UNC Charlotte engineers. North Carolina’s advantage.
UNC Charlotte prepares engineers for the construction, energy and motorsports industries that help drive North Carolina’s economy. In the William States Lee College of Engineering, students connect technical knowledge with hands-on learning, applied research and experience working alongside industry professionals.
Through the Albert School of Construction, School of Energy and motorsports program, we prepare graduates to tackle complex infrastructure projects, modernize the electrical grid and apply precision engineering on and beyond the racetrack.
Albert School of Construction: Building North Carolina’s infrastructure
North Carolina’s growth requires professionals who understand how complex infrastructure projects come together. UNC Charlotte’s Albert School of Construction prepares students for the full project lifecycle, from planning and engineering through construction and long-term operation.
The school brings together construction engineering, construction management, business and data science to help students understand how decisions affect an entire project. Graduates will be prepared to work across disciplines and contribute to the infrastructure that supports expanding communities and industries.
School of Energy: Preparing engineers for grid modernization
As North Carolina’s communities expand and industries adopt more energy-intensive technologies, demand for reliable electricity grows. UNC Charlotte’s School of Energy prepares students to help modernize and expand the electrical grid, connecting engineering education with industry needs in grid automation, transmission-line design and energy-component manufacturing.
The University’s Albert & Freeman Energy Production and Infrastructure Center, known as EPIC, anchors the school’s applied research. Charlotte also leads the NSF Grid Modernization Engine in the Carolinas, bringing together universities, utilities, manufacturers and workforce partners to advance grid technologies and prepare the people needed to put them into use.
Motorsports engineering: Driving performance beyond the track
Before Layne Riggs won races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, he earned a mechanical engineering degree at UNC Charlotte. He’s part of a much larger Charlotte presence in racing. Thirty percent of NASCAR Cup Series race engineers are graduates of the William States Lee College of Engineering.
UNC Charlotte’s motorsports engineering concentration connects mechanical engineering coursework with hands-on experience in vehicle performance, aerodynamics and instrumentation. Students design, build and test vehicles in the Alan D. Kulwicki Motorsports Laboratory and learn alongside industry professionals through internships and mentoring.
The skills students develop in simulation, data analysis, materials and precision manufacturing also serve North Carolina’s automotive, advanced manufacturing and defense industries. Vehicle safety is one example. The same engineering principles that help protect a race car driver in a crash can inform the design of military vehicles that protect service members in the field.
