SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) — Augustana University is excited to announce a new 5-year dual-degree engineering program, set to launch in Fall 2025. The program is set to offer students online courses in a traditional on-campus setting that prepares them for the future.

In an effort to expand its academic offerings, engineering students at Augustana will receive a unique hybrid learning experience. From day one, engineering students will belong to a cohort that fosters collaboration and teamwork.

As part of the new program, engineering students will take foundational courses at Augustana, earning a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in chemistry, physics or mathematics at the university. Students will begin taking online engineering courses in their second year — offered through the University of North Dakota (UND). Taking the online classes together, students will have the opportunity to form strong bonds and collaborate on real-world engineering challenges.

“This hybrid model is a real advantage for our students,” said Augustana Provost and Executive Vice President Dr. Joel Johnson. “They get the flexibility of online learning while still being immersed in the vibrant campus life that Augustana is known for. It’s the best of both worlds.”

 

After the third year of the program, students will take lab courses during the summer in Grand Forks, North Dakota — workshops that offer condensed hands-on learning experiences. They will also get an introduction into the metaverse as part of a virtual learning community — a signature experience of the program.

The online courses, paired with the summer immersion workshops, will eventually allow students who study chemistry to earn a quality ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in biomedical engineering, chemical engineering or petroleum engineering from UND. Physics majors will eventually be able to do the same in electrical or mechanical engineering, and mathematics majors in civil, electrical or mechanical engineering.

 

“This new program opens up a new market because there are students locally who want to play football or compete in athletics for five years and also get an engineering program. This opens us up to students who want to be here at Augie, want a full Augie experience for five years,” said Augustana Program Director of Engineering and Associate Professor of Mathematics Dr. Carl Olimb.

 

Thanks to partnerships with other universities, Augustana offers other dual-degree engineering options. Currently, students can earn a B.A. in a major of their choice from Augustana and then apply to get their bachelor’s or master’s degrees in engineering from Columbia University in New York, New York; Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri; or South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. With these options, students take courses at Augustana for two years and then finish out their degrees in-person at other universities.

 

For more information on Augustana University’s new engineering program, visit augie.edu/engineering. To explore both options, visit augie.edu/EngineeringPrograms.