Louisiana Tech University's bachelor of science in nanosystems
engineering has become the nation's first undergraduate degree program
in the field of nanoengineering to receive accreditation.
The
program, which is the first of its kind in the U.S., received
accreditation from the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET
(Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). The 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.
"This accreditation
indicates that Louisiana Tech not only offers strong traditional degrees
in engineering and science, but also offers innovative,
forward-looking, cutting-edge programs like nanosystems and biomedical
engineering," said Dr. Stan Napper, dean of the College of Engineering
and Science.
The program utilizes Louisiana Tech's 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," according
to a university news release.
The accreditation gives students who
earn a bachelor's degree in the program eligibility to take the
Fundamentals of Engineering Exam and apply to the state engineering
board to become engineers in training.
"It gives some assurance to
the students who are looking at this brand new degree program that the
quality of this degree is just as high as any of our other engineering
degrees," Napper said. "Being the first and the only accredited
nanosystems engineering program in the country, these early graduates
from Louisiana Tech will be recruited by major graduate schools and many
will go on for masters and doctorate degrees."
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Napper said the degree can be utilized in both traditional industries and newer fields.
"Some
traditional applications include long-standing industries like oil and
gas, chemical processing and even some biomedical technologies," he
said. "It also has applications in newer industries such as the
production of new materials."
Louisiana Tech's nanosystems
engineering program currently has an enrollment of about 70 students and
has had roughly 25 graduates since its launch in 2005.
Source: http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20110830/NEWS01/108300317