Butler University is launching an engineering bachelor’s degree program next year.
The new program will build off one Butler offered for over 25 years in partnership with IUPUI. The former program allowed Bulldogs to take liberal arts and science classes at Butler and engineering classes at IUPUI, graduating in five years with bachelor’s degrees from both schools.
But when IUPUI split last July, Butler officials said Purdue University in Indianapolis opted not to continue the program. Butler students who were already enrolled were able to finish out their degrees.
The decision comes as Purdue is becoming more selective about what students it admits. Last year, Purdue had a record-low admissions rate of just under 50%, meaning students interested in engineering are being turned away.
With demand for engineers growing both nationwide and in Indiana, Butler faculty believe they can provide a different option.
“Purdue is a great university with a great engineering program,” said Jay Howard, Butler’s interim provost. “But we also believe we’re a great university that can do engineering in a way that will be different from what students would experience at Purdue in Indianapolis. That gives students greater choice.”
Engineering, the Butler way
Butler officials feel that combining engineering with the school’s liberal arts curriculum will give students an advantageous set of skills.
“We’ve heard from industry that they like to see those liberal arts,” said Jeff Carvell, founding chair of Butler’s engineering program. “That human-centered kind of background — being able to read, to write, to speak.”
The university’s also planning to make its curriculum skills-focused. Rather than teaching through lectures, labs and exams alone, Carvell said, professors will embed problem-solving and practical application in each class.
“Knowledge is still there, but what are the skills that are involved?” Carvell said. “How can I take that knowledge and transform it into engineering? How can I transform it into a job?”
Butler’s program is starting out with three majors — bioengineering, chemical engineering and mechanical engineering. The university picked these concentrations based on the compatible internships and job opportunities offered by companies in Indianapolis, such as Eli Lilly.
Carvell, who is a graduate of Butler’s former dual degree engineering program, said he recognizes that the first class of Butler’s new engineers will be taking a leap of faith enrolling in a nascent program.
But, he said, Butler’s program will give students interested in engineering the chance to study what they want and take advantage of the wider Butler experience.
“We’re doing engineering (the) Butler way,” Carvell said. “It is going to be different, but it is going to be engineering, and it is going to be successful.”
For more information
Visit Butler’s website for more information on the new engineering programs or email engineering@butler.edu.
Students entering college in fall 2026 can select engineering as their major when applying to Butler. The school is aiming to enroll about 40 students in the first cohort.
The online application is open.
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Claire Rafford covers higher education for Mirror Indy in partnership with Open Campus. Contact Claire by email claire.rafford@mirrorindy.org, on most social media @clairerafford or on Signal 317-759-0429.
