UMass Amherst Engineering Programs Receive Reaccreditation From ABET

Academics

The Daniel J. Riccio Jr. College of Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is proud to announce that seven of its bachelor’s degree programs have been fully reaccredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, a nonprofit, ISO 9001-certified quality assurance organization. Through the accreditation of academic programs, recognition of credentials and assessment of student learning, ABET supports excellence in education worldwide. 

The undergraduate programs include: 

  • Biomedical Engineering (B.S.) (first accredited 2020) 
  • Chemical Engineering (B.S.)  (first accredited 1958) 
  • Civil Engineering (B.S.)  (first accredited 1949) 
  • Computer Engineering (B.S.)  (first accredited 1978) 
  • Electrical Engineering (B.S.)  (first accredited 1950) 
  • Industrial Engineering (B.S.) (first accredited 1950) 
  • Mechanical Engineering (B.S.)  (first accredited 1950) 

The college’s new B.S. in environmental engineering will qualify for an ABET review a year after the program awards its first degree. Successful initial reviews commonly grant accreditation retroactive to include that first graduating class. 

ABET accreditation assures that programs meet standards to produce graduates ready to enter critical technical fields that are leading the way in innovation and emerging technologies and anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public. 

“To receive accreditation for seven programs all within the same review cycle is a testament to the strength and quality of our academic programs, and the hard work and contributions of our college leadership, faculty, staff and students. It truly is a team effort,” said Sanjay Raman, the Daniel J. Riccio Jr. Dean of the Engineering. “ABET Accreditation demonstrates to our stakeholders—students and families, employers and industry, as well as citizens of the Commonwealth and beyond—that our programs meet or exceed the quality standards that produce graduates of impact, who are ready to enter a global workforce and lead the way toward positive change for the common good.”  

Sought worldwide, ABET’s voluntary peer-review process is highly respected because it adds critical value to academic programs in the technical disciplines, where quality, precision and safety are of the utmost importance. 

Developed by technical professionals from ABET’s member societies, ABET criteria focus on what students experience and learn. ABET accreditation reviews look at program curricula, faculty, facilities and institutional support and are conducted by teams of highly skilled professionals from industry, academia and government, with expertise in the ABET disciplines. 

More information about ABET, its member societies and the accreditation criteria used to evaluate programs can be found at www.abet.org.   

For more information about degree programs in the Daniel J. Riccio Jr. College of Engineering, visit umass.edu/engineering/academics. 

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