University’s Master of Sciencein Electrical Engineering program highlighted a significant improvement in the quality of thestudent capstone when the students elected to substitute systems engineering courses for theproject management courses. Projects tended to be more organized, and include strongerevaluations of practicality and performance of the final project.The Professors Santiago and Kasley have instructed several graduate several courses inelectrical, computer and systems engineering, and observed the improvement in student workwhen challenged to use of system-level thinking. This provided one key reason whyengineering faculty wanted to adopt a system engineering approach. In addition, the localcampus has a heavy military presence, and systems
disciplinarities ofher own research and teaching. Her graduate training is in STS, and her research has analyzedinter- and transdisciplinary collaborations between engineers, artists, and scientists [19]. She ismotivated by the potential for interdisciplinary engagement to change engineers’ outlooks ontheir education and profession. Her experiences as an instructor of STS-based core courses forengineering and computer science students have helped to shape her outlook on teaching and herapproach to this paper.Lastly, Dr. Desen Ozkan’s graduate background is in engineering education, specifically inunderstanding how faculty developed and maintained interdisciplinarity amid universitystructures. She focused on interdisciplinary design courses that used human
] analyzed the “low-choice culture” of engineering curricula, particularly incontrast to other fields of study. In the context of new research demonstrating the value of selfdetermination or autonomy for students in motivating learning, enhancing self-efficacy, andsupporting persistence, the relative inflexibility of engineering curricula stood out starkly. Withinindividual courses, studies have shown the “power of choice” to positively influence studentoutcomes, for example, when students may choose from among a menu of design projects[45, 46], and recommendations have been made for the design of self-determination supportiveengineering-student learning experiences [47, 48]. However, Forbes, et al.,’s statistical analysis ofthe curricula at 46
].Although percentages of freshman intending to major in engineering increased from 18.4% in2006 to 26.9% in 2014 for males and 3.5% to 7.9% for females, the increase in the percentage ofbachelor’s degrees in engineering awarded to women rose only 2.5% from 18.4% in 1997 to20.9% in 2019 [16], [17]. These percentages remained far below the graduation rates for males.Additionally, 15% of women never enter the engineering workforce resulting in a larger gendergap [3], [16]. The Literature This research integrates existing work on supporting diversity in the engineeringdiscipline. Specifically, we build on existing literature that examined the barriers and challengesfemale students have to entering
, helping men develop a personal motivation forengaging in gender equity efforts, utilizing male roles models, providing opportunities for male-only dialogues, and engagement in solution-building. Barriers include apathy, fear of status loss,and lack of knowledge about gender inequities15. Additional theory and research indicate thatthere are key stages in the development of an ally identity and effective ally behaviors16-21.Overall, there appears to be accord among investigators such that (1) potential allies must firstunderstand unearned advantage and how it works in their own lives as well as how it impacts thelives of systemically disadvantaged persons; (2) successful ally development approacheseducate, inspire, and support members of the