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ACU offers new degree in engineering

A new report from payscale.com reports that eight of the top 10 best-paying college majors are in the closely related fields of engineering and physics.

ACU's physics program will expand in Fall 2012 when the university begins offering a bachelor of science in engineering (B.S.E.) degree. Engineering courses will be taught by faculty in the newly renamed Department of Engineering and Physics.

The degree addresses a strong demand from both employers and prospective students, says Dr. Rusty Towell, professor and chair of the department of Engineering and Physics.

Engineering ranks as one of the best-paying careers in a competitive job market. In fact, a new report from payscale.com reports that eight of the top 10 best-paying college majors are in the closely related fields of engineering and physics.

Real-world research opportunities

ACU already has one of the top undergraduate physics programs in the world, with unprecedented opportunities for research at national labs and private firms, including Brookhaven National Laboratory, Fermilab and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Engineering majors will be able to find similar opportunities alongside physics majors, or find new ones by capitalizing on ACU's outstanding reputation in science and industry.

"Abilene Christian really is the world leader in involving undergrads in research," Towell says. "Students can attend any number of colleges and universities around the country where they'll receive a good education, but you won't find another institution where there is a history of involving undergrads in real world, world-class research the way we do it at ACU."

Interdisciplinary study

ACU's engineering degree gives students the opportunity to work on real world, world-class problems while being mentored by Christian faculty who are recognized experts in their field. - Dr. Rusty Towell

The B.S.E. is designed for freshmen who will begin their coursework next year. It is a broad, interdisciplinary degree allowing students to choose elective courses of interest and, later, to specialize in a variety of engineering fields or pursue a specific graduate program.

"We're excited about how this new degree will help students who wish to pursue the study of engineering at ACU," says Dr. Phil Schubert, president of the university. "Being able to offer the degree also will help us attract even more high-quality students."

The B.S.E. program will be pursuing accreditation from ABET Inc. (formerly the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) beyond the accreditation already in place for the broader university through SACSCOC. The new accreditation, once secured, will apply retroactively to all B.S.E. graduates from ACU.

Learn more about ACU's Engineering and Physics Department

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