Bethel's mechanical engineering program earns ABET accreditation

When Bethel University launched its mechanical engineering major in 2019, the goal was to prepare students for a rapidly evolving field through rigorous academics, hands-on experience, and the personal mentorship that defines a Bethel education.

Seven years later, the program has reached a significant milestone: Bethel's Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering has earned accreditation from the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, a nationally recognized accreditor of engineering programs.

This type of accreditation has obvious benefits for recruiting new engineering students and for Bethel students seeking scholarships, but it’s also an important distinction for graduates seeking jobs, pursuing graduate school, or gaining professional engineer (PE) certification. 

Personalized learning at its best

At Bethel, engineering students tackle complex problems through hands-on labs, collaborative projects, and mentoring from professors who know them personally. Rather than focusing solely on mastering specific tools or technical processes that may change over time, the program offers a foundation in physics and develops adaptable thinkers who can confidently approach unfamiliar challenges.

"We really would rather emphasize, ‘do you understand how things work and know how to learn?’ so that once you find out what your next task is, you're able to work towards a solution to that," says Physics and Engineering Professor and Department Chair Nathan Lemke ’06.

That approach carries into the program’s lab courses, where students work directly with faculty members to test ideas, troubleshoot designs, and connect classroom concepts to practical applications. 

While the program is large enough for students to build friendships and learn alongside a consistent group of peers, it remains small enough to foster meaningful relationships with professors and one another.

"We do kind of have a family-like culture where we know we're all in this together, and we're working hard together, and supporting each other, and trying to have a good time," Lemke says, explaining that there are about 150 current students majoring in physics or engineering, with about 15 mechanical engineering students graduating each year. “It’s that sweet spot of having enough students that you can find peers to work with and have a cohort that you move through with, but not so big that you get lost or feel like there’s not enough opportunities.”

From the classroom to real-world engineering

One of the program's defining experiences is the senior design project. Teams of three or four students collaborate with an engineer or a team of engineers at a local or national company to address a real-life design challenge. They’ll meet with their industry partner(s) regularly throughout the semester, using an iterative process to prototype and fine-tune a solution. The industries and projects are broad, and, according to Lemke, students have received incredible feedback not only on their technical skills but also on their professionalism. 

These projects give students opportunities to apply technical knowledge while developing communication, teamwork, project management, and problem-solving skills. And as they approach graduation in such a broad field, they have a bellwether experience that helps them hone in on what they might like to do in the long term. 

Madeline Reinke ’27 is a mechanical engineering and physics (B.A.) double major, minoring in math. She chose Bethel specifically for the physics and engineering program, and she’s grateful for the academic guidance and one-on-one mentoring she’s received from faculty from the moment she inquired at Bethel.

“[Mechanical engineering] is a hard major, but I really appreciate the faculty’s effort to have open-door policies and form relationships with students,” Reinke says. “I have never felt afraid to ask for help when I need it. It is something specific to Bethel’s engineering program that I don’t think you’ll find just anywhere!”

Reinke already has a manufacturing engineering position lined up for after she graduates, and she’s also considering a PE license. She says ABET accreditation will open up more opportunities and also make it easier to get a PE license. 

Trevor Jones ’26 graduates this December with a double major in mechanical engineering and physics (B.A.). As he finishes up at Bethel and transitions into a full-time civil engineering role, he appreciates the added credibility of an engineering program that’s so strongly based in physics.

“I also chose Bethel because of the Christian community and how uniquely it ties its classes to Christianity,” Jones says. “It inspires and reminds me that our work in the world of engineering and physics can be a form of worship of God’s divine creation.”

Jones plans to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam in January. Graduating from an ABET-accredited program like Bethel’s simplifies the exam process because his transcript won’t need to be manually audited. 

“This accreditation is amazing for students applying for jobs, because some companies may only hire certain positions or students with an ABET-accredited degree,” he adds. 

Part of a broader presence in STEM

ABET accreditation of Bethel’s mechanical engineering program marks an important milestone in the university’s significant broader momentum in STEM. It recognizes the strength of the program’s curriculum, resources, and faculty, while highlighting the quality of education Bethel aims to provide across its programs. 

“I think our ABET accreditation is highlighting in a public way what we already know to be true,” says Sherryse Corrow, dean of the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education. “We offer really high-quality educational programming to our students, and this is one excellent example of that.” 

Bethel’s mechanical engineering program launched in 2019, becoming the university’s fourth fully in-house engineering program. It is the second Bethel program to gain ABET accreditation, following electrical engineering in 2023. Accreditation for mechanical engineering is retroactive to October 1, 2023. 

ABET is a nonprofit, ISO 9001-certified quality assurance organization. Accreditation ensures that programs meet standards to produce graduates ready to enter critical technical fields that are leading the way in innovation and emerging technologies, and anticipate the welfare and safety needs of the public. Through the accreditation of academic programs, recognition of credentials, and assessment of student learning, ABET supports excellence in education worldwide. ABET currently accredits 4,994 programs at 975 colleges and universities in 39 countries and areas as of October 1, 2026. 

Pursue engineering at Bethel

Here, you’ll find a Christ-centered learning community where you belong. Your education will center in the Department of Physics and Engineering, where you’ll receive personalized mentorship and engage in hands-on learning experiences. And you’ll find unique options and pathways to match your graduate school and career goals.

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