{"id":22,"date":"2025-03-20T10:34:08","date_gmt":"2025-03-20T14:34:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/?page_id=22"},"modified":"2026-04-08T12:54:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T16:54:44","slug":"message-from-the-department-head","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/about\/message-from-the-department-head\/","title":{"rendered":"Message from the Department Head"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9c46a72c wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small);padding-top:0\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-condensed-font-family has-xx-large-font-size\" style=\"font-style:italic;font-weight:400;text-transform:uppercase\">Message from the Department Head<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p>Welcome to the Department of Applied Engineering (AppE) in the Tickle College of Engineering (TCE). AppE delivers industry-integrated academic programs that emphasize the practical application of engineering principles to solve real-world problems. Our programs equip students with in-demand skills in system design, testing, analysis, optimization, and maintenance, which are essential for improving performance and fostering innovation across diverse industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through immersive, hands-on experiences, our students are prepared for a seamless transition into the workforce, ready to contribute from day one. Our department is closely aligned with the college\u2019s strategic priorities, including workforce development, community engagement, and the cultivation of strong industry partnerships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We currently offer four specialized concentrations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small)\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small)\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/academics\/undergrad-studies\/manufacturing-concentration\/\">Manufacturing Engineering<\/a> <em>(launched in 2025)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small)\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/academics\/undergrad-studies\/software-engineering-concentration\/\">Software Engineering and Infrastructure<\/a> <em>(launched in 2025)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small)\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/academics\/undergrad-studies\/aerospace-concentration\/\" id=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/academics\/undergrad-studies\/aerospace-concentration\/\">Aerospace Engineering<\/a> <em>(launching in 2026)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small)\">Energy Conversion and Storage <em>(launching in 2027)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>AppE provides a transformative engineering education for students across Tennessee, particularly those who thrive in hands-on environments and seek meaningful, real-world applications of theoretical knowledge. Our department is distinguished by the following core strengths:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small)\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small)\">Faculty with extensive industry experience and advanced academic credentials<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hands-on training using state-of-the-art equipment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Instruction by industry leaders and practitioners<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Required co-op and\/or internship experiences<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Curriculum focused on professional competencies, including leadership and communication<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Industry-relevant certifications, including reliability and maintainability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small)\">Strong, ongoing support from Tennessee\u2019s leading industrial partners<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Thank you for your interest in applied engineering. I invite you to explore our programs and look forward to welcoming you to campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Go Vols!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Chulho Yang, Ph.D., PE<br><\/strong>Department Head, Applied Engineering<br>Tickle College of Engineering<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized is-style-utkwds-right-frame\" style=\"margin-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/04\/yang-ribbon-cutting.jpg\" alt=\"Chulho Yang speaking into a microphone at the Applied Engineering program ribbon cutting\" class=\"wp-image-457\" style=\"width:400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/04\/yang-ribbon-cutting.jpg 600w, https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/04\/yang-ribbon-cutting-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/04\/yang-ribbon-cutting-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Message from the Department Head Welcome to the Department of Applied Engineering (AppE) in the Tickle College of Engineering (TCE). AppE delivers industry-integrated academic programs that emphasize the practical application of engineering principles to solve real-world problems. Our programs equip students with in-demand skills in system design, testing, analysis, optimization, and maintenance, which are essential [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":21,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"no-title","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-22","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Message from the Department Head - Department of Applied Engineering<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Hear from the Department of Applied Engineering&#039;s department head about the goals and details of the department.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/about\/message-from-the-department-head\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Message from the Department Head - 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