NEWS
Louisiana Tech’s pioneering nanosystems engineering program receives accreditation
Louisiana Tech University’s Bachelor of Science in Nanosystems Engineering – the first program of its kind in the United States, has become the nation’s first undergraduate degree program in the field of nanoengineering to receive accreditation from the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
ABET is recognized as the world leader in assuring quality and stimulating innovation in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology education. Louisiana Tech’s undergraduate nanosystems engineering program was established in 2005 as an interdisciplinary degree program that provides students with the skills to work with functional systems at the molecular scale.
Housed in the College of Engineering and Science, the program leverages Tech’s unique combination of laboratory resources and interdisciplinary research, education, and support programs, allowing students to apply nanotechnology fabrication techniques, as well as fundamental engineering skills learned through the Integrated Freshman and Sophomore Engineering curricula provided by the College.
Dr. Stan Napper, dean of the College of Engineering and Science, says that Tech is also in the process of developing another interdisciplinary engineering program in cyber engineering.
“Together, these programs support our goal, our claim, to be the best college in the world for integrating engineering and science in education and research.”
Through ABET accreditation, students who earn a bachelor’s degree in nanosystems engineering are eligible to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam and apply to the state engineering board to become engineers in training.
“This opens up the door for our students in terms of becoming professional engineers,” said Dr. Hisham Hegab, program chair of micro/nanosystems engineering at Louisiana Tech. “It will let them pursue becoming professional engineers and can lead to a P.E. license for them in the future.”
Joseph Nealy, a recent nanosystems engineering graduate who now travels North America analyzing malfunctioning parts as a Graduate-Service and Quality Analyst for Volkswagen, believes that accreditation complements the first-rate education that students receive through the program.
“The ABET accreditation adds more credibility to the nanosystems engineering program and will help show employers that the program is as good as we have all known it is.”
Louisiana Tech’s Bachelor of Science in Nanosystems Engineering program currently has an enrollment of about 70 students and has had roughly 25 graduates since its launch in 2005.
Written by Brandy McKnight – mcknight@latech.edu