Texas Border Business
Laredo College is continuously adapting to the ever-growing demand for careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in the labor market, and thus expanding its catalog of academic programs, degrees and certifications to meet this demand.
In the spring of 2022, the college will launch a new program: an Associate of Science Degree with Emphasis in Civil Engineering Field of Study. The Engineering Program is housed in the Cigarroa Science Building, which was completely remodeled with state-of-the-art facilities.
Although Laredo College has offered engineering courses in the past, those were not part of a field of study, which was developed in 2018 by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) as part of the state’s transfer framework.
The field of study will allow students to take courses at the two-year college and apply those courses to their major once they transfer to a four-year institution. This will allow students to complete their bachelor’s degrees in a shorter time because they will follow a pathway in civil engineering.
Although this new initiative will start with civil engineering, it can also be considered general engineering since its courses are common fundamental engineering ones that can also be transferred to other engineering majors, such as mechanical, environmental and architectural engineering.
The program is partially funded through the $5 million secured in federal funding for the LEAPS (Learning, Excellence and Academic Preparedness in STEM) Power Project, an initiative that aims to increase the number of Hispanic and low-income students to attain a degree in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.
A recent report published by the Pew Research Center indicates that while the STEM workforce has higher-paying jobs compared with other occupations, there is still an underrepresentation of minorities. Hispanics make up only 8% of all STEM workers, closely matching the trend being seen in the educational system, with only 12% of Hispanic college graduates obtaining a degree in STEM.
The purpose of this program is two-fold: to increase diversity in STEM and to provide students with the skills needed to become successful not only in the workforce but also in their studies at a four-year university if they choose further study.
The college is in the process of finalizing articulation agreements with the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK). As part of the articulation agreements, Laredo College will be developing a degree plan that will provide students with the knowledge needed to successfully transfer and complete their degrees within four years at these institutions. The program is also looking to build partnerships with Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) and Texas A&M University-College Station.
“This program will be a great opportunity for students in Laredo as it provides the resources needed to begin their studies in engineering close to home. It also has the potential to bring students from diverse backgrounds, genders, and cultures into the STEM field through science exploration,” said Department of Natural Sciences Chair Selinda Martinez.
Overseeing this new newly-minted academic initiative along with Martinez is recently hired engineering lead and assistant professor, Dr. Dacun Li. With a diverse educational background in aerospace engineering, health physics and petroleum engineering, Dr. Li brings his international, academic and industrial work experiences to Laredo College to help students learn and succeed in the engineering field.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for civil engineers was $88,570 in 2020. The bureau also projects an eight percent growth in employment of civil engineers from 2020 to 2030. This new field of study is a pathway to more academic and professional opportunities within this lucrative and fulfilling career.
The only pre-requisite for this program is that students must be fully admitted into Laredo College. The core engineering courses will be offered online, while other courses in the degree may be online, face-to-face or hybrid.
Two informational sessions will take place at the Cigarroa Science Complex C109 on Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. and on Dec. 3 at 11:15 a.m. Prospective students are cordially welcome to attend in person or join via Zoom by visiting https://zoom.us/j/9931743717.
For more information about the upcoming sessions or questions about the program, please contact Selinda Martinez at selinda.martinez@laredo.edu or (956) 721-5198.
