Morgan State University Secures ABET Accreditation for Six Engineering and Built Environment Degree Programs Through 2032

Five School of Engineering Programs Earn Reaccreditation as Construction Management Receives First-Time Recognition, Reinforcing Morgan’s Standing Among the Nation’s Leading Producers of African American Engineering and Architecture Graduates

BALTIMORE — As demand for highly skilled engineering and technical professionals continues to shape an increasingly competitive workforce, Morgan State University is reinforcing its position as a national leader in preparing graduates for careers in these critical fields. Six of the University’s undergraduate degree programs have earned accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), a globally recognized accreditor of college and university programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering and engineering technology. The latest accreditation cycle includes the reaccreditation of five programs within Morgan’s Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. School of Engineering and the first-time accreditation of the Construction Management program in the School of Architecture and Planning. All six accreditations extend through October 2032.

Following a rigorous and comprehensive evaluation, ABET affirmed the academic quality and professional standards of the following Bachelor of Science degree programs:

• Civil Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Transportation Systems
• Transportation Systems Engineering
• Construction Management (newly accredited)

The accreditation achievements provide further validation of Morgan’s commitment to academic excellence, continuous improvement and the preparation of graduates equipped to meet the evolving demands of industry. They also strengthen the University’s competitive position in a higher education marketplace where students and families increasingly prioritize educational quality, career readiness and the long-term value of a college degree. 

“Accreditation at this level represents far more than an institutional distinction. It is an affirmation of the quality of our academic programs, the expertise of our faculty and the rigor of the educational experiences we provide our students,” said Hongtao Yu, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at Morgan State University. “We’ve been very intentional about aligning academic excellence with workforce relevance, ensuring that our graduates possess not only the technical competencies required to succeed in their professions but also the critical-thinking and problem-solving abilities necessary to lead and innovate. These achievements further strengthen our position as an institution of choice for students seeking a high-quality education in engineering and the built environment.”

National Leadership in Engineering Education and Degree Production

The latest accreditations reinforce Morgan’s longstanding distinction as one of the nation's leading producers of African American graduates in engineering and related disciplines.

According to 2023-2024 data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Morgan ranks among the top universities nationally in awarding bachelor's degrees to African American students in several of the newly reaffirmed programs, including Electrical Engineering (No. 1), Transportation Systems Engineering (No. 1), Civil Engineering (No. 2), Industrial Engineering (No. 2) and Construction Management (No. 2). Within Maryland, Morgan ranks first in degree production for African American students across all five disciplines.

These distinctions reflect the University's sustained contributions to expanding access to high-demand academic fields and strengthening the pipeline of diverse professionals entering engineering, construction and related industries.

“Morgan Engineering is playing an integral role in advancing the field through innovative, cutting-edge research,” said Oscar Barton, Ph.D., dean of the Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. School of Engineering. “Through our research centers and public- and private-sector partnerships, we are well positioned to remain a leader in engineering and technological innovation, developing solutions and products that improve lives while producing highly skilled graduates prepared to meet the evolving demands of the workforce.”

A Globally Recognized Standard of Academic Quality

ABET is an independent, nonprofit organization recognized internationally for its accreditation of academic programs in technical disciplines. Its accreditation process evaluates whether programs meet established standards for educational quality, student learning, faculty qualifications, curriculum and continuous improvement.

For students and prospective employers, ABET accreditation provides an important measure of confidence that a degree program meets the standards established by the profession. It can also support graduates pursuing professional licensure, enhance career mobility and ensure that academic programs remain responsive to industry expectations and emerging workforce needs.

For Morgan, the successful completion of this process across six programs demonstrates the University's continued investment in maintaining rigorous academic standards while adapting to advancements in engineering, technology and the built environment.

Building on a Legacy of Innovation and Workforce Development

Morgan's School of Engineering has established a national reputation for expanding educational opportunity and preparing graduates for leadership in technical fields. Over the past 15 years, the University's Department of Civil Engineering has awarded more Bachelor of Science degrees to African American students than any other civil engineering department in the nation.

The school also offers distinctive academic pathways, including the nation's only Bachelor of Science program in Transportation Systems. Additionally, Morgan is the only institution in Maryland offering an industrial engineering program. As one of the state's leading producers of African American engineers, the School of Engineering also ranks among the nation's top 15 institutions for enrolling minority engineering freshmen.

Further strengthening its academic leadership, the school recently welcomed two accomplished scholars to departmental chair positions: Charles Johnson-Bey, Ph.D., in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Mebougna Drabo, Ph.D., in Industrial, Mechatronics and Systems Engineering. 

Morgan's School of Architecture and Planning has likewise distinguished itself through more than three decades of preparing students to plan, design and manage the built environment. The first-time ABET accreditation of its Construction Management program represents a significant milestone in the school's continued development, providing additional external validation of a program designed to prepare graduates for the increasingly complex demands of the construction industry.

Together, the six accreditations affirm Morgan State University's continued commitment to delivering academically rigorous, professionally relevant degree programs that prepare students to excel in high-demand fields. As the University advances its broader ambitions in research, innovation and academic distinction, these achievements further solidify Morgan's role in developing the talent, technical expertise and diverse leadership essential to meeting the nation's evolving infrastructure, engineering and workforce needs.

About Morgan

Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master’s degree, doctorate and certificate programs. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu. 

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