The Benefits of a Christian Liberal Arts Mechanical Engineering Program

A faculty blog by Dr. Fred Wentorf  

Receiving a mechanical engineering degree from a Christian liberal arts college comes with many advantages. It gives students a lens to see our Creator as an engineer, a way to learn in a diverse environment, and exposure to several opportunities that impact the world and everyday life. I have found that things are best accomplished through hands-on learning experiences in a tight-knit, intentional community where we use the skills that God gave us to make the world a better place.  As a liberal arts engineering program graduate myself, here are some of the chief benefits I’ve seen come from a Christian mechanical engineering program. 

Seeing God as the Great Engineer 

One of the best parts of engineering is that we get to discover more of God’s handwriting. Just as engineers are utilizing God’s resources, God is the engineer of all things. In class, we explore God’s intentional design and discuss our calling to use His design to serve others. 

As a mechanical engineering major at a Christian college, you will be able to understand math and science as God’s creation. You will study how God put the world together and how carefully it was calculated. God is in control of everything and designed it meticulously, even down to the atom. By developing an understanding of how God designed the universe and how the world works through mathematical and scientific equations, you can recognize everyday problems and discover solutions that improve the lives of those around you. To me, it’s the same idea as what Jesus says in Matthew 22:39: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” In Grace’s mechanical engineering program, engineering is not only a career but a calling that God gives us to benefit others. 

A Christian engineer’s job is to use his or her God-given skills in service to others. As we work to improve the quality of life for our brothers and sisters, we are also navigating a world with non-Christian engineers. If we do our jobs well using these God-given skills, we will stand out. It’s an opportunity to be a light to people who haven’t heard or been told about the Gospel. 

Being More Than Just a Number 

In Grace College’s mechanical engineering program, you won’t be a number or a statistic; you will be valued as a person, and have a community that supports you. A community that believes everyone should be treated with respect, and are image bearers that are intentional with encouraging and lifting up their peers. We intentionally cultivate teamwork and collaboration among our fellow engineers rather than pitting them against each other, creating a space where asking for help isn’t a weakness but a strength. 

While the first year of a mechanical engineering degree is not easy, it’s there to give you a look into what the rest of the major will entail. I will help guide you through these introductory courses. In the years that follow, you will find the support of other engineering students and faculty as you participate in an intentional curriculum.

But your community doesn’t stop there. At a Christian liberal arts school, mechanical engineering students have a general liberal arts foundation, which allows them to interact with students and faculty from all disciplines. You will be surrounded by Christ-followers studying everything from creative writing to ecology who inspire one another to live out their faith. At Grace, our mechanical engineering students interact in a diverse environment, helping them become well-rounded and receive a broader education than at a technical school. Interacting and learning alongside students and faculty with different strengths and focuses gives engineering students a significant advantage in exercising their professional skills, as well as developing social skills. This sets engineering students from a liberal arts school apart, as it prepares them to be successful in their future. 

If you do some research online, you’ll see there are tons of technical schools across the United States offering various mechanical engineering programs. Most large universities have huge engineering programs with several different majors, ranging from electrical to chemical engineering, depending on your specific interest. At these bigger schools, it’s harder for students to know professors on a personal level, and vice versa for professors to know students personally. At a smaller school, it’s possible to build these personal relationships that benefit both the student and the professor. 

With an education from a Christian liberal arts engineering program, students are equipped with a broader perspective in mechanical engineering and prepares them to live in the real world after graduation. This perspective will also prepare them for future jobs that work with a variety of people. 

Learning Beyond the Classroom 

In Grace’s mechanical engineering program, other professors and I intentionally connect students to the broader engineering community. Many of my colleagues at Grace are local mechanical engineers who already live in the area, as Warsaw is the Orthopedic Capital of the World®, which is home to numerous manufacturing companies. Our students benefit from internship opportunities with these companies, including Zimmer Biomet, Dana, BAE, Orthopediatrics, DePuy Synthes, Paragon Medical, etc. Having all of these companies in the area contributes to the quality and community of our mechanical engineering program by exposing our undergraduate students to experienced engineers. 

At most technical and liberal arts schools, you’ll find that an internship for a mechanical engineering degree is required. But I would encourage you to get as many as possible, as they help you figure out what you want to do with your degree and your future. It’s a great way to gain experience while learning about the various roles available to you and preparing for your engineering career. And again, engineering is not just a career; it is a lifelong calling. We at Grace want you to be ready for it! 

If you are interested in a Christian liberal arts mechanical engineering program, learn more by checking out Grace’s engineering department. 

Do you wonder what your classes will be like for a mechanical engineering degree? Read our blog, What Classes Do Mechanical Engineers Take In College? 

Dr. Fred Wentorf serves as Chair of the Department of Engineering and Associate Professor of Engineering at Grace College. He received his B.A. from Goshen College, his B.S. and M.S. from Case Western Reserve University, and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. He worked for 11 years in sports medicine research and led Orthopaedic Biomechanics at the University of Minnesota, and spent another 11 years at Zimmer Biomet in research and development.  Zimmer Biomet is a global medical technology company specializing in orthopedic implants and surgical products.