ABET at WIU - Electrical Engineering

Is WIU's Electrical Engineering Program ABET Accredited?

Yes. The Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Electrical, Computer, Communications, Telecommunication(s) and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Why ABET?

From the ABET Website: "ABET accreditation assures confidence that a collegiate program has met standards essential to prepare graduates to enter critical STEM fields in the global workforce. Graduates from an ABET-accredited program have a solid educational foundation and are capable of leading the way in innovation, emerging technologies, and in anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public."

What are the ABET requirements for an Electrical Engineering Program?

The curriculum requirements for any ABET accredited program are, in general: 1) satisfy the General Education requirements of the institution (WIU); 2) complete one year of Math and Science appropriate to the engineering degree; 3) complete a year and a half of Engineering Courses; and 4) complete the requirements for a bachelor degree. In addition to these general requirements, Electrical Engineering Programs have the additional requirement "IEEE Mandated Program Criteria: The curriculum must include probability and statistics, including applications appropriate to the program name; mathematics through differential and integral calculus; sciences (defined as biological, chemical, or physical science); and engineering topics (including computing science) necessary to analyze and design complex electrical and electronic devices, software, and systems containing hardware and software components. The program must include advanced mathematics, such as differential equations, linear algebra, complex variables, and discrete mathematics."

ABET Program Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes

Program Educational Objectives

The Electrical Engineering program at Western Illinois University prepares graduates to pursue advanced degrees and/or lead successful careers by accomplishing the objectives described below within 5 years of graduation.

1. Create: Electrical engineering graduates, within five years of graduation, should demonstrate expertise to define and analyze problems and create functional, cost effective, sustainable, safe, and aesthetic solutions that satisfy the design intent, industry, and customer requirements, including system integration, implementation, and maintenance.
2. Communicate: Electrical engineering graduates, within five years of graduation, should clearly and effectively communicate their work, ideas, and designs as individuals and in teams to audiences of diverse cultural and interdisciplinary backgrounds by utilizing appropriate, contemporary communication technology and tools.
3. Continue to Learn: Electrical engineering graduates should continuously improve their knowledge and skills through graduate work, professional development, and self-study and pursue a wide range of careers as engineers, researchers, consultants, educators, entrepreneurs, managers, and leaders.
4. Community: Electrical engineering graduates should continuously demonstrate technical and ethical principles and leadership to inspire, promote, and facilitate the improvements, and achievements, and growth in their professional disciplines, organizations, and communities.

Student Outcomes

Student Outcomes for the Engineering Program are those skills and knowledge graduates should have on the day of graduation.

1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

IEEE Learning Objective: IEEE Mandated Program Criteria:

The curriculum must include probability and statistics, including applications appropriate to the program name; mathematics through differential and integral calculus; sciences (defined as biological, chemical, or physical science); and engineering topics (including computing science) necessary to analyze and design complex electrical and electronic devices, software, and systems containing hardware and software components. The program must include advanced mathematics, such as differential equations, linear algebra, complex variables, and discrete mathematics.

Electrical Engineering Program Enrollment and Degrees Conferred

Fiscal Year (Fall)	Enrollment	Degrees Conferred
2019	3	0
2020	19	0
2021	20	3
2022	24	0
2023	29	n/a

*Program started 2020

Full information on the enrollment by year, students graduated, and many other details of the School of Engineering and Technology can be found within WIU's Institutional Research and Planning Factbooks.

ABET at WIU - General Engineering

Is WIU's General Engineering Program ABET Accredited?

Yes. The Bachelor of Science in Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria.

Why ABET?

From the ABET Website: “ABET accreditation assures confidence that a collegiate program has met standards essential to prepare graduates to enter critical STEM fields in the global workforce. Graduates from an ABET-accredited program have a solid educational foundation and are capable of leading the way in innovation, emerging technologies, and in anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public.”

What are the ABET requirements for a General Engineering Program?

The curriculum requirements for any ABET accredited program are, in general: 1) satisfy the General Education requirements of the institution (WIU); 2) complete one year of Math and Science appropriate to the engineering degree; 3) complete a year and a half of Engineering Courses; and 4) complete the requirements for a bachelor degree.

ABET Program Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes

Program Educational Objectives

During the initial five years of their careers, graduates of the Western Illinois University Engineering program apply their engineering knowledge and problem solving skills to tackle increasingly complex problems, constraints, and specifications, with integrity and inclusivity of engineering and non-engineering fields, to the satisfaction of employers, clients, and society. They continuously develop their engineering proficiency and competence through formal education, specialized coursework, self-directed investigation, the pursuit of technical certification, and on the job training. They embrace mentorship, collaboration, and teamwork; they pursue leadership roles within their workplace, professional organizations, and broader communities.

Student Outcomes

Student Outcomes for the Engineering Program are those skills and knowledge graduates should have on the day of graduation.

1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Engineering Program Enrollment and Degrees Conferred

Fiscal Year (Fall)	Enrollment	Degrees Conferred
2010	4
2011	24	2
2012	46	5
2013	68	7
2014	138	3
2015	153	10
2016	153	9
2017	110	11
2018	81	11
2019	73	8
2020	51	10
2021	24	10
2022	13	2
2023	8	n/a

Note: Decline in enrollment from 2017 is due to new specialized degrees being added to our offerings. Mechanical Engineering was added in Jan 2018, Civil and Electrical Engineering were added in Fall 2019!

Full information on the enrollment by year, students graduated, and many other details of the School of Engineering and Technoloby can be found within WIU's Institutional Research and Planning Factbooks.

ABET at WIU - Mechanical Engineering

Is WIU's Mechanical Engineering Program ABET Accredited?

Yes. The Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and Program Criteria for Mechanical Engineering Programs.

Why ABET?

From the ABET Website: "ABET accreditation assures confidence that a collegiate program has met standards essential to prepare graduates to enter critical STEM fields in the global workforce. Graduates from an ABET-accredited program have a solid educational foundation and are capable of leading the way in innovation, emerging technologies, and in anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public."

What are the ABET requirements for a Mechanical Engineering Program?

The curriculum requirements for any ABET accredited program are, in general: 1) satisfy the General Education requirements of the institution (WIU); 2) complete one year of Math and Science appropriate to the engineering degree; 3) complete a year and a half of Engineering Courses; and 4) complete the requirements for a bachelor degree. In addition to these general requirements, Mechanical Engineering Programs have the additional requirement "ASME Mandated Program Criteria: The curriculum must require students to apply principles of engineering, basic science, and mathematics (including multivariate calculus and differential equations); to model, analyze, design, and realize physical systems, components or processes; and prepare students to work professionally in either thermal or mechanical systems while requiring topics in each area."

ABET Program Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes

Program Educational Objectives

Program educational objectives describe career and professional accomplishments within 3-5 years following graduation.

1. Create: Graduates are expected to be able to analyze problems and create innovative designs that are based on sound engineering principles and that consider functionality, cost effectiveness, sustainability, safety, aesthetics, and satisfy the requirements of a customer.
2. Communicate: Graduates are expected to use modern technology and design tools, work effectively as individuals and in teams, and clearly and effectively communicate ideas in written, oral, and graphical form.
3. Continue to Learn: Graduates are expected to increase their personal knowledge and skills through graduate work and other professional education, to maintain an appropriate level of expertise and remain current in their chosen profession.
4. Community: Graduates are expected to serve as a team member or as a team leader and use the principles of ethical leadership, both in their chosen profession and in other activities. Graduates contribute their time and talents to improve their communities.

Student Outcomes

Student Outcomes for the Engineering Program are those skills and knowledge graduates should have on the day of graduation.

1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

ASME Learning Objective: ASME Mandated Program Criteria:

The curriculum must require students to apply principles of engineering, basic science, and mathematics (including multivariate calculus and differential equations); to model, analyze, design, and realize physical systems, components or processes; and prepare students to work professionally in either thermal or mechanical systems while requiring topics in each area.

Mechanical Engineering Program Enrollment and Degrees Conferred

Fiscal Year (Fall)	Enrollment	Degrees Conferred
2017	28	6
2018	52	11
2019	73	6
2020	71	14
2021	68	10
2022	58	13
2023	52	n/a

*Program started January 2018

Full information on the enrollment by year, students graduated, and many other details of the School of Engineering and Technology can be found within WIU's Institutional Research and Planning Factbooks.