The Observer, November 9, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 10
Engineering physics program receives ABET accreditation
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Earlier this semester, the Case department of physics received official notice that its Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics degree had been officially accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
ABET accreditation is a "stamp of approval" for engineering majors, according to physics professor Kenneth Singer. Graduation from an accredited program allows a student to take the professional engineering exam that may be required by some employers.
"This cements our place in the engineering school," said Singer.
To earn accreditation, the department was required to do a self-study of the program, develop objectives, and develop ways to measure how well the program meets those objectives. ABET establishes criteria for all engineering programs and makes sure that they assess how well students meet expected outcomes.
This year was the first opportunity for the engineering physics program, started in 2004, to receive accreditation. This distinction was made retroactive to all students who have graduated from the program since its inception.
There are approximately 25 students who have currently declared the engineering physics major, which combines the physics curriculum with the engineering general requirements. Majors also declare a concentration in a specific area of engineering and take four approved courses within that concentration.
"The program tackles a wide variety of problems," said Singer. "It lets students know what engineering is about."
The degree option was proposed after looking at what students were doing upon graduation from the physics department. A high proportion (at least half) of physics graduates go on to graduate school in physics or engineering, while the rest work as entry-level engineers. The engineering physics program gives students going into engineering better training for their future jobs, according to Singer.
As one alumnus of the program said, and as Singer likes to quote, "The program teaches you to think like a physicist and work like an engineer."
