The state of Florida will be closer to meeting its need for qualified engineers in high-demand fields when Florida Polytechnic University begins the 2019-20 academic year offering three new degrees: Environmental Engineering, Engineering Mathematics, and Engineering Physics. These programs expand the academic offerings for students as they seek to pursue a high-demand STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) degree. Classes begin Aug. 21.
Employment in the environmental engineering field is expected to grow about 15% in Florida from 2016 to 2026, according to Projections Managing Partnership, a national resource for job forecasting. Experts also predict a shortage of environmental engineering professionals in the state, as universities struggle to produce enough graduates in these programs to keep up with demand. The growth in this field will be driven by state and municipal concerns over water availability and sustainability.
“The addition of three new degrees supports our University’s mission to educate students in STEM disciplines in order to support the industries in Florida,” said Dr. Terry Parker, Provost and Executive Vice President of Florida Poly.
Students in the Environmental Engineering program at Florida Poly will collaborate closely with the Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute (FIPR) to develop long-term projects for project-based learning throughout the curriculum.
Participants in the new Engineering Mathematics program will combine mathematical theory, scientific computing, and practical engineering and sciences to address today’s real-world problems. They will be knowledgeable in conceptual understanding of math and critical thinking merged with problem solving skills.
Lastly, the new Engineering Physics degree focuses on the use of physics principles in the analysis and evaluation of engineering problems such as sustainability, medicine, and nanotechnology. The program has three concentrations: Physics of Space, Physics of Energy and Sustainability, and Physics of Medicine, which has a Pre-Med track embedded.
“Many students are interested in multiple STEM disciplines and want to ‘wait and see’ where their interest really lies,” Parker said. “By providing more choices, we serve our technically focused student body better, and have a stronger impact on industry by producing highly skilled, desirable graduates.”
Contact:
Lydia Guzman
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
