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Session #2457

An Integrated First Year Curriculum in Industrial and Systems Engineering James B. Taylor and Jacqueline R. Mozrall Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY 14623

Abstract

A new, integrated first year curriculum has been developed in Industrial & Systems Engineering (ISE) at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) that possesses increased practical content, additional active learning opportunities, and a stronger sense of identity among first year Industrial Engineering students, who typically have difficulty defining the common roles and contributions of professional Industrial Engineers. The new first year curriculum was designed so that ISE students have a thorough introduction to Industrial Engineering concepts, tools/software, and analysis techniques.

The revamped four course sequence makes use of common case studies throughout the year for continuity and practical content and students gain a vivid understanding of what an Industrial Engineer does. The courses that have been revamped are Introduction to Industrial Engineering, Materials Processing, Computer Tools, and Freshman Seminar. Students are exposed to the conceptual areas of problem solving, integrated product and process design, work measurement methods, manufacturing processes, layout, and ergonomics to name a few. The students are also provided with a set of tools/software to learn and use throughout the integrated sequence that have been identified by faculty, students, and co-op employers as key tools for Industrial Engineers, namely AutoCAD, Access, MS Office, and MS Project. The classroom and laboratory experiences are supplemented with plant tours, common case studies, and a variety of demonstrations. Analysis techniques are typically taught in team-based, application formats that provide the student with exposure to the methods, which has been shown to increase the enthusiasm of students. The main thrusts of the new curriculum are active learning and exposure, with details and theory to follow in more advanced courses later in the curriculum. Additionally, a benefit to the new structure is that ISE students are in class together during each quarter of the first year and are able to form a more cohesive and productive group with retention as a side benefit.

The integrated structure and content of the course sequence, case studies, and projects will be described. In addition, changes and additions to the sequence will be presented in light of student evaluations and feedback.

Proceedings of the 2004 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2004, American Society for Engineering Education

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Taylor, J., & Mozrall, J. (2004, June), An Integrated First Year Curriculum In Industrial And Systems Engineering Paper presented at 2004 Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah. 10.18260/1-2--12839