South Carolina State University has launched new degrees to diversify the STEM sector.
According to a news release, the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) will offer three engineering bachelor’s degrees in Spring 2026. The first is computer engineering, a combination of computer science and electrical design, which will prepare students to develop hardware and software systems using artificial intelligence, automation, and advanced computing. The second is electrical engineering, which will provide learning opportunities focused on “renewable energy systems, embedded technologies, and sustainable innovation.” The third listed is mechanical engineering for students interested in pursuing careers in aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, and robotics industries.
Launching Master’s Degree In Cybersecurity
As it relates to graduate programs, the HBCU has also launched a remote online master’s degree in cybersecurity with options to laser-focus on network defense, digital forensics, or cyber-physical systems security. The program is supported by a $405,000 grant from the Battelle Savannah River Alliance. The commitment will help with onboarding the program’s faculty members.
“These new programs represent a major leap forward in SC State’s mission to educate and empower the next generation of innovators, engineers, and technology leaders,” said South Carolina State University President Alexander Conyers in a news release. “From cybersecurity to mechanical and electrical engineering, these degrees directly respond to the workforce needs of South Carolina and the nation. We are strengthening our capacity to train problem solvers who will secure our energy grids, design advanced systems, and protect the data that drive our economy.”
The announcement comes two years after the integration of the university’s mechatronics engineering program, which was launched through the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Transportation.
As AFROTECH™ previously reported, 23-year-old Omar Shaheed III is the program’s first graduate. He earned his degree Dec. 11 and has secured a full-time role at Boeing South Carolina in North Charleston that will begin in 2026.
