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Session 3225

REDESIGNING THE FIRST-YEAR ENGINEERING CURRICULUM Richard B. Cole, Bernard Gallois, Keith Sheppard Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, New Jersey 07030

Stevens’ engineering curriculum has been revised, and part of this revision introduces engineer- ing activities into the first semester via 3 concurrent engineering courses. This semester had pre- viously consisted entirely of science and humanities courses. Now the first semester includes: Engineering Graphics (2-credit laboratory), Engineering Seminar (1 credit), and Engineering De- sign Laboratory I (1-credit laboratory). The major goal of these activities in the first semester is to provide the students an early bonding with engineering and its style and task orientation as distinguished from science. They are aimed at initiating development of competencies that will build through subsequent design experiences: 1. Ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs 2. Ability to function effectively on multidisciplinary teams 3. Ability to identify, formulate and assess alternative technical and economic solutions to en- gineering problems. 4. Ability to communicate effectively and persuasively, both in writing and orally. 5. Ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice 6. Skill in leadership Integration of Engineering Courses Stevens' new engineering curriculum puts high priority on at least some integration among dif- ferent courses. While very tight integration is not necessarily a goal, interplay between different courses is required to be conscious, recognizable, and representative of the mutual interdepend- ence that exists among “different” engineering subjects. In the first semester, opportunities exist for integration of the several engineering courses. There is also potential for integration with the concurrent science courses, particularly the Introduction to Computers course (Computer Science Dept.) and the first semester of Physics which treats mechanics. The major integration in Fall 1998 was between Engineering Graphics and Engi- neering Design Laboratory I. Integration of the Engineering Design and Engineering Graphics courses was in 4 respects: First, freehand technical sketching, a frequent component of graphics courses, was undertaken in the Design Course as a natural, functional component of a product-dissection workshop.

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Cole, R. B., & Schaefer, C. V., & Gallois, B., & Sheppard, K. (1999, June), Redesigning The First Year Engineering Curriculum Paper presented at 1999 Annual Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina. 10.18260/1-2--7919