Beginning in the Fall 2024 semester, Freed-Hardeman University will be offering a Computer Engineering bachelor degree program.
Freed-Hardeman University has announced its plans to offer a Bachelor of Science in Engineering program with a concentration in Computer Engineering in the Fall 2024 semester. This is the first engineering degree offered by the university.
According to an article on Freed-Hardeman University’s website, Dr. C.J. Vires, who serves as the university’s provost and vice president of academics, this is the first step of many to broaden the school’s offerings. Vires is quoted as saying, “The offering of the first engineering degree is an important milestone in the University’s history and further diversifies our academic portfolio. This program aligns with the workforce demands of West Tennessee and the Southeast region. This is a first step, and we will add additional concentrations for several more years. I’m very excited about the quality team of professors we’ve assembled to launch this program and the new forthcoming facility that will provide a showcase and new home for the program’s students and faculty.”
The new program will make use of another new feature at the university: the ATPI Center for Computer Science and Digital Innovation, which will also be opening in Fall 2025. The center will feature new classrooms, meeting spaces, engineering labs, and a makerspace. The ATPI Center for Computer Science and Digital Innovation is named for Albert and Treva Brown and Philip and Irene Kopel, the parents of John and Rosemary Brown. The Browns donated the funding to bring the center to fruition.
David R. Shannon, the president of Freed-Hardeman University, was quoted as saying of the Browns’ donation and what it means for the future of the university, “As the demand for computer engineers continues to grow, we are pleased to be a part of meeting that demand. We are excited about the director, professors, curriculum and planned facility, which will set up students for a successful career. John and Rosemary Brown believe in Freed-Hardeman University and in this new engineering program and its success. John’s own success as an engineer led him to become one of the leading CEOs in America. The Browns’ support continues to be indispensable. At FHU, we continue to move forward for God’s glory.”
Speaking of what will set this Computer Engineering program apart from others, Dr. Ben Clark, the director of computer science and digital innovation at Freed-Hardeman University, said, “We live in a world of exciting and important challenges, from our rapidly developing technologies to society’s questions of how best to use them. To meet these opportunities head-on, Freed-Hardeman University will begin training engineers for a full bachelor’s degree starting in fall of 2024. We are building this program with support from the generous donations of John and Rosemary Brown and others that see our vision for providing an undergraduate engineering education in a Christ-centered context. The next few years will bring many changes, both on our campus and throughout the world. This is our next step in providing students an education that integrates faith, scholarship and service at every level of their university experience.”
The program will be taught by computer engineering faculty instead of assistants. It will also provide opportunities for students to participate in networking and be introduced to employers seeking talent. Students who take the courses within the program will be amply prepared to move on to further study, or to find careers in data science, software development, hardware engineering, and more.
For more information about Freed-Hardeman University, visit the school’s website.