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A brand new bachelor of science in engineering degree will be offered at ASU East starting fall 2005. The program claims to be nationally unique because it will incorporate different disciplines, such as civil, mechanical and biomedical engineering.
Collaborative projects will be a mandatory part of the curriculum, and students will learn multiple engineering topics.
The program plans to replace lecture halls with engineering studios, and lectures will be replaced with hands-on learning activities. This interactive learning will enhance students' analytical thinking and teach them to work in a team environment.
"It will be nationally distinctive in the way courses will be delivered and the way students will learn," said Provost Gerald Jakubowski. The program will meet the new trends occurring in engineering today, Jakubowski said.
The opportunity to create a new engineering program from a clean slate at a public institution is very rare in U.S. history.
"We have redesigned every course and all of the content of the new program," said Chell Roberts, chair of the department of engineering. Most of the program will use one-hour modules instead of the traditional three- or four-hour courses, Roberts said.
This particular strategy will give faculty and students more flexibility in the breadth and depth of topical coverage.
"It would be nice to actually work on a project instead of listening to a plain lecture," said electronic technology freshman Joel Grommes.
"The ability to memorize facts and use these facts to answer test questions is not the same as being able to solve realistic problems, to design new products, to start new enterprises or to practice engineering," Roberts said.
Current education research has shown that people learn better when actually doing tasks compared to listening or simply reading about it, Roberts said.
"This is a once-in-a-life opportunity to create a program like this one, it leaves me almost giddy with excitement each new day," Roberts said.
Reach the reporter at nargiza.paltasheva@asu.edu
