Engineering program at Philadelphia area campuses earns accreditation

Abington robotics

The regional general engineering program allows students to earn a degree from the Penn State College of Engineering, one of the top-ranked programs in the nation, while living in the Philadelphia area.

Credit: Dan Z. Johnson

Eighteen engineering bachelor’s degree programs in the Colleges of Engineering and Earth and Mineral Sciences have been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). ABET is the global accreditor of college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering and engineering technology. 

ABET accreditation assures that programs meet standards to produce graduates ready to enter critical technical fields that are leading the way in innovation and emerging technologies, and anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public.

The accredited programs in the College of Engineering are: aerospace engineering, architectural engineering, biological engineering, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, engineering science, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering and nuclear engineering at University Park and general engineering, which is offered at Penn State Abington, Brandywine, DuBois, and Hazleton. 

The accredited programs in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences are: energy engineering, environmental systems engineering, materials science and engineering, mining engineering and petroleum and natural gas engineering.

“Achieving accreditation for a total of 18 programs in one visit is a major milestone for Penn State Engineering,” said Amr Elnashai, Harold and Inge Marcus Dean of Engineering.

Sought worldwide, ABET’s voluntary peer-review process is highly respected because it adds critical value to academic programs in the technical disciplines, where quality, precision and safety are of the utmost importance.

Developed by technical professionals from ABET’s member societies, ABET criteria focus on what students experience and learn. ABET accreditation reviews look at program curricula, faculty, facilities and institutional support and are conducted by teams of highly skilled professionals from industry, academia and government, with expertise in the ABET disciplines.

“ABET accreditation is the ultimate benchmark for engineering education and receiving this accreditation demonstrates Penn State’s strong commitment to providing our students with a quality education,” said William Easterling, dean of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.

ABET is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). It currently accredits almost 3,500 programs at nearly 700 colleges and universities in 28 countries.

More information about ABET, its member societies, and the accreditation criteria used to evaluate programs can be found at www.abet.org. 

Established in 1896, the College of Engineering has maintained a strong tradition as one of the country's leading educators of engineers. For more information, visit www.engr.psu.edu.

The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences also was established in 1896 and is a world leader in earth, materials, and energy sciences and engineering. More information is available at www.ems.psu.edu.
 

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