<p>A relatively new option within the engineering program is the bachelor of arts in engineering. I am guessing that the discrepancy between those two numbers (14 vs. 15 students) is that the 14 is B.S. students and the 15 is B.S. + B.A. students. The program is also growing considerably. The class of 2013 is probably a bit shy of 40 students and the class of 2014 is similar, if not larger.</p>
<p>As far as research, positions are available early on for non-STRIDE students as long as you are willing to look for them and talk to professors. I started doing research the summer after my first year, and have been doing it (though now in a different lab) ever since.</p>