The undergraduate computer engineering and software engineering degree programs at Shippensburg University recently earned national accreditation.

ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology Inc.), the nonprofit accrediting agency for degree programs in applied science, computing and engineering fields, granted the accreditation after a nearly two-year application and review process.

Shippensburg is the only university in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education to have three bachelor’s degree programs in engineering and to have accredited computer and software engineering programs. Software engineering, with almost 55 majors, is one of only four accredited programs in Pennsylvania, according to ABET. Computer engineering, with nearly 30 majors, now is one of 11 accredited programs in the state.

“We were the first in the State System to establish bachelor of science degree programs in engineering to help address documented workforce needs,” said Dr. Barbara Lyman, provost and executive vice president. “This accreditation is a testament to the quality of the programs and faculty at Shippensburg University.”

Dr. Carol Wellington, professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, agrees. “This is external validation of the quality we know that we have here. I’m very proud of our programs and our faculty and students.”

Both current and future students benefit from the recognition, Wellington said. “Our current students can tell potential employers that they graduated from an accredited program, which companies do consider when looking at applicants,” she said. “For prospective students, it’s not just me saying, ‘We have a quality program.’ We can show it.”

The department, which has more than 250 undergraduate students, launched its computer engineering and software engineering programs in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Its degree program in computer science was accredited by ABET in 2004. A fourth area of study, electrical engineering, was added last year and is designed to meet national accreditation standards.