About: Distinctives and Mission

We’re hands-on. Our programs are all about putting theory into practice, through small class sizes, design-and-build projects, and internships. You’ll learn by doing, so you’ll graduate with confidence to tackle new challenges.

We’re community-oriented. Small class sizes bring you together in a supportive, close-knit environment. And your professors will always encourage the pursuit of excellence — but never at the expense of others.

We’re Christ-centered. We stress servant leadership, applying SPU’s mission statement of “engaging the culture and changing the world” to your studies. So you’ll learn how to use the best technology for the best causes, wherever you end up in the world.

We’re employer-recommended. Our Seattle location gives you a clear advantage when it’s time for internships and job placement. Placement rates into the career world are high for our graduates.

Derek Kamemoto, engineering senior manager

“What I view as the SPU Engineering and Computer Science student strengths are as follows: familiarity with interdisciplinary teamwork (mechanical, electrical, software) through design projects; hands-on abilities to fabricate and build; ability to communicate well; and project and self-management skills.

“SPU Engineering graduates have been prepared with the project skills needed to contribute immediately. These include having confidence, working well in team settings, taking initiative, and communicating effectively. They also have hands-on, practical skills, in addition to their academic preparation.”

Our mission

We prepare diverse students to collaboratively solve complex engineering and computing challenges with competence, integrity, and humility to reach their potential and to serve God and society.

Program Educational Objectives:

Our objective is that a few years after graduating our Engineering and Computer Science alumni should be …

1. Serving as effective professionals by applying and consistently updating their skills and technical knowledge to solve complex problems applicable to their professional roles.
2. Developing appropriate solutions in diverse global, societal, and community contexts.
3. Impacting the computing and engineering fields as resilient, trustworthy, and adaptable servant-leaders who capably collaborate and mentor in diverse settings.
4. Demonstrating Christian ideals (such as humility and integrity) throughout their professional and personal lives.

Expected Student Outcomes:

The following are the expected student outcomes for graduating seniors with majors in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and General Engineering.  Attainment of these outcomes prepares graduates to enter the professional practice of engineering.   

Graduating seniors will have…

1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.