There is a great need in the world today for engineers who think and work from a Biblical worldview. These engineers are needed to design, prototype, develop, and manufacture goods that support family economies, as opposed to city-corporate-paper economies, which strain the traditional family.
Engineering at Bartlett University is more than hurdles of natural philosophy. Our program includes learning the history and philosophy of science, engineering, mathematics, and technology from a Biblical perspective. This is necessary for engineering entrepreneurs to discern the signs of the times (1 Chronicles 12:32 ) and choose the better, narrow, and Biblically responsible paths.
At Bartlett University , we aim engineering talent toward producing family-friendly products, services, and businesses based upon individual gifts and Biblical vision. Through the study of original writings and the replication of some great discoveries and experiments, students think the great thoughts of world changing scientists and engineers. This fundamental and historic approach to engineering provides foundational perspectives and entrepreneurial inspiration, while conveying a love for learning from the masters, as a pattern for deep learning.
During the program, students customize their learning based on the written body of knowledge needed to accomplish their written learning goals and measurable objectives, which are maintained using project management skills.
Every subject in the Bartlett University curriculum is to be understood and applied from a Biblical perspective. Many subjects need Christians to think deeply about the content and implications of the content before embracing the use of the method, technique, or systems. This is where Bartlett University is additionally distinguished from other programs. We are not only interested in conveying the technical training but the gaining and creating of Biblical perspectives on subjects which have not yet been considered.
The Making of Things
Most things that are engineered need to be fabricated or manufactured to be useful and profitable. Therefore, learning manufacturing engineering is a natural place to launch any type of engineering study.
The Example of Besal’el in Building the Tabernacle of Moses
We are impressed with the education and business of Besal'el as called by God and filled with God's Spirit, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to produce the tabernacle of the congregation, which is a type of Christ. Bartlett University likewise desires each student to be filled with God's Spirit, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to build-up the Body of Christ through every business endeavor.
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, See, I have called by name Bezaleel (Besal'el) the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee; The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle, And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense, And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot, And the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office, And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place : according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do. Exodus 31: 1-11
Besal'el worked with his "family" Israel and was filled with the Spirit of God in wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. This manifestation of the Biblical Trivium enabled the best liberal education, where the student was taught by God. Besal'el, with his apprentices, designed and produced the original tabernacle of Moses according to the pattern given by God to be a type and foreshadow of Christ and His Body. In like manner, we encourage engineering students to be filled with the Spirit of God in wisdom, understanding, and knowledge and to work as entrepreneurs for giving glory to Jesus Christ and building up His body on earth.
As Besal'el produced the tabernacle, so we encourage engineering students to produce products, services, and producer mindedness in families toward building the body of Christ. As Besal'el was dependent on God for producing the tabernacle which had never been seen before, so we encourage engineering students to be dependent upon God to produce growth of the Christian (Biblical) worldview in the Body of Christ, in ways never seen before.
Body of Knowledge
The body of knowledge needed to operate as a Manufacturing Engineer is presented in the Figure below. Similar curricula for mechanical, electrical, industrial, civil, chemical, biological, agricultural engineering and or other fields can be supported upon request.
I. Design and Planning of Production / Manufacturing Processes
A. Processes
B. Analysis of Manufacturing Alternatives
C. Quality Engineering
D. Building Quality into Process
E. Packaging
F. Scrap and Waste Disposal Minimization Methods
G. Cost Analysis
H. Knowledge of Vendor Capabilities
I. Manufacturing Systems Constraints
J. Preparation of Machine Instruction (N/C programming)
K. Simulation and Other Automation Tools
L. Dimensional Analysis (Tolerance Control)
M. Process Improvement Techniques
N. Process Planning
O. Continuous Flow Manufacturing
P. Prototype Fabrication
II. Contribution to Product Design
A. Simulation Engineering
B. Engineering Design
C. Geometric Modeling
D. Computer Aided Engineering
E. Concurrent Engineering
F. Design for Manufacture / Assembly / Maintenance
G. Quality Design
H. Strength and stress analysis
I. Designing Functional Tests
J. Cost Analysis
K. Materials (Specifying, evaluating material properties, design calculations)
L. Change control
M. Analysis of field failures
N. Competitive benchmarking processes
III. Manufacturing Floor Operations
A. Trouble Shooting
B. Material Management
C. First Run Capabilities
D. People Dynamics
E. Reliability Analysis
F. Testing and Sampling
G. Control Procedures
H. Capability Analysis
I. Floor Monitoring
J. Equipment Start-up
K. Inspection and Test
L. Maintenance
M. Corrective Action (Material Review Board)
N. Auditing product, process and systems
IV. Design and Planning of Tool, Equipment and Gages
A. Conventional/Automatic/Automated/Computer Controlled Tools and equipment/CIM
B. Standardized Tools
C. Special design tools
D. Design Reliability
E. Design Maintainability
F. Flexible Gages and Tooling
G. Life Cycle Cost
H. Quick Changeover Tools
V. Research and Development of Manufacturing Processes, Tools and Equipment
A. Materials
B. Testing (e.g., Tool Life)
C. Innovation methods
D. Process Improvement Methods
E. Concepts of Error budgets
VI. Design of Systems
A. Management Systems
B. Organization Design
C. Staffing Plans
D. Information Systems
E. Material Control Systems
F. Equipment Maintenance Systems
G. Safety and Maintenance
H. Skill Training Programs
I. Capital Investment Analysis
J. R & D Design and Implementation
K. Manufacturing Systems
L. Establishing Systems Specifications
M. Implementing Systems
O. Maintenance of Systems
P. Systems Prove In
Q. Integration and Control
VII. Safety
A. OSHA Regulations
B. Environmental Issues
C. Disaster Control
D. Hazardous Materials
E. Safety Programs
VIII. Design of Facilities
A. Site Selection
B. Plant Layout
C. Equipment
D. Production Systems
E. Automation Systems
F. Power and Energy Requirements
G. Material Handling and Waste Management Systems
H. Packaging Equipment and Procedures
I. Capacity Analysis
J. Information Network
K. Change Flexibility
L. Ergometrics
IX. Management
A. Facilitator Role
B. Overseeing Operations
C. Establishing Priorities
D. Strategizing
E. Establishing Global View
F. Championing
G. Budgeting
H. Problem Solving
I. Leadership
J. Project Management Techniques
K. Ethics
L. Laws and Regulations
X. Methods Functions
A. Sequencing
B. Time and Motion Efficiency
C. Wages and Incentives
D. Operation Layout
E. Methods Engineering
F. Costing Data
G. Cost Savings Suggestion
H. Standard Time & Efficiency
I. Line Balancing
XI. Marketing and Distribution
A. Just-In-Time and Warehousing
B. Customer Feedback Analysis
C. Test Marketing
Figure 1. Manufacturing Engineer Body of Knowledge Outline.
Example Schedule
Table 1 presents an example schedule for the Bartlett University engineering program.
Table 1 . Example schedule for engineering program.
Semester
Supporting Selections from Common Core Subjects
Engineering Content
FIRST YEAR
fall
Biblical view of history, biology, philosophy, law, education, government, mathematics, geography, sociology, language, psychology, economics, art, science, engineering, and technology.
Design and Planning of Production/Manufacturing Processes.
spring
Mathematics, Physics.
Contribution to Product Design.
summer
Apprenticeship.
Manufacturing Floor Operations.
SECOND YEAR
fall
Christian scholarship in psychology, history, economics, education, political science, sociology, mathematics, engineering, apologetics, philosophy, and systematic theology.
Design and Planning of Tool, Equipment, and Gages.
spring
Mathematics, Chemistry.
Research and Development of Manufacturing Processes, Tools, and Equipment.
summer
Apprenticeship.
Design of Systems.
THIRD YEAR
fall
Christian worldview research into family based manufacturing.
Safety.
spring
Computer & web programming, Biblical business.
Design of Facilities.
summer
Entrepreneurship.
Management.
FOURTH YEAR
fall
Christian worldview research supporting chosen entrepreneurial endeavor.
Methods Functions.
spring
Great thinkers, scientists and engineers, electrical engineering.
Marketing and Distribution.
summer
Entrepreneurship.
Research thesis and dissertation learning opportunities are planned to begin in subsequent years. If you are interesting in pursuing a unique God glorifying career in engineering, please contact us.
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The following insight from Dr. R. J. Rushdoony is helpful to understand how engineers (and others) would do well to aim their talent to support family economies.
"...William Gouge [1796-1863]. Gouge's books on paper money and banking...are among the most important documents on the subject in American history... He said, 'If we have a paper currency prevail in the United States, it will create an inflationary boon, this inflationary boon will hurt the farmer, and help the speculator so that the farm will suffer in favor of the town, and the town will then suffer in favor of the city and the city will see a vast inflationary boon, so that we will become progressively, under a paper currency, an urban culture, city oriented. But when the collapse comes, the disaster will be all the greater because having become an urban civilization, people are more vulnerable in a time of collapse in a city, than they are on a farm. Because on a farm the possibility of survival, of taking care of yourself, pulling in your belt and getting along, is vastly greater. But when you have created a paper money inflation and ultimately have the day of reckoning, and you have an urban culture predominately, the disaster he declared will be staggering.'" R. J. Rushdoony, American History to 1865, Chalcedon, tape 13, side 2.