Wittenberg University partners with Indiana Tech for dual-degree engineering program

Wittenberg University and Indiana Institute of Technology have teamed up to offer students the opportunity to earn two degrees, one a Bachelor of Arts in Physics from Wittenberg University and one a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Indiana Institute of Technology, all while residing on Wittenberg University’s Ohio campus.

According to an article on Wittenberg University's website, Brian Yontz, Ph.D, Wittenberg University’s provost, spoke highly of Indiana Tech and the partnership between the two institutions, saying, “I’m very grateful for the faculty and administration of Wittenberg and Indiana Tech collaborating on a partnered academic program. Without a doubt, these types of collaborations are the future of higher education, and I’m proud that our institutions are on the forefront of this work.”

The partnership is bringing together the strengths of each institution in a way that will benefit students who are pursuing a career in engineering. Wittenberg University is a liberal arts institution that emphasizes research and critical thinking and Indiana Institute of Technology focuses on STEM and technology integration. Students who take part in this opportunity will reside at Wittenberg, as the dual degree program is administered through Wittenberg’s Physics Department, but will take online courses from Indiana Tech to complete the other portion of their education. The five-year program will award students with both a Physics degree and an Engineering degree.

In order to participate, students must have a 2.5 or higher grade point average, and the graduation requirements of both institutions must be met in order to receive each degree. While taking online courses from Indiana Tech, students in the program are allowed to chart their own course by selecting their interests and choosing from computer engineering, electrical engineering, industrial and manufacturing engineering, and mechanical engineering.

Steve Herendeen, Ph.D, the Vice President for Enrollment Management at Indiana Institute of Technology, said of the dual degree program, "Our partnership with Wittenberg University offers students a unique opportunity to earn impactful degrees from not one, but two high-quality universities with long histories of preparing students to succeed in their careers and in life. More and more, today's tech-driven employers are seeking graduates from science, technology, engineering and math-related fields. Through this innovative dual degree program, students will earn both a bachelor's degree in physics from Wittenberg and a bachelor's in engineering from Indiana Tech in five years. The experience and skills they develop while earning their degrees will position them extremely well for success in the economy of today and tomorrow."

The program liaisons will be physics professor Elizabeth George of Wittenberg University and Jeri Burkhart, the Director of Admissions at Indiana Tech. 

George said, “This opportunity aligns with Wittenberg’s strategic plan while preserving the residential component of the Wittenberg experience. It also serves to position our students for long-term success in this expanding field, building on the foundation of a liberal arts education.”

This partnership joins two other engineering pathway partnerships Wittenberg University has in place with Case Western Reserve University and with the Fu Foundation School of Engineering at Columbia University. What makes the partnership pathway with Indiana Institute of Technology unique is that students from Wittenberg do not have to transfer schools to complete their engineering degree at Indiana Institute of Technology, as is the case with the other two pathway options Wittenberg currently offers. 

For more information about Wittenberg University, visit the school’s website.

For more information about Indiana Institute of Technology, visit the school’s website.