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Tue, 15 Nov 2016 17:30:50 +0000

Mechanical Engineering degree program receives ABET accreditation admin Tue, 11/15/2016 - 12:30
Students in the Penn State Berks baccalaureate degree program in mechanical engineering.
Credit: Penn State Expand November 16, 2016
READING, Pa. — The Penn State Berks baccalaureate degree program in mechanical engineering has recently been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET, the global accreditor of college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology.

ABET accreditation assures that a degree program meets the quality standards of the profession for which that program prepares graduates. ABET accreditation of the college’s mechanical engineering pledges that the program will prepare graduates to enter critical technical fields that are leading the way in innovation and emerging technologies.

According to Rungun Nathan, program coordinator for the Mechanical Engineering program at Penn State Berks, the college planned for ABET accreditation from the day college administration approved the degree program. The accreditation is very important for students because many employers, graduate schools and licensing agencies require candidates to hold a degree from an accredited program. This accreditation applies to all graduates of the mechanical engineering degree program, including the students from the first graduating class in May 2015.

Janelle Larson, division head for Engineering, Business and Computing at Penn State Berks said, “We are excited to be able to provide a top-quality engineering program with excellent faculty and research facilities to serve the needs of students and employers in our region.”

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 is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). It currently accredits more than 3,700 programs at more than 750 colleges and universities in 30 countries.

Penn State Berks, the leading engineering college in Berks County, is one of only four Penn State campuses to offer the B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. The degree program is one of the largest and broadest engineering disciplines, involving the study of mechanics, fluid/thermal systems, and system dynamics. Built on a foundation of physics, chemistry, and mathematics, the Mechanical Engineering program at Penn State Berks includes both a strong design emphasis and hands-on laboratory experience. For more information on the B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, contact program coordinator Rungun Nathan at 610-396-6170 or via email at rungun.nathan@psu.edu.