The University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Salisbury University have renewed an academic partnership allowing students to earn two undergraduate degrees in four and a half years. The dual-degree program in physics and engineering will streamline instruction, allowing students to attend Salisbury University for three academic years as physics majors, then transfer to UMES for the remaining year and a half as engineering majors. Earlier, the dual degree program took five years to complete. Upon completion of all Salisbury University requirements, students will graduate early with a bachelor’s degree in physics and, after admission to UMES and completion of required credits, students will receive a bachelor’s degree in engineering. Salisbury University students will start taking a core engineering course at UMES in the spring semester of their third year at Salisbury University and then transfer to UMES’ engineering program for another three semesters to complete their engineering degrees.
“This dual degree will allow students to stay local, and attend two top-notch programs with small class sizes and outstanding faculty for a significantly lower cost,” notes Michael Scott, dean of the Henson School of Science and Technology at Salisbury University. “With the science, technology, engineering and mathematics field constantly growing, this partnership allows the Eastern Shore to remain a competitive choice for prospective students.”
“UMES’ engineering program is the only peer-accredited program on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia,” added Derrek Dunn, dean of the School of Business and Technology. “So, we are proud to work with Salisbury University to ensure there are enough trained engineers to supply the workforce needs of the Delmarva Peninsula.”
Dr. Dunn is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, where he double majored in electrical engineering and mathematics. He holds a master’s degree in construction management from Western Carolina University. Dr. Dunn also earned a master’s degree in mathematics and a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Students in the dual physics and engineering program also will have the opportunity to apply for a new paid summer internship with NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
Are you kidding me. Why do HBCUs have to “partner up” with Historically White Colleges and Universities (HWCUs) when the sole beneficiary of such partnerships are the HWCUs. The so-called decision makers at UMES (e.g., Heidi M. Anderson) should be duly ashamed for their misguided decsion making.