University of Evansville Announces New Bachelor of Science in Integrated Business & Engineering (IBE) ProgramRead full article…

Posted: Wednesday, September 17, 2025
By: University Communications

The University of Evansville (UE) is excited to announce a new interdisciplinary degree, the Bachelor of Science in Integrated Business & Engineering (IBE), set to launch in Fall 2026.

This innovative program is a collaborative effort between the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration (SFSOBA) and the School of Engineering & Computer Science (SECS), designed to equip students with both technical and business expertise.

The IBE program integrates a business core, a foundational engineering core, and a series of specialized IBE courses to develop graduates who can "speak the language" of both domains while demonstrating applied problem-solving and project leadership capabilities. Students will complete 124 credit hours, including a 40-hour business core, 21-hour engineering core, and 18 hours of IBE courses such as Introduction to Six Sigma, Entrepreneurship, Project Management, Sustainability in Business and Engineering, New Product Design and Development, and an internship. The program culminates in a team-based, industry-facing capstone project, providing hands-on, experiential learning throughout the degree.

Students may enhance their business foundation through certificates in areas like Accounting, Logistics/Supply Chain, Sales, or Global Business, or pursue additional technical electives in engineering to strengthen discipline-specific expertise.

"Integrated programs like IBE prepare students to excel at the intersection of two critical fields," said Dr. Suresh Immanuel, Schroeder Family Dean of the UE College of Business and Engineering. "Our graduates will not only understand complex technical systems but also how those systems fit into real-world business strategy. This program will graduate students who are business-minded with an engineering skillset - an increasingly powerful combination that employers across the region are eager to see."

Unlike other similar degree programs that simply add engineering courses to a business degree, IBE fully integrates business and engineering coursework with its specialized course set. The program is housed in the AACSB-accredited Schroeder Family School of Business Administration, and is delivered in UE's hallmark small, experiential learning environment. State-of-the-art classrooms and labs to support this hands-on, interdisciplinary approach.

Employers and community partners have expressed strong enthusiasm for graduates who combine business acumen with technical literacy. Career pathways include technical analyst, technical sales, technical project manager, organizational/technology consultant, and data analyst. Initially, courses will be taught by existing faculty and select adjuncts for engineering-specific courses, with a full-time faculty member dedicated to IBE courses expected to start in Fall 2029.

"The ability to bridge engineering and business is exactly the kind of skillset communities like Evansville need," said Evansville City Engineer Mike Labitzke '92. "When future professionals can understand both the technical details and the broader business impact of a project, they bring tremendous value not only to employers but also to the cities and neighborhoods they serve."

The IBE program reflects UE's mission and core values, preparing students to think critically, act bravely, serve responsibly, and live meaningfully in a changing world. By fostering interdisciplinary and experiential learning, the program strengthens UE's innovation agenda and delivers tangible benefits to both students and the broader community.

To learn more, please visit https://www.evansville.edu/majors/business/ibe.cfm.