The U.A. Whitaker School of Engineering at Florida Gulf Coast University is committed to becoming an internationally recognized model for excellence in interdisciplinary engineering education. Our mission is to combine exceptional faculty with motivated, bright students to create excellent educations in selected engineering disciplines. This synthesis occurs in a business-oriented educational environment that values diversity, integrity, and collaboration. Our outstanding programs are supported by dedicated staff and enabled by the resources needed to excel. We deliver engineers and community leaders with superior technical competence and management skills to meet the engineering challenges of Southwest Florida. Initially, three majors leading towards the Bachelor of Science degree will be offered.

Bioengineering plays an important role in transforming discoveries at the intersection of engineering and human health into new products and capabilities by applying new technologies to biomaterials, biomechanics, and biomedical tools and procedures. Bioengineers have the ability to solve problems associated with the interaction between living and non-living materials and systems and bring engineering to life to help improve human health. Job opportunities in this field are expected to increase by 28% by 2012.

Civil Engineering concerns the study of the conception, design, construction, and maintenance of large public and private projects. Civil engineers plan, design and supervise the building of bridges, highways, railways, tunnels, airports, dams, water treatment and distribution systems, buildings, and many other types of structures. Environmental considerations, such as water supply, pollution control, and preservation of soil quality, are also important. With thorough knowledge of both the principles of construction and the possible environmental consequences of a structure, the civil engineer's expertise is one that is essential to our present civilization and one that will become even more valuable in the future.

Environmental Engineering is one of the most dynamic new fields in engineering, providing knowledge and leadership for the sustainability of our natural world. Environmental engineers develop and implement technologies to solve water problems, address air pollution and global warming issues, and help ensure a healthy economic and work environment. The Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors estimates that engineering colleges are producing fewer than half the graduates needed to fill the more than 5000 environmental engineering positions created each year. A recent article in Fortune magazine listed environmental engineering as the fastest growing field through 2012 with an anticipated increase of 54.3% in the number of available jobs.

Admission:
Admission for the 2005 and 2006 academic years will be restricted to freshmen engineering students. Transfer students who are currently enrolled at FGCU or other institutions may enter the program with credits that will satisfy the general education and math/science prerequisite requirements; however, specialty engineering courses in the three disciplines will not be offered until the fall 2007 semester, which means that spring 2009 is the earliest date by which students will be able to graduate from FGCU with undergraduate engineering degrees.

Assistance with Selecting a Major:
Students do not need to select a major prior to admission. The first three semesters of coursework are common to all undergraduate engineering programs, providing students time for thoughtful selection of a major. The courses, “Introduction to the Engineering Profession” and “Engineering Concepts and Methods," required of all engineering students, provide an introduction to the various fields of engineering and focus on hands-on laboratory activities and exploration of professional opportunities associated with each engineering field.

Future Degrees:
Plans are currently being discussed to add a one-year program that will lead to the MS in Engineering Management for graduates of ABET-accredited or FGCU's undergraduate engineering programs and a two-year program that will lead to the MS in Engineering.

Contact Us
For additional information:
Phone the U.A. Whitaker School of Engineering at 239-590-7390
or e-mail engineer@fgcu.edu