Officials announced two new engineering programs at FSU Panama City during the Florida State Board of Trustee meeting. A bachelor’s program in mechanical engineering and a master’s program in systems engineering will begin in fall 2018.

“These new programs are coming to FSU Panama City because of the strong demand from local industry and support from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering,” FSU Panama City Dean Randy Hanna said. “With community partners, such as the Navy base, Tyndall and GKN, our students will have unlimited options.”

The FAMU-FSU mechanical engineering program, which is expanding from the Tallahassee campus, teaches contemporary engineering practices for developing products from concept to the marketplace. Courses focus on thermal and fluid systems, mechanical systems, mechanics and materials, dynamic systems, and engineering design.

The systems engineering program integrates engineering disciplines with industrial and management practices. Graduates will design and manage complex technical systems and processes throughout their life cycles. The FAMU-FSU Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering and FSU Panama City developed the program with support from the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City.

“We are excited to expand collaboration with FSU Panama City and the community,” FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Dean Murray Gibson said. “When we looked at where there would be growth in engineering opportunities in Florida, Northwest Florida was a natural choice.”

A proposal to begin a bachelor’s program in biomedical engineering is also being developed for potential start in fall 2018.