Engineering at UNI is ramping up, building on the university’s long history of equipping students with hands-on experiences that prepare them for in-demand workforce needs. Students will begin classes for numerous new engineering and science degree programs this fall: a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology, a Bachelor of Science in Materials Science & Engineering, and a Bachelor of Science in Materials Science Engineering Technology.  

“UNI has been a long-standing center of excellence in undergraduate research,” said Paul Shand, professor and head of the Department of Physics. “Students who are enrolled in our BS programs in science, they actually have to engage in undergraduate research as a requirement. And that tells you how important this institution thinks undergraduate research is.”

Engineering at UNI will call the newly modernized Applied Engineering Building home. The expanded facility now includes the space required for computer classrooms and laboratories in which UNI students can work collaboratively on real-world projects with industry-standard technology.  

“We're preparing students for jobs that don't exist yet,” said Lisa Riedle, professor and head of the Department of Engineering & Technical Management. “We don't know what's next. Engineering is all about looking forward and doing something new and different. So having the spaces to be able to incorporate that idea and that philosophy of, ‘what's next? How can we get there together?’ is important.”

Like with any UNI program, students who enroll in an engineering program at UNI can expect smaller class sizes that allow them to form strong connections with professors.

“My professors have been a tremendous help during my time here,” said Hannah Tew, a manufacturing engineering technology major. “They are helpful in and out of the classroom, so of course, if I have a question, they are more than willing to help me out outside of the classroom. They are willing to give me their insight into industry based jobs and internships.”

“Studying engineering and sciences at UNI will give you an opportunity to get to know your faculty a little bit better,” said Riedle. “There are small classes and a lot of project-based learning. How can we use what we're learning from the lectures in the lab and actually apply that to something real? It's the opportunity to build, learn and explore at the same time.”

Engineering is consistently an in-demand field, and graduates of UNI’s engineering programs will be up for the challenge of these positions.

“Rest assured that the education that you get at UNI puts you in the best possible position to obtain a wide variety of jobs out there in industry, and very, very high tech jobs and jobs that pay very well,” said Shand.