A Quick Overview of Accreditation of Engineering Programs in United States

Accreditation is assurance that a college or university program meets the quality standards established by the profession for which it prepares its students. For example, an accredited engineering program must meet the quality standards set by the engineering profession. Accreditation gives colleges and universities a structured mechanism to assess, evaluate, and improve the quality of their programs. In the United States, accreditation is a non-governmental, peer-review process that assures the quality of the postsecondary education students receive. Educational institutions or programs volunteer to undergo this review periodically to determine if certain criteria are being met. Engineering accreditation in United States is handled by ABET Inc. In this paper we will present a quick overview of assessment and the engineering accreditation in United States carried out by ABET. A general overview of the benefits of the accreditation will also be included. Finally, some recommendations in regard to starting such a process in Iran will be presented.

کلیدواژه ها:

Assessment ، Learning Assessment ، Engineering Education ، ABET