Just 30 minutes south of Toledo in northwest Ohio lies the quaint and picturesque college town of Bowling Green, Ohio. With an abundance of local attractions to explore, international students are never bored. In fact, it is the perfect place to balance out the rigours of a comprehensive engineering degree programme — something Bowling Green State University (BGSU), a public university for the public good, offers plenty of at a reasonable price.
Take the Systems Engineering (SYE) programme, for instance. The programme emphasises engineering design, systems integration, modelling, problem solving, teamwork, and communication skills to collectively prepare students for the tasks their dream professions come with — and a little more. Its multidisciplinary approach is just one of the many reasons why it’s in high demand.
Unlike other programmes, the SYE is intentionally holistic when it comes to designing and improving complex systems such as manufacturing, logistics, retail service, and healthcare systems. The advantage will help them stand out in a sector in dire need of professionals.
According to Forbes, the role of a systems engineer is one of the top 14 tech jobs in the US. There are more than 300,000 unfulfilled positions despite its average salary of 75,000 US dollars.
Similarly, outstanding outcomes are guaranteed to Master of Science in Logistics Systems Engineering (MS-LSE) graduates as well. This interdisciplinary programme hits the sweet spot between business and engineering skills to solve complex problems in logistics, systems engineering, production design and healthcare systems. The best part? It can be completed on-site, online or through a flexible hybrid learning format.
Both programmes feature personalised attention in intimate classrooms. They are also just as practical as they are theoretical. Hands-on learning is big at BGSU. In fact, approximately 500 students at the College of Technology, Architecture and Applied Engineering complete cooperative (co-op) experiences annually — a big reason why 97% of BGSU graduates report they’re employed, in graduate school or starting a business within six months of graduating. A significant number receive offers well before their commencement ceremonies.
While applying their newfound skills as students, they are enriching their CVs to ensure their qualifications achieve the spot they deserve — at the top of any recruiter’s stack.
Such outcomes apply equally to the Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology programme. Matthew Burmeister, an electronics and computer engineering technology major at the time, applied to NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland and Plum Brook Station in Sandusky before accepting an offer from the Johnson Space Center instead. “Getting accepted made me realise this is something I could really do for a profession,” he says.
The experience entailed working at the Risk and Reliability Analysis Branch within the Space Exploration Division. Then, Burmeister was selected for NASA’s Pathways Internship programme at Kennedy Space Center in the summer which resulted in another internship.
“In the Pathway programme, it’s more intense and I wanted to make a good impression,” he explains. “When I was in Texas, I got to meet a lot of astronauts. I attended their lectures, talked with them and even played kickball with them. I feel like it was an experience of a lifetime.”
Ian Kennedy, a Mechatronics Engineering Technology graduate, spent a summer as an intern with Perrysburg-based RōBEX before they offered him a full-time job. Visual communication technology graduate Chad Butler’s current roles as multimedia designer for Cuyahoga County and freelance cinematographer for NFL Films were a result of the required internships he took as student. “I still work for two of the three internships that I did — and that’s pretty amazing,” he enthuses.
Meanwhile, budding female engineers at BGSU are building confidence through the power of sisterhood when they aren’t nailing internships of their own. Instructor Resmi Krishnankuttyrema started the Women in Technology student organisation to provide guidance and support to future-focused females.
With such offerings to boast, it’s little wonder why BGSU was named the #1 Public University in the Midwest; why it ranks third for teaching quality among America’s public universities; or why international students representing 71 countries have chosen it for a study abroad experience of a lifetime.
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