Engineering at Alvernia University

This page is meant to give students and families a clear sense of what it is like to study engineering at the John R. Post School of Engineering at Alvernia University, and what my role is in that experience. I am Joseph M. Mahoney, PhD, Chair of the John R. Post School of Engineering in Reading, Pennsylvania, and I work directly with students in class, in the lab, and through undergraduate research.

If you are exploring engineering at Alvernia, I recommend two next steps: schedule a conversation with me (students and parents welcome), and schedule a campus visit so you can tour the labs in the John R. Post Center.

Our engineering majors

Through the John R. Post School of Engineering, Alvernia offers four undergraduate engineering degree programs: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Industrial Engineering Technology and Management.

All engineering students start with a common first year that builds a foundation in math, science, and core engineering topics before they choose a specific major. That shared beginning keeps doors open while you learn what you enjoy most and lets you get to know faculty and classmates across all four programs.

Programs

• Mechanical Engineering prepares you to design and develop machines, robotics, and energy-related systems that serve industries such as aerospace, manufacturing, and healthcare.

• Electrical Engineering focuses on circuits, electronics, signals, and power systems, from renewable energy and control systems to smart and connected devices.

• Civil Engineering prepares you to design and maintain infrastructure such as structures, transportation systems, and water resources that support modern communities.

• Industrial Engineering Technology and Management bridges technical skills and business, and trains you to improve systems that involve people, processes, materials, and information in sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare.

How we teach and what students can expect

Engineering is learned by doing. At Alvernia, that means small classes, frequent interaction with faculty, and extensive time in modern labs and a growing maker space. Our lab sections are capped, so students actually use the equipment and receive individual coaching. In many courses, labs typically cap around 16 students and lectures are about 20 students, with sections often getting smaller as you move into upper-level in-major courses.

You will learn the theory, then apply it quickly. You will build a foundation in math and physics, then use those tools in engineering courses like statics, circuits, thermodynamics, and systems courses that include hands-on lab work. By your upper-level years, you will take on larger design projects and a senior capstone built around a real problem, not just a textbook exercise. This approach is consistent across Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Industrial Engineering Technology and Management.

Year 1: Foundations and design basics

Students complete foundational math and science, and all engineering majors share a common first-year experience. Students also take the Cornerstone Engineering Design course (EGR 110).

Year 2: Core engineering and discipline focus

Students expand their math foundation and begin core engineering coursework. Students take the Keystone Engineering Design course (EGR 210) and typically begin focusing more directly on their chosen discipline.

Year 3: Deep technical work and professional experience

This is the heart of the technical coursework. Students take advanced in-major courses and a Pinnacle Technical Engineering Design experience. Many students also complete an engineering internship for credit (EGR 485) during the summer between years 3 and 4. This counts as an engineering technical elective.

Year 4: Specialization and capstone

Students use technical electives to customize their experience and complete the year-long Capstone Engineering Design sequence (EGR 480 and EGR 481).

Opportunities beyond the classroom

Students who want experiences beyond regular coursework can become involved in undergraduate research and outreach. In my biomechanics work, for example, undergraduates help with experiments on running and walking, jogging stroller mechanics, wearable sensors, and data analysis using tools such as MATLAB and Python. Many students present this work as posters or talks at regional and national conferences.

Students also take part in events such as the Engineering Jam during Engineers Week, where local middle and high school students visit campus for hands-on engineering activities led by our students and faculty. These experiences help students build a portfolio of real work, strengthen communication skills, and gain stories and results they can use in internship and job interviews.

Support and next steps

Starting an engineering degree is a significant commitment for a student and their family. We take support seriously, with advising, early feedback, and tutoring so students have a realistic path through the program and know where to turn if they hit a rough patch. If challenges arise, my expectation is that we talk early and make a plan together. 

Schedule a conversation with me (students and parents welcome)

Schedule a conversation with me (students and parents welcome). If you share your interests and goals in the notes, I can point you to the right program page, example course resources, and what the first year typically looks like. Go to Schedule to book a time to meet (in person or on Zoom). If you already have a campus visit date, include it in the notes so we can try to meet while you are on campus.

Schedule a campus visit

Schedule a campus visit and tour the labs in the John R. Post Center. The labs and equipment are a major part of the learning experience, and seeing them in person is the best way to understand what “hands-on engineering” looks like here. During your visit, plan time in the John R. Post Center and, if possible, book a conversation with me while you are here so we can walk through the labs and talk through your goals face-to-face.