Elon University took a step forward in its Boldly Elon Strategic Plan, officially establishing its Department of Engineering Aug. 1.
The formation of this department corresponds with the opening of the first two buildings in Elon’s Innovation Quad — a “state-of-the-art” center for engineering and physics research and cross-disciplinary collaboration, according to a university news release.
The transition to a department comes as the program is expanding to offer more courses and degree concentrations.
According to the release, Elon’s engineering program has been part of the university’s Physics Department since 1999. This was when the university partnered with North Carolina State University to offer a dual-degree engineering program. That program then grew to count nine partner institutions.
Other than the general engineering Bachelor of Science program, students can concentrate in biomedical engineering, computer science and, starting this fall, environmental engineering. According to the release, several engineering minors are in the process of being developed.
Also beginning this fall, the interdisciplinary engineering design minor will start to enroll students in a curriculum that provides non-engineering majors with fundamental skills in multiple engineering disciplines.
The university is also renovating the laboratories, classrooms and meeting spaces in Dalton L. McMichael, Sr. Science Center. The release said the first phase of those renovations will be completed this month, with the second phase planned for summer 2023.