With contributions from Melissa Tomblin, Executive Director of The Lighthouse Beacon Foundation
In our previous blog series on unemployment, we looked at some of the challenges facing those unable to find work in Kentucky. One of these challenges was seeking qualifications for a particular job. In a world where technology is so present, jobs in tech are equally as present and these roles require technical education to accommodate. In this blog, we will peer into the STEM education programs across our commonwealth that aim to enable individuals to play a larger role in today’s technological economy.
Engineering Colleges
Many engineering schools opt for accreditation through ABET, which accredits 4,863 programs at 950 colleges and universities in 42 countries (ABET). There are several colleges in Kentucky with ABET accreditation. Three of the major universities with ABET-accredited programs are:
The University of Kentucky Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering
ABET-accredited programs include:
– Mechanical Engineering
– Biosystems Engineering
– Chemical Engineering
– Civil Engineering
– Computer Engineering
– Computer Science
– Materials Engineering
– Mining Engineering
The University of Louisville Speed School of Engineering
ABET-accredited programs include:
– Mechanical Engineering
– Bioengineering
– Chemical Engineering
– Civil Engineering
– Computer Engineering and Computer Science
– Electrical Engineering
– Industrial Engineering
Western Kentucky University Ogden College of Engineering
ABET-accredited programs include:
– Mechanical Engineering
– Electrical Engineering
– Civil Engineering
All of these colleges are making a great impact on training the upcoming workforce by teaching technological skills. I am particularly fond of the Pigman College of Engineering, seeing as I am currently enrolled in its mechanical engineering program as a fourth-year undergraduate student.
Engineering Technology Programs
Engineering technology programs focus on the hands-on implementation of engineering, rather than the design and mathematics behind it. There are also several universities in Kentucky that hold ABET-accreditation for their engineering technology programs. Three of these universities are:
Northern Kentucky University
ABET-accredited programs include:
– Electronic Engineering Technology
– Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Technology
Murray State University
ABET-accredited programs include:
– Construction Engineering Technology
– Civil Engineering Technology
Eastern Kentucky University
ABET-accredited programs include:
– Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology
Other Programs
The lists above are not fully comprehensive to STEM-education programs that are preparing Kentuckians for the workforce. For example, Eastern Kentucky University has a fully ABET-accredited computer science degree program. The University of Kentucky also has engineering technology programs that are currently pursuing ABET-accreditation.
There are many opportunities to attend software bootcamps across Kentucky, like at Awesome Inc., Code:You, and QuickStart. These bootcamps generally last 3-6 months and can help kick start a career in coding and software development, as an alternative to a traditional degree program.
Summary
The state of Kentucky has several different colleges and universities with ABET-accredited engineering and engineering technology programs, including UK, U of L, WKU, Murray State, NKU, and EKU. There are also other opportunities to pursue skills for the technological workforce, like software bootcamps. All in all, these programs can help aid in qualifying Kentucky’s workforce for today’s technological demand and economy.
Sources
https://www.abet.org/about-abet/
https://typesofengineeringdegrees.org/schools/kentucky/