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Session 2266

Restructuring the Undergraduate Curriculum of the Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics Department at The University of Michigan D. M. Tilbury,1 S. L. Ceccio,2 and G. Tryggvason3 Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics The University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Abstract

Recent changes in the undergraduate program of the Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (MEAM) Department at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor are discussed. The undergraduate curriculum has been modified to emphasize communication skills, teamwork, and hands-on experiences while retaining a strong core of engineering science instruction. The motivations for these changes are presented and the status of the program is discussed.

Introduction

Engineering education has evolved considerably during the last few decades. But the fundamental premise that engineering education should provide students with the ability to solve engineering problems as an exercise in applied sciences has not changed. This notion has, however, come under increasing scrutiny in the last several years, and a number of educators, employers and government officials have called for extensive changes in the undergraduate engineering curriculum (1). Indeed, society at large is demanding that universities evaluate and justify the cost and benefits of undergraduate education.

The faculty of the Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (MEAM) department of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, has conducted a review of the standard program in mechanical engineering. In the beginning of 1992, the chairman of MEAM appointed an Undergraduate Curriculum Review Committee to evaluate the status of the undergraduate program and recommend changes, if necessary. While the program had been incrementally evolving to meet new demands and to take advantage of new opportunities, these changes had generally been on the course level. The committee was charged with examining the undergraduate curriculum as a whole and making recommendations. In this paper, conclusions of our review are presented and the

1 Assistant Professor 2 Associate Professor 3 Associate Professor and Associate Chair

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Ceccio, S. L., & Tryggvason, G., & Tilbury, D. M. (1997, June), Restructuring The Undergraduate Curriculum Of The Mechanical Engineering And Applied Mechanics Department At The University Of Michigan Paper presented at 1997 Annual Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 10.18260/1-2--6765