After a rigorous 18-month process, The Catholic University of America’s undergraduate environmental engineering program received accreditation by ABET, the world’s top global accreditor. Five other undergraduate programs in the College of Engineering, Physics, and Computing were reaccredited during the same time period.
ABET accreditation is the internationally recognized gold standard for engineering and computing programs. Its accreditation is important for students since many licenses, registrations, and certificates require graduation from an ABET-accredited program.
“The reaccreditation of five of our programs, plus the initial accreditation of environmental engineering, reflects the quality of our programs as well as a tremendous amount of work by our department chairs, program leaders, faculty, and staff,” said J. Steven Brown, dean of the College of Engineering, Physics, and Computing.
The Catholic University of America is an R1 research institution, placing it among the top-ranked research universities in the United States.
Catholic University Programs Accredited by ABET
Four of Catholic University’s engineering programs were reaccredited by ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission while one, the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering, received its initial accreditation.
The reaccredited engineering programs are:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
Additionally, the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET reaccredited the University’s B.S. in computer science.
The ABET accreditation process is intense. Administrators and faculty must prepare a self-study and supporting materials; host an on-campus visit by ABET evaluators; and maintain assessment data, academic records, and documentation demonstrating continuous improvement.
The ABET accreditation criteria are established by professionals from ABET’s 34 member societies. Professionals who belong to a member society review a program, as trained volunteers, against the established criteria. There is an emphasis on student outcomes. The purpose is to ensure an accredited program meets or exceeds the technical and professional skills students will need to succeed professionally.
Learn more about the School of Engineering, Physics, and Computing’s degree and program offerings.
