Centre College adding 2 new engineering degrees

Centre College will begin offering majors in engineering and engineering studies after the programs were approved in a faculty vote. Engineering has been offered as a minor at the College since the Fall 2023 semester. Starting in Fall 2025, students will have the option to major in the field.

“The Engineering Program will prepare students for the important work of shaping the world around us,” said President Milton C. Moreland. “Centre’s liberal arts and sciences curriculum has long armed students with the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that will help our engineering majors flourish in the workplace and develop solutions to global challenges and push the envelope on innovation and growth.”

The Engineering Program will emphasize experiential learning, community engagement and career readiness — the goals of Centre’s general education curriculum. 

"Engineering students at Centre College will explore the field of engineering from a liberal arts perspective, bringing together art, science, mathematics and design,” said Christine Goble, associate professor of engineering and chair of the Engineering Program. “The engineering program at Centre will produce technically sound engineers with the ability to design with the future in mind."

Among the core requirements in the engineering major, students will take courses in engineering, physics, math and chemistry. The program is designed to allow students to discover an interest in the field and pursue areas of specialization.

Simultaneously, students may use the resources offered by the College’s Center for Career and Professional Development office, including the Science, Engineering & Tech career exploration community, to learn from professionals how their skills map onto potential career fields. 

“There is critical demand for engineers around the globe, a demand that is only expected to grow in the coming years. With the addition of an engineering major, Centre takes its place among the institutions ready to help address this issue,” said Goble. “The liberal arts and sciences education Centre offers will arm tomorrow’s engineers with not only the technical skills needed to solve problems and lead innovation but also a crucial understanding of how their work affects environments, communities, economies and people around the world.”

The College will be seeking accreditation for the engineering major from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), paving the way for graduates to take the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam and become licensed as a professional engineer. 

The engineering studies major offers Centre students the opportunity to pursue their interest in engineering with the flexibility to tailor their engineering degree to match their career goals. Students interested in architecture, law, medicine or other graduate studies can pursue this major option.

Centre began growing its engineering program after adding a minor in the field in 2023. Students have also taken advantage of the College’s dual degree program with partner schools University of Kentucky and Washington University in St. Louis.

“The strong STEM framework at Centre paved the way for these new engineering majors,” Goble said. "The faculty here have established an excellent reputation for STEM education, and it’s on that foundation that we will train innovative problem solvers ready to tackle complex engineering challenges.”