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Session 2793

An Effective Engineer Design and Teambuilding Experience for Non-Engineers

Robert J. Rabb, John S. Klegka United States Military Academy

Abstract

Part of the balanced core curriculum of the United States Military Academy (USMA) requires engineering education for all graduates to promote their ability to be creative problem solvers. This core curriculum provides a fundamental understanding of physical systems for all graduates. Although all graduates receive a B.S. degree in various disciplines, many will major in a non-engineering area or field of study. However, all graduates are expected to be technically competent in their future employment as military officers and are required to demonstrate proficiency in a five course engineering sequence. The Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering prepares students with a broad background in mathematics, science, and the humanities, but limited engineering problem solving skills through a sequence of engineering courses. Students undertake the mechanical engineering five course sequence during their final four or five semesters. The experience has many benefits to include: increasing the students’ technological literacy, communication skills, ability to operate as a multidisciplinary team, and hands-on experience through engineering science instruction. The logical progression of courses enhances student learning and ability to function as a member of a design group and gives the non-engineering students an awareness and appreciation for many engineering topics. This paper demonstrates how a five course sequence in mechanical engineering is designed to meet institutional educational objectives, reinforces fundamental engineering principles, exercises the engineering problem solving process, and exposes students from various disciplines to material they will encounter for years after graduation. As part of a continuing assessment of the five course mechanical engineering sequence from last year1, this paper focuses on the design experience and incorporates additional data and new conclusions. The outcomes of this program are substantiated with student surveys and feedback from the various courses.

I. Academic Program Goals

The United States Military Academy (USMA) is the only college in the nation whose charter is to prepare every one of its students for professional service as a regular Army officer. Like the other facets of the West Point environment, the academic experience encourages study in a wide variety of traditional subjects to include the humanities and sciences essential to such service. To this end, USMA requires its graduates to take a set of engineering courses to develop their problem solving skills and expose them to technology in society.

Proceedings of the 2002 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright Ó 2002, American Society for Engineering Education

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Klegka, J., & Rabb, R. (2002, June), An Effective Engineer Design And Teambuilding Experience For Non Engineers Paper presented at 2002 Annual Conference, Montreal, Canada. 10.18260/1-2--10402