Electrical Engineering Program Earns Prestigious ABET Accreditation

In a significant milestone for Bethel University, the electrical engineering program has achieved accreditation by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). This recognition places Bethel’s engineering program on the national stage and opens new avenues of opportunity for its students. ABET accreditation is widely regarded as a mark of quality for engineering programs, signifying excellence and adherence to high academic standards.

ABET is a globally recognized nonprofit organization that employs a voluntary peer-review process to evaluate and accredit academic programs in technical disciplines. ABET ensures that programs meet rigorous standards, producing graduates who are well-prepared to enter the dynamic fields of innovation and emerging technologies while prioritizing the welfare and safety needs of the public. ABET’s voluntary peer review process is held in esteem for its critical value to academic programs in the technical disciplines. Its criteria focus on the student experience, where highly skilled professionals from academia and government review program curricula, faculty, facilities, and institutional support.

The journey toward accreditation for Bethel’s electrical engineering program began in the fall of 2017. Administered by the Department of Physics and Engineering, the Electrical Engineering major was developed, along with the Mechanical Engineering and Computer Engineering majors. This allowed Bethel students to finish their engineering degree without transferring to another university. In years past, many students took the opportunity to complete an engineering major through the Dual-Degree Engineering program. In order to maximize students' choices in engineering, Bethel continues to offer Dual-Degree Engineering to any student who wishes to major in an engineering field that is not currently offered at Bethel.

Brian Beecken, department chair and professor of physics and engineering, emphasizes that gaining accreditation is a significant achievement not only for the program but for Bethel as a whole. “Accreditation by ABET is considered the gold standard for engineering programs. Achieving it puts the new engineering majors at Bethel on the national scene,” he says. “ABET’s approval is required for employment by the most particular technology-oriented companies, and it will make a big difference for our students seeking national scholarships.”

The accreditation, granted to Bethel’s electrical engineering program in August 2023, is the highest level of accreditation offered by ABET. “The entire Department of Physics and Engineering devoted several years to the arduous accreditation process,” Beecken says. “The leader of the effort was Karen Rogers, who celebrated the achievement by retiring!” Bethel’s electrical engineering major was created in the summer of 2017 and already has 14 graduates. Currently, there are nine seniors who are declared electrical engineering majors. The accreditation will apply retroactively to all graduates during the last two years.

The electrical engineering program, now ABET-accredited, stands as a statement of excellence in engineering education. This accomplishment ensures that Bethel continues to equip and empower future engineering professionals who will shape the future of technology and innovation.

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