Electrical engineering to launch Fall 2026

The University of South Carolina Aiken has announced the addition of a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE), which will educate students to design, build, test, and maintain electrical and electronic systems. The new program will launch in the Fall of 2026.

The program was developed in response to interest from local industry stakeholders in hiring more electrical engineers within the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA). It aligns with the university’s goal of supporting regional economic growth and workforce development. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for electrical engineers will skyrocket in the next decade.

“Aiken and the CSRA have a great need for engineers,” says Scott McKay, Dean of the College of Sciences and Engineering. “As a regional university, it is our job to support the economy and workforce development in those industries by meeting their demands for highly skilled engineers and scientists.”

The BSEE curriculum was designed alongside an engineering advisory board representing various engineering disciplines to best suit the unique needs of regional stakeholders. Students in the program will learn essential skills needed to excel in electrical engineering disciplines such as power systems, electronics, and control systems, focusing on critical infrastructure. 

The new program’s projected enrollment will be approximately 15 students in the first year, increasing to approximately 60 full-time and part-time students by year five. McKay anticipates adding three faculty members over the next five years, with some housed in the Pacer Engineering facilities in the SRNL’s Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative building, which will open on the USCA campus this summer. 

“Students and faculty will engage every day with scientists and engineers in the national laboratory,” McKay says. “Students will have opportunities to work on projects where they have national security clearance, an advantage when they are ready to enter the workforce. Very few places in the country have that advantage.”

The BSEE joins degree programs in mechanical, process, and software engineering already offered by the College of Sciences and Engineering. Students interested in the electrical engineering program but entering Fall 2025 may complete a year of prerequisites that will meet the BSEE requirements.

“Our faculty, staff and college leadership are focused on responding to the regional needs of our employers and creating professional opportunities for our students,” Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Phil Bridgmon says. “This new electrical engineering program, along with our existing engineering degrees, is a continuation of that commitment. We look forward to enrolling our first students and completing the process of obtaining ABET accreditation.” 

For more information, contact USCA Marketing & Communication at [email protected].