Rutgers logo
School of Engineering
  • About
  • ABET Accreditation

ABET Accreditation

Accreditation of engineering programs ensures that the programs produce graduates who are prepared to meet the expectations of employers, the public or pursue further study in engineering or other fields. The undergraduate curricula at the School of Engineering are designed as such that the students are expected to attain by the time of graduation

  1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics;
  2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors;
  3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
  4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts;
  5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives;
  6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions; and
  7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

The Rutgers Civil, Electrical and Mechanical engineering programs were initially accredited in 1936, at the same time as were programs at many well-known public institutions such as Iowa State, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia Tech, as well as private institutions such as Caltech, MIT, and Stanford.

Computing, Engineering, Applied and Natural Science, and Engineering Technology programs are accredited by ABET which, in conjunction with the various professional societies, develop the criteria for accrediting the programs.

Currently, the Aerospace, Bioenvironmental, Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Industrial, Mechanical and Materials Science Engineering undergraduate programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

One component of the accreditation criteria requires each program pursuing accreditation to formulate Program Educational Objectives in consultation with their program-defined constituents. ABET defines Program Educational Objectives as “broad statements that describe what graduates are expected to attain within a few years after graduation.”

Another component of ABET accreditation requires programs to specify Student Outcomes, which “describe what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation. These relate to skills, knowledge, and behaviors that students acquire as they progress through the program.”

ABET is committed to Continuous Improvement and all programs must assess and evaluate the extent to which their Student Outcomes are being attained and use the results of these evaluations for the continuous improvement of the program.

ABET Accreditation Information for Accredited Rutgers School of Engineering Programs

ABET requires that each program make available to the public certain information, namely their Program Educational Objectives, their Student Outcomes, their accreditation status and data on their student enrollments and degrees granted. 

Accordion Content

  • AE Program Educational Objectives

    The Program Educational Objectives (PEOs) of the B.S. Aerospace Engineering program are that within 3 to 5 years after graduation, graduates will:

    • be incorporated into a professional workforce addressing the challenges of our society in areas of relevance to Aerospace Engineering,
    • be engaged in graduate research, professional and/or education programs for gaining further training to address interdependent and complementary challenges of our society; and  
    • recognize the responsibilities and rewards associated with an engineering career and life-long service to the profession.

    AE Student Outcomes

    Students from the Aerospace Engineering program will attain (by the time of graduation):

    1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
    2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
    3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
    4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
    5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
    6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
    7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
  • BME Program Educational Objectives

    The current educational objectives of the Biomedical Engineering program are:

    • graduates establish themselves as practicing professionals in biomedical or biotechnology industries or engage themselves in advance study in biomedical engineering or a related field,
    • graduates make positive contributions in biomedical industries and/or other sectors, and
    • graduates work successfully as a member of a professional team and function effectively as responsible professionals.

    BME Student Outcomes

    Students from the Biomedical Engineering program will attain (by the time of graduation):

    1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
    2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
    3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
    4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
    5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
    6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
    7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
  • ChE Program Educational Objectives

    The current educational objectives of the Chemical Engineering program are:

    • Graduates will meet the expectations of employers of chemical engineers
    • Graduates will pursue advanced study if desired
    • Graduates will pursue leadership positions in their profession and/or communities

    ChE Student Outcomes

    Students from the Chemical Engineering program will attain (by the time of graduation):

    1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
    2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
    3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
    4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
    5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
    6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
    7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
  • CE Program Educational Objectives

    The current educational objectives of the Civil Engineering program are:

    • Graduates will experience successful careers in the civil engineering profession that incorporates life-long learning leading to professional licensure and/or advanced degrees.
    • Graduates will communicate effectively in oral, visual, and written means and have professional and ethical responsibility in the practice of civil engineering.
    • Graduates will demonstrate a record of individual and team accomplishments in developing creative and sound engineering solutions to practical problems that meet professional, societal, sustainability, and global challenges.

    CE Student Outcomes

    Students from the Civil Engineering program will attain (by the time of graduation):

    1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
    2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
    3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
    4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
    5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
    6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
    7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
    8. adequately learned basic concepts of business, management; understand and learn importance of leadership in discussions and public policy
    9. adequately learned and practiced key engineering concepts and ‘rules of thumb’
    10. an ability to read, understand and interpret standards, codes and manuals of engineering practice
    11. proficiency in four recognized major civil engineering disciplines
  • ECE Program Educational Objectives

    The current educational objectives of the Electrical and Computer engineering program are that within 3-5 years:

    • Expectation: graduates will exceed the expectations of employers of electrical and computer engineers;
    • Advanced Study: qualified graduates will pursue advanced study if they so desire; and
    •  Leadership: graduates will pursue leadership positions in their profession and/or communities. 

    ECE Student Outcomes

    Students from the Electrical Engineering program will attain (by the time of graduation):

    1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
    2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
    3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
    4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
    5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
    6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
    7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
  • EnvE Program Educational Objectives

    The current educational objectives of the Environmental Engineering program are:

    • Graduates will meet the expectations of employers of bioenvironmental engineers.

    • Qualified graduates will pursue advanced study if they so desire.

    • Graduates will pursue leadership positions in their profession and/or communities.

    EnvE Student Outcomes

    Students from the Environmental Engineering program will attain (by the time of graduation):

    1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
    2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
    3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
    4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
    5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
    6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
    7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
  •  

    IE Program Educational Objectives

    The current educational objectives of the Industrial Engineering program are:

    • Graduates will meet the expectations of employers of Industrial engineers.

    • Qualified graduates will pursue advanced study if they so desire.

    • Graduates will pursue leadership positions in their profession and/or communities.

    IE Student Outcomes

    Students from the Industrial Engineering program will attain (by the time of graduation)

    1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
    2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
    3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
    4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
    5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
    6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
    7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
  •  

    MSE Program Educational Objectives

    Within the scope of the MSE mission, the objectives of the Materials Science and Engineering Program are to produce graduates with an education relevant to current science and engineering and an education that will lead to a productive and rewarding career.

    Graduates of the program are expected within a few years of graduation to have:

    • Used their engineering skills, enhanced through the onset of life-long learning, to apply innovative solutions to assist in solving critical engineering problems to provide economic, ethical, environmental, and societal value.
    • Worked individually or with teams of professionals to provide innovative concepts and technologies that address the scientific or engineering needs of academia, industry, commerce, and society.
    • Demonstrated a track record of professional leadership characterized by scientific or engineering accomplishments and productivity in one or more of the broad industries for which Materials Science and Engineering is the enabling foundation.

    MSE Student Outcomes

    Students from the Materials Engineering program will attain (by the time of graduation):

    1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
    2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
    3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
    4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
    5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
    6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
    7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
    8. an understanding of the fundamental principles underlying and connecting structure, properties, processing and performance related to the materials systems utilized in Materials Science and Engineering.
  •  

    ME Program Educational Objectives

    The Program Educational Objectives (PEOs) of the B.S. Mechanical Engineering program are that within 3 to 5 years after graduation, graduates will:

    • be incorporated into a professional workforce addressing the challenges of our society in areas of relevance to Mechanical Engineering, including energy, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing.
    • be engaged in graduate research, professional and/or education programs for gaining further training to address interdependent and complementary challenges of our society; and  
    • recognize the responsibilities and rewards associated with an engineering career and life-long service to the profession.

    ME Student Outcomes

    Students from the Mechanical Engineering program will attain (by the time of graduation):

    1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
    2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
    3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
    4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
    5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
    6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
    7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies