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Educational Materials for High School Summer Engineering Programs

*Dr. H. Estrada, P. E. (corresponding author) and *Dr. P. Leelani, P. E.

*Civil Engineering Program Texas A&M University – Kingsville MSC 194 Kingsville, Texas 78363 Hector.Estrada@tamuk.edu

Abstract

It is well known that the main reason many students do not pursue careers in engineering is because they are not aware of the opportunities available or simply do not know engineering is something other than conducting trains. In this paper, we present materials developed for a summer engineering program to educate high school students about the academic and professional opportunities engineering has to offer. The educational materials have been used the last three summers and 49 high school students have participated. The students are selected from several area high schools based on their academic interest, with the highest priority given to those interested in mathematics and science. They are brought to Kingsville to experience college life (including college admission and other college related activities) and to participate in several educational activities designed to familiarize them with civil engineering, including construction materials, structural engineering, transportation, environmental engineering, and water resources engineering. The primary objective of the material is to expose high school students to the great opportunities the profession of civil engineering has to offer.

The program has been a success, with one of the participants enrolling in the Civil Engineering Program at TAMUK following the institute in the fall of 2002, three of the participants from 2002 enrolling in the fall of 2003 and one from the summer of 2003 enrolling in the fall of 2004. This is particularly important because these students had plans to enter a different discipline and were not aware of any engineering careers! Furthermore, all but one of the remaining participants from 2002 have indicated that they would pursue a career in engineering. From the 2004 group, several participants have inquired about entering engineering next summer. There is no doubt that the educational materials have provided these students sufficient information to make an educated decision to pursue a degree in engineering.

Introduction

Most students who know anything about engineering perceive this academic field as “very

Proceedings of the 2005 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2005, American Society for Engineering Education

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Leelani, P., & Estrada, H. (2005, June), Educational Materials For High School Summer Engineering Programs Paper presented at 2005 Annual Conference, Portland, Oregon. 10.18260/1-2--14973