Belton, TX – University of Mary Hardin-Baylor announced today it is expanding its current pre-engineering program to make it a full, four-year engineering degree program, beginning in fall 2017.
The change will make it possible for engineering majors to earn a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science from UMHB, a degree that will prepare them to take the Fundamentals of Engineering exam as their first step toward professional licensure.
“The need for engineers has significantly outpaced the number of engineering graduates for the last decade, and future projections call for continued growth in the number of engineering jobs in Texas and nationwide,” said Dr. Bill Tanner, chair of Computer Science, Engineering, and Physics at UMHB. “Together, these two trends are creating a strong demand for engineers. We believe UMHB is in a great position to respond to this need.
“We have created a unique environment for engineering education at UMHB, where a firm foundation in theoretical engineering knowledge is coupled with practical design applications, providing a context for our students to focus their Christian commitment on engineering solutions which can improve our world,” Tanner said.
The new program will include coursework in mathematics and physics as well as mechanical and electrical engineering. Upon completion, graduates may certify in general engineering or may choose to test in the more specialized areas of mechanical or electrical engineering.
For the last six years, UMHB has offered a degree in pre-engineering, where students take preliminary coursework at UMHB and then transfer to another school to complete their engineering degree. “When we designed the program, we didn’t anticipate how many students would prefer to do their entire degree without having to transfer to another school,” said Dr. Gary Lamm, vice president for enrollment management. “Our students are excited to have this opportunity to complete their engineering studies at UMHB, and we expect to see the program grow in the days to come.”
