Three School of Computer Science & Engineering Programs Gain Accreditation

Sacred Heart’s game design program is the second in the world to reach that achievement

Three programs in Sacred Heart University’s Jack Welch College of Business & Technology (WCBT) have garnered accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). One of them―game design & development―is only the second accredited program of its kind in the world.

The programs―computer science (CS) and information technology (IT), along with game design―are housed in the WCBT’s School of Computer Science & Engineering. The accreditation will be retroactive to 2019, so alumni who graduated in the past four years can add that to their credentials.

“Everybody had a role,” said Samah Senbel, assistant professor in the School of Computer Science & Engineering and quality assurance committee chair, who shepherded the accreditation application. “[Current provost] Robin Cautin, who was dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at the time—which was the college we were first in—spearheaded the application. Everyone from the faculty, administration and administrative assistants to the students worked hard to make this happen.”

The process started in 2015 and included campus visits from accreditors, curriculum revisions and frequent updates. One of those revisions was the addition of physics classes to the computer science and game design curricula. “We needed to increase the level of math our students mastered,” said Senbel. “Some people thought we were making the course too hard, but our students rose to the occasion.

“Coming from an accredited program will open up job opportunities for our students and alumni,” said Senbel.

“Having these three accredited programs elevates the status of the WCBT and the School of Computer Science & Engineering on a national and international level,” said Catherine McCabe, dean of the WCBT.

“We are delighted to receive ABET accreditation for our CS, IT and game design programs,” said Cautin. “The accreditation is external and independent recognition of the high quality of our curricula and students’ educational experience. We will continue to strive for excellence in all that we do; CS, IT and game design accreditation is the most recent instantiation of this commitment. I’m so proud of our faculty and staff for achieving this milestone.”