Coe adds ‘engineering physics’ major for workforce flexibility

CEDAR RAPIDS — Among the most in-demand jobs in Iowa — with plenty of current and projected openings — are those with “engineer” in the title, compelling Coe College to expand its list of majors to accommodate that growing demand.

Beginning in the 2024-25 academic year, Cedar Rapids-based Coe will debut a new Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree, offered through its Physics Department as an “engineering physics” major.

“That’s probably what I’m going to do,” said Coe freshman Michael Wlochal, who's double majoring in computer science and physics but likes the flexibility and versatility he believes an engineering physics major would offer.

“I'm already doing physics, and this is going to give me those design courses I want and need to be able to jump into an engineering position more easily — if I want to get into engineering after college,” Wlochal, 18, said. “Or it's going to prep me better if I want to do engineering grad school, or if I want to go to grad school for physics.”

The concept behind Coe’s new engineering physics major aligns with Wlochal’s adaptability aim. Professor Caio Bragatto said the program is designed to produce “well-rounded” graduates.

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“When we were thinking about what our students need from us to take into their professional career, we had conversations with local companies and local governments on workforce development,” Bragatto told The Gazette. “And with engineering physics, the idea is to make what we are calling a well-rounded engineer that is able to act and perform in different fields, not necessarily being extremely specific.”

Like the liberal arts college that Coe is — churning out graduates with specialized training who also take courses in writing and communication, math, social science, music and history, for example — Bragatto said engineering physics majors will be able to perform in an array of fields.

“Our engineering degree will have a significant experiential and interdisciplinary lean, aligning with the requirements for an engineering program and the liberal arts tradition,” Bragatto said. “This adds an even deeper level of learning past the technical aspect of engineering — one that will sharpen each students’ critical thinking, creative problem solving and communication abilities — all in high demand in the market and integral in order to excel in the field.”

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High demand

Coe’s new engineering physics major — pending approval from the Higher Learning Commission — will add to its 60-plus areas of study and join a physics department that already has 70 student majors, with 15 to 20 per class, which Bragatto said “is actually a very high number.”

Based on employment projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Iowa Workforce Development, the state and region should have plenty of jobs for those students once they graduate — with engineer-related positions among the fastest growing.

Between 2020 and 2030, Iowa expects to add 520 industrial and mechanical engineering jobs, at an annual growth rate of 2 percent, according to state occupational projections. It also expects to need 210 civil engineers, 190 architectural engineers, 105 electrical engineers and 100 more general engineers over that span.

Entry pay for Iowa’s engineering jobs also is among the highest, with the starting wage for architectural engineers listed at $103,209 and electrical engineers at $70,588, according to the 2022 Iowa Wage Survey.

"We have incredible businesses in the Cedar Rapids area and surrounding communities,” Rocki Shepard, chief executive officer of New Leader Manufacturing, which makes agricultural and road maintenance equipment, said in a statement about the new Coe major and the demand for it. “Manufacturing continues to be a critical element of our community’s economic success, and strong engineering programs that attract and retain top talent in our community are a must.”

'A little bit more freedom’

Although plenty of other colleges and universities in Iowa have engineering programs, the engineering physics mashup is unusual. Neither the University of Iowa, which offers nine types of undergraduate engineering degrees, nor Iowa State University, which offers 22 engineering degrees, has one specific to engineering physics.

The University of Northern Iowa offers a 3+2 physics and engineering dual degree major — allowing students to study physics at UNI for three years before transferring to either ISU or the UI to get an engineering degree in two years.

“Normally, when you think about an engineering degree … they are extremely career-oriented,” Bragatto said. “So you can see very clearly what a civil engineer is going to be doing in their career. But for the engineering physics, what we are teaching our students is primarily design thinking and also the fundamentals of what's happening.”

The goal, he said, is to teach students the engineering concepts to facilitate a successful career in an array of engineering fields.

“So that they can have a little bit more freedom on where their path is going to take them,” Bragatto said.

Given the new degree will join Coe’s large and established physics department, students will benefit from the seasoned faculty, internship connections like with nearby Collins Aerospace and research partnerships — like with the National Science Foundation.

Being housed within the physics department’s Peterson Hall, students will have access to more than $3 million in research equipment, officials said.

“This is an exciting development for us at Coe,” Coe President David Hayes said, “especially considering the confluence of professional demand, interest in engineering displayed by current and future Kohawks, and our internationally well-regarded pre-engineering and physics programs.”

Comments: (319) 339-3158; vanessa.miller@thegazette.com