ABET ACCREDITATION OF NATURAL SCIENCE PROGRAMS

ABET is an organization that is generally known as the accreditor of college and university programs in engineering, engineering technology, computing and applied science. Very recently, it has focused efforts to accredit additional applied science programs and natural science programs. ABET is organized into four accreditation commissions: the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC), the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC), the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC), and the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission (ANSAC). Professionals from thirty-five member societies associated with the four commissions volunteer their time to serve as program evaluators, commissioners, board members and advisors to conduct the business of accreditation. Its approach to accreditation criteria focuses on outcomes (what is learned) rather than what is taught (courses). Currently the SME-AIME – Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., is the only geology-related society.