MSEE – The First Professional Degree Presentation to the IEEE Educational Activities Board February 17, 2007 Presentation to the IEEE Educational Activities Board February 17, 2007 Bruce A. Eisenstein

2 The 19 th Century Science advanced slowly Engineering changed hardly at all Science and engineering education was an apprenticeship Science advanced slowly Engineering changed hardly at all Science and engineering education was an apprenticeship

3 Early Part of the 20 th Century Changes in Science Accelerated Atomic Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity Invention increased (Edison, Bell, etc.) But engineering remained static Changes in Science Accelerated Atomic Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity Invention increased (Edison, Bell, etc.) But engineering remained static

4 Mid-20 th Century World War II Engineers were inadequate for the needs of rapidly changing science Radar, atomic bomb, guidance technologies were done by scientists Engineering education had to change Engineers were inadequate for the needs of rapidly changing science Radar, atomic bomb, guidance technologies were done by scientists Engineering education had to change

5 Late 20 th Century Engineering sciences became the model for the curriculum Engineers had to be well grounded in the basic sciences in order to keep up with the advances there Engineering practice, however, did not change Engineering sciences became the model for the curriculum Engineers had to be well grounded in the basic sciences in order to keep up with the advances there Engineering practice, however, did not change

6 Context of Engineering 21 st Century Paul Penfield, Jr NEEDHA President We continue to educate our students as though the context in which engineering is done is static…By context is meant the cultural, political, industrial, social, and work environment in which an engineer practices. In other words, we recognize that science is dynamic, but we still think context is static.

7 We are wrong! Context is changing dynamically Gender balance among engineers Concern for the environment and sustainable resources New countries, new players, new cultures Teamwork Shorter design cycles Individually customized design paradigms Better design tools Globalization And, most importantly…. Gender balance among engineers Concern for the environment and sustainable resources New countries, new players, new cultures Teamwork Shorter design cycles Individually customized design paradigms Better design tools Globalization And, most importantly….

8 The Internet

9 Coping with changing science and changing context Cannot be done in the 4-years of a BS The changes in science alone cannot be accommodated forcing undergraduate programs to resort to tracks BS graduates are not equipped to function in the new global work environment Cannot be done in the 4-years of a BS The changes in science alone cannot be accommodated forcing undergraduate programs to resort to tracks BS graduates are not equipped to function in the new global work environment

10 What should we do? Make the BS a technology/science-based liberal arts program Emphasize creativity, design, economics, social constraints, environmental concerns, teamwork, exposure to other cultures, and aesthetics MS program drills deep into selected technologies Make the BS a technology/science-based liberal arts program Emphasize creativity, design, economics, social constraints, environmental concerns, teamwork, exposure to other cultures, and aesthetics MS program drills deep into selected technologies

11 Will it work? The suggested change puts engineering education on par with medicine and law The new MS graduates will have a solid liberal arts base to cope with the changing context, and a deep graduate-level understanding of the technology. The suggested change puts engineering education on par with medicine and law The new MS graduates will have a solid liberal arts base to cope with the changing context, and a deep graduate-level understanding of the technology.

12 They will truly be Professionals for the 21 st Century