South Carolina State University is significantly expands his academic portfolio with the launch of four new STEM degree programs aimed at equipping students with the skills needed for careers in high-demand technical fields. Orangeburg HBCU has announced that the additions have been made includes three undergraduate engineering degrees and a master’s program in cybersecurity that expands opportunities for students and addresses workforce needs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Bachelor’s degree programs are scheduled to begin in spring 2026. Although all three fall under the broader umbrella of engineering, each program is designed with a distinct focus area. The first degree is computer science, which combines basic computing principles with electrical design. The program will prepare students to work with technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation and advanced computing, equipping them to design and develop both hardware and software systems.
The second degree is in electrical engineering and offers students hands-on learning experiences focused on renewable energy systems, embedded technologies and sustainable innovation. The program is designed to equip graduates with the skills needed to address today’s energy and technology challenges.
The third and final bachelor’s offer is in mechanical engineering. Through this program, students can pursue their interests in fields such as aerospace, automotive engineering, manufacturing and robotics, preparing them for a variety of careers in some of today’s most in-demand industries.
Thanks to a generous $405,000 grant from the Battelle Savannah River Alliance, South Carolina State University has launched a new online master’s degree cyber security software. The program offers three specialized concentrations—network defense, digital forensics, and cyber-physical systems security—designed to prepare students for the evolving digital threat landscape. In addition to supporting the development of the program, the Battelle Savannah River Alliance grant will also help the university hire and staff members to manage and develop the initiative.
“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,” South Carolina State University President Alexander Conyers said in a news release. “From cybersecurity to mechanical and electrical engineering, these degrees directly address the workforce needs of South Carolina and the nation. We are strengthening our capacity to develop problem solvers who will secure our energy grids, design advanced systems, and protect the data that drives our economy.”
The new programs complement the university’s mechatronics engineering program, launched two years ago under the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Transportation. The program’s first graduate, Omar Shaeed III, received his degree on Dec. 11 and has already secured a full-time position at Boeing South Carolina, highlighting the early impact and success of the program.
