First phase focuses on industrial and software engineering degrees

Amid rising workforce demand, the University of Indianapolis will begin offering bachelor’s degrees in engineering for Fall 2016.

The first phase of the program is focused on Industrial Engineering and Software Engineering, two specialties not widely available in central Indiana. Until now, UIndy has offered engineering only in partnership with other institutions.

“This program continues the momentum of the University of Indianapolis as we develop curricula aligned with industry and global needs,” said Robert Manuel, President. “We have a history of creating programs that connect the academy to the world around it, just as we established schools of education, nursing, adult learning, psychology, and physical and occupational therapy and built them into respected national models.”

The Software Engineering curriculum will prepare graduates to design, develop and evaluate large-scale software systems in terms of cost-effectiveness, efficiency and reliability throughout the software life cycle. Industrial Engineering will prepare graduates to design, develop and evaluate the complex systems involved in the processing and delivery of an endless range of products and services. Each program will involve design projects throughout the coursework and will culminate in a senior capstone course that enables students to complete a significant engineering project in collaboration with an external industry partner.

The University of Indianapolis program, while providing the STEM preparation vital to careers of the future, will be rooted in the foundational skill development that enables graduates to be leaders as well as technical experts, said Deborah Balogh, Executive Vice President and Provost.

“Increasingly, employers are emphasizing the need for strong, broad-based skills in communication, critical thinking, problem solving and global awareness, in addition to a specialized knowledge base,” Balogh said. “These are precisely the skills that we develop, with an intensive, problem-based and team-based design component built upon the liberal arts foundation provided by our Shaheen College of Arts & Sciences.”

The university’s Martin Hall will be home to the engineering program, and engineering students will have the opportunity to live in a dedicated residence hall space on campus. Students also will benefit from UIndy’s small class sizes, the urban location with its internship and career opportunities, and the university’s Professional Edge Center, which provides students from day one with career planning, professional experiences and networking opportunities.

The new degrees will fill clear niches in the marketplace. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for software engineers is expected to grow by 30 percent from 2010 to 2020. Systems software developers, one likely career path for software engineers, earned a mean annual salary of $84,950 in Indiana and $106,050 nationally in 2014.

Industrial engineering, one of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development’s “Hoosier Hot 50” jobs for 2015, offered a 2014 mean salary of $72,170 in Indiana and $85,110 nationally. Career options include operations management, facility management and systems analysis.

Statistics from the College Board show increasing interest in engineering among prospective students in Indiana, the Midwest and nationwide. UIndy, which already attracts many students from China, India, Saudi Arabia and other nations, also expects to see strong interest from international students seeking U.S. engineering degrees.

More information on UIndy’s engineering programs is available at www.uindy.edu/engineering. To schedule an interview, contact the UIndy public information office at (317) 788-3583 or (317) 371-5240.