CSUSM Receives $8M to Launch Two New Engineering Degrees

While most students are winding down for bed, Jose Alba is heading to work.

As an overnight team lead for a major retailer, he logs 40-50 hours a week and oversees 20 associates. By day, he’s back on campus for his final year as an electrical engineering student at Cal State San Marcos.

When an industrial and systems engineering (ISE) elective challenged students to analyze a real-world process, Alba didn't have to look far for inspiration. Drawing on his experience managing operations, he examined store workflows and identified opportunities to improve efficiency.

“A lot of people don’t think a few seconds matter, but when you’re repeating the same task thousands of times a night, those seconds turn into minutes and hours,” Alba said. “Looking at the numbers, I estimated that if these ideas were implemented at stores across the country, the company could increase profits by about 10% a year.”

Students like Alba illustrate the growing demand for engineers who can improve the way that people, processes and technology work together.

Now, thanks to nearly $8 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education through the Strengthening Institutions Program, CSUSM is expanding opportunities for future engineers by launching two new bachelor's degree programs: ISE and bioengineering.

“These grants are highly competitive, and we're excited about what they mean for the future of engineering at CSUSM,” said Jackie Trishman, dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. “With one of the nation's largest life-science sectors and a growing demand for industrial and systems engineers, San Diego is an ideal place to launch these programs and prepare students for high-demand careers.”

The funding will support new curriculum, community college collaborations, equipment, industry partnerships and work-based learning opportunities for students.

“Receiving these grants is a validation of our commitment to student success and workforce development,” said Charles De Leone, dean of graduate studies and research. “These investments build on the momentum we've created and expand opportunities for students to pursue careers in fields that are critical to our region.”

Introduction to ISE

Before industrial and systems engineering becomes a degree program at CSUSM in fall 2027, students got an early introduction through an elective course co-taught by industry professionals Brigitte Wesselink and Fifi Thrift.

“What attracted me to the field was the people and business element of it,” said Wesselink, ISE lecturer and vice president of operations and programs at the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. “Engineering is typically about developing a product or device, while ISE studies the processes behind how work gets done and how they can be improved.”

Whether it’s reducing wait times in hospitals, improving passenger flow at airports or streamlining supply chains, ISE combines engineering, business and analytics to help organizations work more efficiently and effectively.

That flexibility is part of what makes the field appealing to students exploring a variety of career paths.

“Engineering can feel daunting for a lot of students,” Thrift said. “ISE is approachable, flexible and welcoming. It gives students room to be curious while building skills employers value. It's a rocket launch of a major that can take students in so many different directions.”

The two instructors also share an important connection: Both were encouraged to bring their expertise in ISE to campus by Daniel J. Epstein, entrepreneur, philanthropist and longtime supporter of CSUSM. Epstein is also helping launch the program through a generous matching gift to establish the university's first endowed chair in ISE.

“It’s rewarding to see professionals like Brigitte and Fifi share their passion for this field with students at CSUSM, where many are the first in their families to earn a college degree,” Epstein said. “ISE gave me a foundation that helped me navigate many different aspects of business throughout my career. I believe every student deserves the opportunity to discover a field that can open doors and change the course of their life.”

Bioengineering Also on the Way

While industrial and systems engineering focuses on improving processes, bioengineering – which is coming to CSUSM in fall 2028 – applies engineering principles to living systems.

“Bioengineering gives students the tools to tackle some of society’s biggest challenges, from advancing medical technologies to improving agriculture and protecting public health,” said Dr. Carlos Luna Lopez, a biology professor and project director for the grant.

As CSUSM began developing the new degree program, Luna and his colleagues worked with industry leaders, faculty members and researchers to ensure that students graduate with the skills needed by the region's growing life-sciences sector.

The conversations included a bioengineering summit that brought together local employers, researchers and academic leaders to help shape the curriculum around workforce needs.

“Many of our students stay in the region after they graduate, so we wanted to understand what employers need and where the industry is headed," Luna said. “The feedback was clear: There is growing demand for professionals who can apply engineering principles to biological challenges.”

A key component of the program will be strengthening transfer pathways from community colleges – including Southwestern College, Imperial Valley College and Mt. San Jacinto College – helping students move seamlessly into the major and succeed once they arrive at CSUSM.

The program also will emphasize hands-on learning and undergraduate research opportunities. Students will work directly with faculty members while exploring emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and predictive modeling.

“One of the advantages of CSUSM is that students can build relationships with professors and gain meaningful research experience as undergraduates,” Luna said.

The Future of Engineering at CSUSM

From designing smarter manufacturing processes to developing technologies that improve lives, CSUSM's newest engineering programs will prepare students to tackle complex challenges across a wide range of industries.

The new degree programs build on broader investments in engineering and STEM education, including the construction of Hunter Hall of Science and Engineering, which will open for classes in spring 2028.

For Alba, a classroom assignment became a new way of thinking about the world around him. For future students, those same opportunities could become a pathway to careers in business, healthcare, biotechnology and beyond.

Media Contact

Brian Hiro, communications specialist

bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306