Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi celebrated the creation of a standalone engineering college during a launch event on campus Nov. 2. Last summer, the university split its College of Science and Engineering, creating a College of Engineering and a College of Science. 
Two departments — engineering and computer sciences — make up the new College of Engineering, which offers Bachelor of Science programs in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering technology, and geographic information science. 
Bachelor of Science programs in civil and industrial engineering were added in the fall of 2020, prior to the realignment. The university will offer a Master of Science in engineering next fall. 
Dr. David Ma became dean of the newly formed college in August. Ma, a native of China, comes to TAMU-Corpus Christi from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he spent 17 years, including five years as associate dean. Ma holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, a master's in electrical and mechanical engineering from the University of California-Santa Barbara, a master's in mechanical engineering from the University of Science and Technology-Beijing, and an undergraduate degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
Among the factors influencing a separate engineering college, according to the university, were the growth of the student body and faculty and regional demand for engineers and scientists. 
chuck@thepicayune.com