The College of Engineering and Technology, one of WCU's six academic colleges, offers programs in engineering, technology and construction management. The college is committed to its statewide mission for education and its regional mission for engagement. The college provides innovative undergraduate and graduate level academic programs in Construction Management and Engineering and Technology for students in an environment that supports economic development, professional development, and involvement with businesses and industries. It fulfills its academic missions through teaching and learning, scholarship and discovery, and service and engagement.
The College of Engineering and Technology’s vision is to become a national model for applications-focused engineering and technology education and a leader is project based learning.
Academically, the College of Engineering and Technology offers several accredited undergraduate and graduate degrees in Construction Management and in Engineering and Technology. Our graduate programs have a variety of options, including online classes and courses offered in Asheville at WCU's Biltmore Park instructional site to make coursework convenient for professionals.
Our industry-experienced faculty members work hands-on with students, in classrooms and labs, on campus or online, offering instruction, academic advising and extra assistance when needed.
The College of Engineering and Technology houses and operates a product research and development facility known as The Rapid Center. Through the center we are able to provide the services of a university-based, product development center for inventors, entrepreneurs, project sponsors and business partners throughout the Southeast and beyond.
Our offices are located in the Belk Building, which, along with the Center for Applied Technology, houses classrooms and laboratories. These include the Optoelectronics Lab, Automations Lab, Construction Estimating and Surveying Lab and the Engineering Design Lab, among others.
Name | Area of Specialization | Phone | Office |
---|---|---|---|
Randy Collins; Dean | Electrical Engineering | 828.227.2159 | Belk 161B |
Paul Yanik; Interim Associate Dean | Electrical and Computer Engineering | 828.227.2166 | Belk 161A |
Brittney Buchanan | Business Officer | 828.227.2434 | Belk 161 |
Tamara Smith | Executive Assistant | 828.227.2159 | Belk 161 |
Alyssa Dunn | Student Services Specialist | 828.227.2416 | Belk 362 |
Olivia Tucker | Administrative Support Associate (SET & KSCM) | 828.227.2775 | Belk 220 |
Jason Ottie | Technology of Instructional Engineering Services (TIES) | 828.227.2748 | Belk 270 |
Teresa Tate | Marketing & Recruiting Coordinator | 828.227.2161 | Belk 362 |
Visit our Contact Us page for more faculty and staff contact information.
Do you have questions about the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵCollege of Engineering and Technology? We invite you to explore our website and check out our FAQ. Below, you'll find answers to common questions about admissions, student life, career opportunities, and more. If you need further assistance, email us at cet@wcu.edu.
The Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵCollege of Engineering and Technology offers programs that connect with the
following degrees and concentrations:
Undergraduate Degrees
Engineering (BS)
—Mechanical Engineering
—Robotics & Automation
—Civil Engineering
Electrical Engineering (BSEE)
—Comprehensive Electrical Engineering
—Computer Engineering
—Electric Power & Clean Energy
Electrical & Computer Engineering Technology (BSECET)
Engineering Technology (BS)
Engineering Technology (BS) Online/Hybrid
—O±è±ð°ù²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô²õ
Construction Management (BS)
Graduate Degrees
Engineering Technology (MS)
Construction Management (MS) Online
Academic accreditation is a voluntary process undertaken by colleges and universities to ensure that a program or institution meets established quality standards for post-secondary education. Visit our college's accreditation webpage to learn more about our ABET accredited programs.
Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵAdmissions is the best source of information for admissions requirements and resources for prospective transfer students, including agreements with other schools and transfer guides. If you are considering transferring to Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵnow or in the future, we encourage you to contact Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵas early as possible for a one-on-one discussion about your plans, your individual experience, and your coursework to ensure your credits transfer smoothly when you enroll at WCU. For more information, email Gretchen Dietz, director of the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵEngineering Discovery program, at gdietz@wcu.edu.
Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ is committed to providing high-quality, affordable education for anyone who wishes to pursue a degree. For more information and a breakdown of tuition, fees and other costs, as well as links to scholarships, visit the Affordability at Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵwebpage. The page has information about NC Promise, a program that reduces tuition at WCU, and the Catamount Commitment, which can offer eligible students awards up to several thousand dollars annually.
Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ offers numerous scholarships supporting a wide variety of students and fields of study, and students submit one application to be considered for WCU-administered scholarships. Additional Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵengineering and technology-related scholarships are available as students progress through the curricula. Scholarships are available for engineering and technology students from external organizations (such as professional societies) that can help cover the costs associated with completing your degree at WCU. (In 2022-23, 48% of undergraduates completed their degree from Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵwith $0 debt!)
As a Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵstudent, you will have the opportunity to take advantage of a wide range of support services designed to help you succeed, including Tutoring Services, the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵCenter for Career and Professional Development, and Counseling & Psychological Services.
Starting in Fall 2025, our Engineering Discovery program will introduce an expanded common first-year experience for new students that will offer additional support. As part of Engineering Discovery, you will be able to:
Through these activities, you will develop a sense of belonging and a clear direction for your education and future career at WCU.
The Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵCollege of Engineering and Technology curriculum is designed to provide extensive hands-on learning experiences. We offer a five-course sequence of project-based learning embedded within the curriculum. As a student you’ll have access to a large Makerspace featuring 3-D printers and other equipment as well as discipline-specific labs, ensuring you gain practical, applied experience. In our curricula, students generally participate in at least one lab or lab-based course every semester, utilizing equipment and facilities they may encounter in industry. Additionally, there are numerous opportunities for hands-on learning through service learning initiatives in which students apply what they are learning to a project that serves our community.
Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵhas numerous and diverse campus activities, student clubs and organizations, and a residential Honors College. Student clubs and professional organizations connected to the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵCollege of Engineering and Technology currently include:
Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵhas a reputation as a national leader in undergraduate research and hosts an annual Undergraduate Research Expo that typically features more than 200 student presentations working with more than 60 faculty sponsors. Research for Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵCollege of Engineering and Technology students is strongly encouraged and varies widely based upon student interest. Our students get to know our faculty members, which often leads to students becoming involved with undergraduate research with faculty members.
Students also participate in service learning and community engagement projects that provide learning experiences and benefit the community.
Yes! Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵstudents are encouraged to gain international experience in their fields. Study abroad programs are available, and Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵis a member of the program, and students can access 40 schools across the globe that are vetted and offer engineering courses. Our students have participated in semester abroad programs with institutions in countries including Bulgaria, Ireland, South Korea and Australia. Our students also have the opportunity to participate in faculty-led study abroad programs, in which a member of our faculty will organize and lead a group of students overseas to complete engineering classes abroad. Faculty-led travel experiences are typically 2.5-weeks long courses offered in the summer and are eligible for financial aid.
Our students are well-prepared to enter the workforce and accept jobs with a range of companies and industries locally, regionally and nationwide. Recent graduates report that the current job market is very strong.
How do our students connect with future employers? Resources to assist students with their job search include the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵCenter for Career and Professional Development, which hosts multiple job fairs annually that help students find internships and jobs, and Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵCollege of Engineering and Technology industry partners regularly participate in those events.
Who are the college's industry partners? Our Kimmel School of Construction Management has a vibrant corporate partners program. Visit the KSCM Corporate Partners page to see a list of current corporate partners. In the School of Engineering + Technology, industry partners sponsor the required two-semester capstone projects that students complete. Students meet with and build professional connections with their capstone project sponsors, and some have gone on to receive and accept offers of employment from their capstone project sponsors. Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵcapstone project sponsors have included AEGIS Power Systems, Alltec, Alontree Company, Army Research Office, Corning, Cultivated Cocktails, Cummins, Dampp-Chaser Corporation, Danfoss, Duke Energy, Fleet Readiness Center, Freudenberg Performance Materials, GE Aerospace, Haakon Industries, Harris Integrated Solutions, Integral Electrics, Linamar, Kearfott, Kubota, Meritor, Pre-War Guitars, Raumedic, RMS Energy, Siemens Energy, Smith Systems, SonicAire, T&K Utilities, ThermoFisher Scientific, and U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Learn more about recent Engineering Capstone Projects.
Want to read about some of our graduates working in the field? A story in Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵMagazine highlighted our college alumni working for the Naval Air Systems Command’s Fleet Readiness Center East, Moog Inc., T&K Utilities, and Corning Optical Communications.