How Important is ABET?

<p>I realize that software engineering is very new to college programs and so onlyt a few colleges have their software engineering accredited by ABET. So far i'm in my 2nd year and i'm not sure whether I want to transfer to University of Michigan Dearborn for its accredited B.S. Software Engineer degree. </p>

<p>My only concern is, what happens if I go to a college (such as university of michigan dearborn's software engineering) that is recognized for one of their program accredited but later becomes unaccredited during my stay their to complete my degree. Would it be considered "unaccredited" after I finish the diploma even though I entered college with the program being "accredited"?</p>

<p>Admittedly I don't hear much about accreditation, but I really don't think a school would fall out of it. If they bother to get accredited once, I'd say it's safe to say they will do it again.</p>

<p>That said, I don't even know how important accreditation for your individual major is... my major isn't accredited, but the school is in various other engineering degrees and my adviser said to not worry about it. Admittedly I am going to Grad School, where I will be attending an accredited program, so I don't care much now.</p>

<p>"Admittedly I am going to Grad School, where I will be attending an accredited program, so I don't care much now."</p>

<p>I think a school can't accredit both its undergrad and graduate degrees, so if the undergraduate degree at your intended school is accredited I don't believe the grad program can also be accredited</p>

<p>
[quote]
I think a school can't accredit both its undergrad and graduate degrees

[/quote]
</p>

<p>This just became untrue, but nothing's been dual-degree accredited yet.</p>

<p>ABET accreditation, from a student standpoint, only really matters for engineers that want to pursue licensure. Software engineers aren't included in that category.</p>

<p>It is very rare that an already accredited school to lose its accreditation--especially University of Michigan.</p>

<p>"I think a school can't accredit both its undergrad and graduate degrees, so if the undergraduate degree at your intended school is accredited I don't believe the grad program can also be accredited"</p>

<p>Sorry for the confusion there--my undergraduate degree (engineering physics) is a major that is unaccredited at my school, but the school itself has many accreditations for other majors (the program just started so it takes time to get graduates and get accredited, etc). I am (hopefully) going onto grad school at a different university that is accredited for the program of interest (medical physics). When people look to hire me in the future, the accreditation of my undergraduate degree is meaningless. </p>

<p>That said, accreditation seems relatively unimportant depending on the major. As aibarr said, unless you need licenses then it seems much less important.</p>