(Image courtesy of the University of Maryland.)
Additive manufacturing is a rapidly growing field, which is finding new ways to manufacture everything from aerospace components, to complex machine parts and even medical devices.
Like every growing industry, however, there is an increased need for trained engineers with the skills and knowledge to develop innovative technologies and new methods of using them.
Universities are keeping up by offering new courses and programs to training the next generation of additive manufacturing experts.
The University of Maryland recently announced that beginning in the fall of 2017, a new graduate degree program in additive manufacturing will be available for recent graduates and working engineers to expand their expertise in processes used to design and develop 3D-printed parts and products.
The new Professional Master of Engineering in Additive Manufacturing degree program will give students access to hands-on training in various methods of design, fabrication and production systems, under the instruction of engineering faculty in the A. James Clark School of Engineering.
Students will also benefit from access to university resources including the MakerBot Innovation Center, a 3D printing space available to all UMD students, who will collaborate with and learn from each other, as well as complete class and personal projects.
For working engineers interested in expanding their additive manufacturing skills, but aren’t ready for a full master’s degree, UMD is also offering a graduate certificate degree in additive manufacturing. The certificate program will require students to complete 12 credits (four courses), as opposed to the 30 credits (10 courses) required for the master’s degree.
“The demand for engineers with a strong skill set in additive manufacturing continues to grow as these technologies revolutionize design and manufacturing,” said George Syrmos, executive director of the Office of Advanced Engineering Education at UMD. “Our new programs will help engineers at local companies and government contractors advance their career or pursue new career opportunities.”
Students of these programs will be prepared to pursue careers in aerospace or automotive engineering, healthcare and dentistry, machine tool manufacturing and more.
These programs are designed specifically for working engineers who wish to maintain their full-time job while pursuing a graduate engineering degree. To that end, classes are offered in the evening outside of business hours on-campus and through video-teleconferencing at remote locations.
To learn more about UMD’s additive manufacturing program, check out the program details on the A. James Clark School of Engineering website.
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