University of Tennessee adds advanced manufacturing certificate

The University of Tennessee (UT; Knoxville, Tenn., U.S.) has announced that it will begin offering a graduate certificate in advanced manufacturing beginning in January 2020. Along with additional classes, the program includes ongoing research projects. Classes are available either on campus or online via two-way videos. The program will be open to anyone with a background in engineering, and that applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. 

UT says that seven of the UT–Oak Ridge National Laboratory Governor’s Chairs, as well as others throughout the university, are dedicated to studying advanced manufacturing or the materials that support it. “We have experts in advanced materials, in polymers, in additive and subtractive techniques, and in metals,” says Doug Aaron, assistant head of undergraduate programs in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering (MABE), who is overseeing the new program.

Classes will be available in the Nathan W. Dougherty Engineering Building at UT, with the ability for students to take part online via two-way video capabilities. The goal is for students to be able to participate live or to review videos of lessons later, allowing students with full-time jobs to still take classes outside of their normal work hours.

“This certificate program is relevant for anyone from recent grads to people who’ve been working for years that are wishing they could add to their educational experience and maybe improve their employment,” says Aaron.

Students will be able to choose two courses from six electives, in addition to required courses in mechanics of materials and in advanced manufacturing. The goal is to have around 10 students in the inaugural semester, building up to 50 or so within three to five years. If the program meets those marks, it may become a full master’s degree program.

“We’ve had strong interest from some of our key industry partners on doing something like this,” Aaron said. “Taking on a full-time master’s program is a commitment that a lot of people who are in the workforce can’t really afford the time to take.”

Aaron says the team has been working behind the scenes since October 2017. “We’re taking what we know about other online courses and working with UT’s Office of Information Technology to figure out best practices and what the proper approach is to launch at the start of next semester,” he says. He adds that the team is drawing on knowledge shared from the UT Space Institute, which has online courses and is strongly affiliated with UT’s MABE faculty.

More information on the graduate certificate in advanced manufacturing can be found on the department website.