College launches pre-engineering program

SARASOTA — The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee is launching a pre-engineering program in combination with USF's main campus.

Through the program, called “USF Bridge to Engineering”, students at USF Sarasota-Manatee will be able to enroll in pre-engineering classes for two years beginning this fall, a statement says. They will be able to finish their degrees at USF in Tampa.

“This dynamic new partnership shoes the power of the USF System and how collaborative efforts can positively impact our students and their future careers,” says Judy Genshaft, USF System president, in the statement.

During the first two years, requisite undergraduate courses will include math, physics, engineering and chemistry, the statement says. Students will be eligible to continue their studies at USF's College of Engineering in Tampa if they have maintained an overall GPA of 2.0 or better and a 3.0 GPA in required calculus and physics courses.

The launch of this new program follows suit with USF's expansion of its science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs. The university's heavy investment in STEM programs this year includes a $3 million grant to develop evidence-based teaching strategies and the announcement of a new College of Science and Mathematics.