Despite adding three new engineering majors, the University isn’t trying to duplicate the engineering program at Georgia Tech, said one member of the University’s Faculty of Engineering.

“We’re not a technical university. We’re a classical liberal arts school with many different schools and colleges that attracts many diverse students, and engineering should be a part of that,” said Alan Flurry, public relations coordinator of the Faculty of Engineering.

This year the University added biochemical, computer systems and environmental engineering to the short list of degrees offered by the Faculty of Engineering. The Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering offers five other engineering degrees as well.

Flurry said this is the first year students could apply to the University and be accepted into the Faculty of Engineering.

And although the University Council’s Curriculum Committee voted last December to add other new engineering majors, such as civil, electrical and mechanical engineering, Flurry said the crucial engineering majors are the ones now offered.

David Shipley, chair of the University Council’s Curriculum Committee, told The Red & Black in January those majors would still be “a couple years down the road.”

Flurry said there is ample evidence to support many Georgia students go out of state for seats in engineering programs elsewhere. He said there is an under served need for engineers in the state.

“Students don’t think there are opportunities for engineering here at UGA,” Flurry said. “Just with these majors alone, we have seen a 40 percent growth of the [Faculty of Engineering].”

Dale Threadgill, director of the Faculty of Engineering, said enrollment is up with the three new degrees offered.

However, Threadgill, said the three new majors are not accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.

“The reason for that is simple,” he said. “In order to be accredited, a program must have produced at least one graduate. Obviously, the new programs have yet to produce graduates.”

Jesse Rilling, a senior majoring in agricultural engineering, said he would not go into the new degrees if given the chance.

“Knowing what I know now, accreditation helps. Employers see you as more valuable if you come from an accredited program,” he said. “The more gold stars you have next to your name the better it looks.”

Despite the lack of accreditation, both Flurry and Threadgill said the new degrees will produce well-rounded graduates prepared for real world engineering.

“Our graduates have been exposed to all areas. They’re really desirable for employers. Both on the large scale – like Georgia Power – and also smaller consulting firms in the state,” Flurry said.

“Engineering is different all around the country and we need a different way of providing education in a 21st century setting. That’s why we require inputs from many different perspectives for our engineering degrees,” Threadgill said.