For more information, contact Cindy Young, (937) 775-3232.

August 20, 1998

WRIGHT STATE BEGINS NEW COURSE SEQUENCE FOR
FIRST-YEAR ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE STUDENTS

Engineers spend much time solving problems, but in many academic programs engineering students don't get hands-on problem-solving experience until they complete other academic requirements. Some students become so frustrated they begin to look at different careers.

They might not want to be so hasty. According to the American Society for Engineering Education, engineering is the nation's second largest profession, with more than 1.2 million engineers working in the United States today. There's room for more. Graduating Engineer magazine reports job opportunities for new engineers should be 3.9 percent greater than last year.

Through a new program beginning this fall at Wright State University, selected first-year engineering and computer science students will learn fundamental engineering concepts through hands-on projects, practicums and laboratory experiments. EC-2001, also known as "Introduction to the Art of Engineering," consists of three four-credit courses offered in the fall, winter and spring quarters.

"Students will conduct real, virtual and remote experiments; create and study computer simulations; develop skills in the use of generic software packages; and practice the art of engineering design, all in the freshman year," said James E. Brandeberry, P.E., dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Wright State.

Students will participate in a two-hour computer lab and a three-hour instrumentation lab each week. The computer lab will introduce students to a variety of computer packages. In the instrumentation lab, students will work in two-person teams and conduct engineering experiments.

Through the program, "Freshmen can get involved with the faculty as soon as they step on
campus," said Dick Rathbun, assistant dean of the College. "The students' academic progress will be tracked to determine whether the program improves retention."

EC-2001 will require students to keep a journal of their activities. Wright State's Department of English will offer the students special sections of English composition based on the same principles and goals as other English composition courses but designed especially to teach the students how to write about engineering and computer science.

"The main difference will come in the inclusion of assignments related to the work the students will be doing in their engineering courses, most notably the design project proposal and the final report," said Beth A. Wharton, instructor of English. "We will attempt to relate the creative processes of writing to the creative processes of engineering. We believe it is essential for the students in this program to see that both verbal and written communication skills are necessary for success in their chosen fields."

WSU invited all new students accepted into the engineering and computer science program to volunteer for EC-2001. About 175 students volunteered, and about 60 were selected based on their SAT or ACT math scores. The college hopes to offer the program to about 150 students in fall 1999, and eventually offer it to all its first year students. A similar program at Drexel University in Philadelphia resulted in higher student satisfaction and improved retention and graduation rates for participants. EC-2001 is being developed by Wright State, Drexel, the University of Kentucky and Mercer University in Macon, Ga.

"Students who are selected will follow a slightly altered program of study for their major but will not be required to complete any more academic credit hours for graduation than other students in their major," said Brandeberry. For more information on the program at Wright State, contact Brandeberry at (937) 775-5001.

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