STEM Programs Experience High Interest

by Kyle Spencer, Public Relations Writer – November 4, 2016

Academic programs turn student growth into job placement

The results are in and Cedarville University’s nursing program remains its largest undergraduate academic program, with 372 students enrolled. 

“Our nursing program is not only recognized for its stellar achievement in academic excellence,” said Dr. Angie Mickle, dean of nursing, “but also for training professional nurses who are compassionate and look to use nursing as a ministry for Christ."

Mickle added that students are especially attracted to the program due to its high job placement rates. According to Cedarville career service’s first destination survey, nearly 97 percent of 2015 Cedarville nursing graduates reported full-time employment or grad school enrollment within six months of graduation.
Cedarville’s fall semester census report also showed that mechanical engineering, the second largest academic program, remains a staple Cedarville degree with 231 students enrolled. 

"Prospective students are looking for a university where they can get a quality engineering education in an environment where Christ is preeminent; this is what Cedarville University provides,” said Dr. Tim Dewhurst, senior professor of mechanical engineering. Just over 96 percent of 2015 mechanical engineering graduates reported full-time employment or graduate school enrollment. 

The third largest program, with 139 students, is early childhood education, followed by management and psychology with 109 and 103 enrolled, respectively. All three reported 100 percent job or graduate school placement within six months.

Of special interest in the census is Cedarville’s new industrial and innovative design program, which ranked as the seventh-largest program with 90 students. 

Cedarville’s special partnership with the International Center for Creativity (ICC) began with only 24 students and has since seen monumental growth. Jim Stevenson, president and co-founder of ICC, credits the industrial design program’s growth to its graduates’ strong job performance, its special stance as the only Christian university offering industrial design and its beautiful facilities close to professional designers.   

“We were able to start from scratch and create a market-relevant product which our industry responds to by hiring our students in a very wide variety of industrial design fields,” said Stevenson. “Our true belief is that our best days are still ahead of us.” 

Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,760 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 100 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.