Digitalisation has become the new buzzword of the decade. With new concepts such as digital transformation, Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing, engineering students are expected to adapt from the get-go and respond to the needs of their industry and the world.
Lamar University (LU)’s College of Engineering (COE) prepares students for the future with its modern, cost-effective and software-focused graduate programmes. A wide range of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees are offered, covering Civil, Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical and Chemical Engineering. They are ideal for future-focused students with their hearts set on thriving in a world where there is accelerating adoption of existing and frontier technologies and digital-native business models.
The college teaches software to implement the ideas presented in its coursework. The Mechanical Engineering department teaches SOLIDWORKS, ANSYS, MATLAB, and Fluent. The Industrial and Systems Engineering department teaches Python, JavaScript, SQL, Rockwell RSLogix, R, SAP, and Autodesk Fusion 360 to allow students to create software to change systems. At the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CHBE) department, students learn Aspen. Meanwhile, the Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) department teaches Python, R and GIS. The Electrical Engineering department teaches a wide range of software and hardware including MATLAB, Simulink, LabVolt DAI, SimPower, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, FPGA, CPU Simulator, and Logisim as well as general purpose programming languages (Python, Java, and C/C++).
COE lessons are hands-on and take place in cutting-edge labs equipped with the latest technology. Source: Lamar University
Both theory and practical skills are emphasised to best prepare students for the job market. “We are continually updating and modernising the curriculum in our degree programmes to provide unsurpassed value to our students and to prepare our graduates for successful careers of their choosing,” says Dr. Brian Craig, Dean of Engineering. “We equip students with the variety of modern tools and skills they need to enter the workforce career-ready.”
Tuition and living costs are low, allowing students to focus on their programmes with the aim of equipping them to lead digital transformation projects in their future careers.
According to Venkatesh Uddameri, chair of Civil Engineering, his department “places a unique emphasis on civil engineering informatics and has developed several innovative courses that offer hands-on, project-based training in Python, R and Open-Source GIS skills using real-world civil engineering big data.”
“Holistic thinking and analysis of civil engineering systems are emphasised keeping in mind the needs of the industry. In addition to technical skills, students are also trained on soft skills such as project management principles, project life cycle assessment, scrum practices, as well as oral and written skills to be well-rounded civil-focused data science and programming professionals,” says Uddameri.
Over at the Industrial and Systems Engineering department, doctoral students like Pooyan Mobtahej are preparing to pass job interviews that often require complex tests of software and modelling skills. “The department has a unique environment for international students due to its wide range of courses relevant to data science and machine learning such as Programming, User Interface Design, Reliability and many more,” he says. From taking these courses, Mobtahej was ready for technical interviews which helped him to pass tests and score an internship in the
As for Electrical Engineering students, they learn analogue and digital electronic devices and circuits, analogue and wireless communication systems, control and instrumentation, power and energy, signal processing, photonics and optics, electromagnetics, and computer engineering. Along the way, they gain skills in design, programming, building and testing electrical and electronic equipment, devices and systems, as well.
Courses in robotics and automation cut across disciplines, enriching students with complementary skills that would set them apart from their peers. Spearheading this is Dr. Mansour Karkoub, Chair of Mechanical Engineering, who is developing a multi-course sequence to prepare students for robotics and automation careers, leveraging coursework from multiple departments.
What makes engineering programmes here stand out is the approach – lessons are hands-on and take place at cutting-edge labs equipped with the latest technology. The college has several advanced automation and robotics systems labs including a Emerson Advanced Technology Center used by all departments. The college also has the Flowserve Learning Resource Center with a wide range of industrial pumps and control systems.
COE programmes help students prepare for technical interviews, opening doors to even more opportunities in industry and research. Source: Lamar University
What is more, the college is also a leader in sensor technology. The university is actively putting this technology to use. Operating over 70 water level sensors to model its watershed, the CEE department is predicting and preventing flooding during hurricanes and other rain events as part of a multimillion-dollar grant. Another example includes using sensor data to detect when industrial compressors are going to fail and identify dangerous debris in waterways.
Lamar Engineering ranks #3 in 2021 for return on investment as ranked by Payscale.com. LU is consistently ranked high in this survey due to low cost and high career achievement of our graduates. College of Engineering graduates get to hit the ground running – right onto the pathway for career success.
Qualified graduate students (based on transcripts, GRE and TOEFL/IELTS) will be offered an out-of-state tuition waiver plus a $1,000/year competitive graduate scholarship. With this scholarship, the student only needs to pay in-state tuition, which is significantly lower than the out-of-state tuition. Highly qualified doctoral students are offered assistantships or fellowships with tuition waiver
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