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A Review of the 4+1 Accelerated Masters Degree Program: Student Awareness Presages Student Opportunities

Abstract

The 4 + 1 Program is an accelerated route to the professional masters (MS) degree. In many evolving technical areas, four years is not enough time for the formal education of an engineer about to enter a lifelong career of professional practice, even when the individual is committed to life long learning. The 4 + 1 program started in the General Engineering program in 1996 and now allows General Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Materials Engineering students to progress toward the terminal applied MS in Engineering degree appropriate to their interests, or in existing specializations in Biochemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Integrated Technology Management, while still undergraduates.

This paper describes the implementation of the 4+1 blended dual-degree program offered in the College of Engineering, and the outcomes it has produced for students. This program was designed to fill the needs of students, the needs of society and the needs of industry. Ten years after its formal implementation, results indicate that the program is achieving many of its goals. Data indicates that the 4+1 provides a win-win situation for all participants, and has been strongly supported by students, faculty and industry. The program has dramatically increased the number of students pursuing advanced degrees at our primarily undergraduate institution. Data presented in the paper also show that the program has met its original objectives, to provide an accelerated route to an empowering terminal professional degree for students who intend to become practicing engineers, to provide an accelerated route to job-entry education for the more complex and evolving interdisciplinary areas of engineering, and to provide an accelerated route to preparation for further study in engineering, leading to the Doctor of Engineering or Ph.D. degree.

Introduction

The Council of Graduate Schools in the United States presents the following statement: "Master's programs are intended to answer the personal needs of the student and the special needs of society that are not satisfied by the Baccalaureate program - needs that can only be met by more advanced and specialized study in a particular field. Candidates need such programs to prepare for scholarly or professional careers or perhaps merely to slake a thirst for further knowledge. Society, in turn, has a need for scholars, scientists, teachers, and professionals in a multitude of fields, and for generally well-educated men and women whatever their walk of life." This is an excellent definition, it implies a matching of needs and a win-win situation for the degree candidate and the society that will place value on their education. As academics we must recognize these needs and strive to find suitable candidates for our graduate programs and to match them to societal demand.

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Walsh, D., & Breitenbach, S. (2008, June), A Review Of The 4+1 Accelerated Masters Degree Program:Student Awareness Presages Student Opportunities Paper presented at 2008 Annual Conference & Exposition, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 10.18260/1-2--3930