THECB approves new B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has authorized Texas State University to offer a new Bachelor of Science degree program with a major in Mechanical Engineering.

The degree program was previously approved by the Texas State University System Board of Regents. The Ingram School of Engineering will begin offering the new degree program in fall 2022.

The new undergraduate degree will emphasize Industry 4.0 tools and technologies. The principal objective of the Industry 4.0 is to drive digital manufacturing by promoting interconnection between products, production chains and business models. Texas State's program will be the first of its kind that is built bottom up in the state, and potentially the nation, with a strong focus on Industry 4.0. Students will be exposed to Industry 4.0 from the first-year introductory courses through senior-level electives. The state-of-the-art curriculum will prepare students to design and develop smart, interconnected, secure mechanical systems. 

Mechanical engineering is one of the largest and most versatile engineering disciplines that offers graduates opportunities to work in fields that require a background in basic engineering, energy conversion, energy resources, engineering and technology management, environment and transportation, manufacturing, materials and structures, and systems and design. Graduates of Texas State's mechanical engineering program will be able to work professionally with both thermal and mechanical systems to design and develop products and processes. They will have educational experiences in solving complex engineering problems with wide-ranging technical issues involving multiple disciplines and diverse groups of stakeholders.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that during the decade spanning 2018-2028, employment in mechanical engineering will grow nationally by more than 22,000 positions, an increase of more than 4%. The Texas Workforce Commission predicts that during the decade spanning 2016-2026, in-state demand for mechanical engineers will grow by more than 3,000 positions, an increase of more than 18%.

Texas State already has outstanding programs in civil engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, industrial engineering and manufacturing engineering to draw upon for course content and instructor expertise. The location of Texas State in the heart of the Central Texas region and Texas Innovation Corridor is particularly well-suited to developing this cutting-edge program.