical thinking skills and real-world experience.