EVERETT — A private college from Thurston County will begin offering a mechanical engineering degree program in Everett this June.
Saint Martin’s University will provide a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering through the University Center of North Puget Sound at Everett Community College.
Over the years, business and government leaders have recruited the University of Washington and recently Washington State University to provide engineering courses in Snohomish County.
“There have certainly been conversations with other institutions,” said Christine Kerlin, an EvCC vice president who oversees the University Center, which brings bachelor and graduate degree programs to the region. “We are out in the open about wanting an engineering program and right now this option works. It doesn’t mean WSU is out of the discussion.”
EvCC students will be able to complete their pre-engineering classes and remain on campus for their junior- and senior-level courses through Saint Martin’s, a Lacey-based independent Catholic college established in 1895.
The mechanical engineering program will be similar to other off-site degree programs Saint Martin’s offers at Centralia College, Olympic College and Tacoma Community College. It has about 1,250 students on its main campus and 650 at other sites.
“We are very excited to be working with University Center to offer this engineering program to students in the north Puget Sound,” said Joseph Bessie, Saint Martin’s vice president of academic affairs.
Classes will be taught at the University Center’s campus four evenings a week or online, with some labs held in Lacey on Saturdays. The program provides evening classes and is nationally accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.
The deadline for priority application for summer quarter is April 15, and applicants must have completed the first two years of engineering classes.
University Center now has more than 20 bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Central Washington University, Western Washington University, Eastern Washington University, The Evergreen State College, Washington State University, Hope International University and Saint Martin’s University.
Kerlin said she remains hopeful the center will be able to offer Bachelor of Science degrees in nursing. A bill that would help with funding is being considered by the Legislature.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.
To learn more
For more information about Saint Martin’s engineering degree or other degrees offered by the University Center of North Puget Sound, visit www.uceverett.org or call 425-259-8900.
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