Clarkson University’s Engineering & Management bachelor’s degree program has recently been recognized as maintaining its accreditation by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET Inc., the recognized accreditor of college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology. The program also has maintained its business accreditation by AACSB International–the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Engineering & Management draws upon Clarkson’s established strengths in both engineering and management. The program was developed in partnership with industry leaders to meet the growing demand for individuals with strong skills in both engineering and business, who can bring a broad business and technical perspective to complex business and industrial management.
The program is an interdisciplinary major offered within the David D. Reh School of Business.
“Clarkson’s Engineering and Management program is one of the only two programs worldwide accredited by both ABET and AACSB, which highlights the top quality of the education our students receive on both sides of engineering and business. In fact, our program is ranked as one of the top 25 Engineering Management programs nationally (www.greatbusinessschools.org/best-engineering-management-degrees). This is why a 100% placement rate last year for our graduates in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic is not surprising. We are very proud of the success of our alumni. The recent survey showed that 1-in-3 alumni of the E&M program are in prominent positions 3 to 5 years after graduation. The success of our students and alumni was also recognized in the report by the ABET team,” said Amir Mousavian, associate professor of engineering & management, and Interim Director of the Engineering & Management Program.
ABET accreditation demonstrates a program’s commitment to providing its students with a quality education. Accreditation is a voluntary, peer-review process that requires programs to undergo comprehensive, periodic evaluations. The evaluations, conducted by teams of volunteer professionals working in industry, government, academe, and private practice within the ABET disciplines, focus on program curricula, faculty, facilities, institutional support, and other important areas.
One of the key elements of ABET accreditation is the requirement that programs continuously improve the quality of education provided. As part of this continuous improvement requirement, programs set specific, measurable goals for their students and graduates, assess their success at reaching those goals, and improve their programs based on the results of their assessment.
In addition to providing colleges and universities a structured mechanism to assess, evaluate, and improve their programs, accreditation also helps students and their parents choose quality college programs, enables employers and graduate schools to recruit graduates they know are well-prepared, and is used by registration, licensure, and certification boards to screen applicants.
ABET is a nonprofit, non-governmental agency that accredits programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering and engineering technology. ABET accreditation provides assurance that a college or university program meets the quality standards of the profession for which that program prepares graduates. They accredit programs, not institutions. ABET provides specialized accreditation for post-secondary programs within degree-granting institutions already recognized by national or regional institutional accreditation agencies or national education authorities worldwide.
The accreditation is voluntary, and to date, 4,361 programs at 850 colleges and universities in 41 countries have received ABET accreditation. Over 175,000 students graduate from ABET-accredited programs each year, and millions of graduates have received degrees from ABET-accredited programs since 1932.
AACSB Accreditation Standards are used as the basis to evaluate a business school’s mission, operations, faculty qualifications and contributions, programs, and other critical areas. AACSB accreditation ensures students and parents that the business school is providing a top-quality education.
Established in 1916, AACSB International is the world’s largest business education alliance, connecting educators, learners, and businesses to create the next generation of great leaders. With a presence in more than 100 countries and territories, AACSB fosters engagement, accelerates innovation, and amplifies impact in business education.
