The Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents approved on Friday a new multidisciplinary degree program at UNLV - the Entertainment Engineering & Design (EED) bachelor's degree. The unique curriculum and focus will develop the next generation of professionals skilled in cutting-edge entertainment production and capitalize on Las Vegas' status as entertainment capital of the world.

"This program was truly developed in the right place at the right time," said Neal Smatresk, UNLV executive vice president and provost. "Creating an entertainment engineering and design program in Las Vegas will serve both our region and the growing population of students who would like to use their technical and creative skills to gain great jobs."

Combining faculty expertise and support from the College of Fine Arts and the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering, the EED program will immerse students in a unique combination of engineering principles, material design, emerging technologies and theatrical production techniques. Students will develop the skills necessary to immediately enter the workforce and engage in the research and development of new technologies.

"This program breaks the traditional mold of engineering education," said Eric Sandgren, dean of the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering. "It represents a fresh approach, combining engineering technical expertise with the creativity of fine arts and the production of the shows on the Las Vegas Strip. There is nothing else like it in the country."

The entertainment production community played a key role in the development of the EED program. UNLV hosted a "Conversation on Entertainment Engineering" in 2005, during which industry CEOs, manufacturers, retailers and installers gathered to share ideas and opportunities regarding the proposed EED program. The initial discussion led to the creation of an industry advisory board, internship opportunities and the final curriculum.

"This curriculum has been endorsed by working professionals and hiring managers throughout the city's entertainment industry and will allow UNLV to gain the inside track on preparing students for their professional careers," said Anthony G. Ricotta, company manager for Cirque du Soleil's "O".

The EED program will officially launch this fall, though experimental courses in the program have been offered at UNLV since spring 2003. Attracting tech-savvy high school and college students, as well as current industry professionals, the EED program will increase research opportunities in existing master of fine arts and bachelor of arts programs, and expose a more diverse student population to both fine arts and engineering.

For more information on the EED program, log on to http://eed.egr.unlv.edu.