Two new engineering programs at West Texas A&M University are set to receive national accreditation within the next year.
The university's Electrical Engineering program and its Environmental Engineering program, the two newest engineering degrees, are undergoing an 18-month review by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET). Upon completion, the programs will join WT's mechanical and civil engineering degrees as ABET accredited.
"ABET accreditation is proof that a collegiate program has met standards essential to produce graduates ready to enter the critical fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education," said Dr. Emily Hunt, Dean and Professor of WTAMU's School of Engineering, Computer Science, and Mathematics.
The university's Electrical Engineering program began in the spring of 2017. The program graduated its first students in December 2018.
The Environmental Engineering program began in the fall of 2012. The program graduated its first students in May 2018.
The ABET accreditation process is voluntary for WT, but the intensive accreditation process "yields data and insights that are used to deliver the best educational experience for our students," Hunt said.
Fully accredited programs also will ensure that graduates are fully prepared to enter their profession in markets around the world.
WT is the sole provider of engineering education in the Texas Panhandle, and the addition of Electrical and Environmental Engineering programs will allow the university to expand its commitment to focus on the research needs in the region.
To learn more about WT's engineering programs, contact Hunt at 806-651-5330 or ahunt@wtamu.edu.
-West Texas A&M University
