asee new england section conference 2006 the dartmouth college bachelor of arts in engineering...

ASEE New England Section Conference 2006

THE DARTMOUTH COLLEGE BACHELOR OF ARTS

IN ENGINEERING SCIENCES

Eric W. Hansen Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College

Hanover, New Hampshire 03755-8000

[email protected]

Dartmouth A.B. in Engineering Sciences 2

Overview

Motivation

Program structure

Outcomes


U.S. Engineering A.B. Programs (partial list)

University of Arizona* Dartmouth

HarvardJohns Hopkins

LafayetteRice

* University of San Diego** North Carolina State (Benjamin Franklin Scholars

Program)Texas Tech

Yale

* Combined A.B.-B.S. or A.B.-B.E. program** Double major in engineering and a liberal arts discipline


Engineering at Dartmouth — history

Founded 1867 by Gen. Sylvanus Thayer; early emphasis on engineering with liberal arts

Mid-1960s• Interdisciplinary faculty of engineering sciences• Broad, common core• Liberal arts A.B. in engineering sciences before professional

B.E.

Mid-1990s• Curriculum revised to reflect greater breadth of engineering• Expanded interdisciplinary “modified majors”

Today, engineering sciences major is second most popular science major, seventh overall. 65 graduates/year.


MacLean Engineering Sciences Center — 2006

Will add 64,000 square feet for research and project labs, classrooms, and offices.


Characteristics of the Dartmouth environment

Quarter system — four ten-week terms per year

Students take three courses per term

Sophomore summer

Foreign study in sophomore or early junior year

Declare major at end of sophomore year


Engineering at Dartmouth — Undergrad program A.B. in Engineering Sciences — liberal arts degree

Bachelor of Engineering (ABET) — one year post-A.B., can be accelerated using free electives in A.B. program

Humanities & Social Science(7-10)

ForeignLanguage

(3)

Mathematics & Science(7)

Engineering Sciences(9-10)

Free Electives(5-9)

B.E. Program(9-11 courses)


Build specialization on a broad, interdisciplinary foundation.

Engineering philosophy


Implementation

Common coreIntro to Engg

Lumped SystemsDistributed Systems & Fields

Materials, Thermodynamics, ControlsDiscrete/Probabilistic Systems

Elective core(choose 2)

Digital, Analog Electronics

Solid, Fluid Mechanics

Biotech, Chem Engg

Environmental Engg

Gateway courses(choose 2 from different groups)

Prerequisites(3 math, 2 physics, 1 chem, 1 CS)

Specialized electives (engs, math, science)


Introduction to Engineering (Engs 21)

Early immersion in design and problem solving (late freshman or early sophomore year).

Student groups given a general theme, must develop practical device that meets a real-world need.

Structured problem-solving approach

Stresses teamwork, communication, need assessment, patents & markets, as well as technical expertise

Demonstrate prototype at end of course

Carries through to design projects in other courses


A recent Engs 21 project: the GyroBike™

Gyroscopic effect of a spinning disk in the front wheel facilitates learning to ride a bike, without training wheels.

Now patented, seeking to license.

Watch a movie:http://www.dartmouth.edu/~gyrobike/kids.htm


Systems core (Engs 22 & 23)

Provides early foundation in interdisciplinary thinking..

Allows students to make a more informed choice about eventual engineering specialty.

Bridge basic science and more specialized engineering courses.

Understanding one kind of system enables understanding of other systems.

Effective use of faculty time and course credits. Avoid teaching the same fundamentals in multiple

introductory courses — good for a small faculty. Efficiently package “old knowledge” so curriculum can

include more “new knowledge”.


Modified majors

Elected by 38% of current engineering sciences majors.

Major consists of six courses in engineering, four in a modifying subject.• Biology (biotech, premed)• Chemistry (chemical engg)• Computer science (computer engg)• Environmental science (environmental engg)• Studio art (architecture, product design)• Economics (business)

Engineering physics major — 5 courses in engineering, 5 in physics.

Majors modified with science merge well with B.E. program.


Engineering for nonmajors

Minor in engineering or other major modified with engineering

Minor in materials science — offered jointly with physics and chemistry

Technology courses for nonmajors• Everyday technology• Technology of sailing• Materials, the substance of civilization• Technology and the future of healthcare (2)• Biosecurity and homeland security (2)• Nanotechnology• Bioinformatics• Product design• Technology and society


Postgraduate education of A.B.s

Bachelor of Engineering program (ABET) — 63% of A.B.s continue• Admission is automatic for A.B. graduates• Up to one year post-A.B., but frequently accelerated• Thayer’s Master of Engineering Management — engineering

and business (elected by 30% of B.E.s)

Other graduate programs• M.B.A. (23%)• M.S. and Ph.D. (16%) (Dartmouth and elsewhere)• J.D., M.D., other (8%)


Career outcomes

Looking at cohorts 10 and 20 years after graduation.

A.B. graduates• 44% in engineering and technology fields, 46% in business

or consulting, 8% in law, medicine, education (including higher ed)

• 28% in management after 10 years, 60% after 20 years

B.E. graduates• 50% in engineering and technology, 41% in business or

consulting, 8% in law, medicine, education

• 20% in management after 10 years, 55% after 20 years


Summary

A.B. in engineering sciences has been the basis undergrad engineering education at Dartmouth since mid-1960s• Preparation for subsequent engineering education and

entry into profession• Liberal arts degree for other career paths

One-third liberal arts; one-half math, science, engineering; free electives

Common core of design and systems thinking

Enables foreign study, varsity athletics, performing arts, other extracurriculars.

asee new england section conference 2006 the dartmouth college bachelor of arts in engineering...

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