HARRISONBURG, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) — Starting this year, James Madison University engineering majors have three new concentrations to choose from to enhance their careers.

The new concentrations allow students to take 15 elective credits and focus on Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electro-Mechanical Systems and Geo-Environmental Engineering. They also allow students to tailor their degree to their interests and career goals while obtaining specialized knowledge and skills to meet job market demands.

“Students who opt into a concentration can now communicate to a prospective employer that they have completed an engineering program with a specific concentration, which some employers are looking for,” said Daniel Castaneda, JMU Engineering program director and professor.

The Civil and Environmental Engineering concentration offers classes that introduce students to engineering approaches for designing built and natural environments.

The Geo-Environmental concentration is a partnership between the engineering and geology and environmental science departments to address the demand for geological engineers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 2% growth in mining and geological engineers’ employment from 2023 to 2033, with about 400 openings annually.

The Electro-Mechanical Systems concentration focuses on designing, building and analyzing interconnected systems like autonomous vehicles, robotics and the Internet of Things.

The engineering program will continue to develop students’ holistic attitudes in designing solutions that meet clients’ and communities’ complex needs. The new concentrations provide increased flexibility for students seeking the knowledge and skills to succeed in the modern engineering workforce.