An Exploration of the Use of Technical Electives in Engineering Curricula

John R. Reisel,

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Conference: 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Baltimore , Maryland
Publication Date: June 25, 2023
Start Date: June 25, 2023
End Date: June 28, 2023
Conference Session: Technological and Engineering Literacy/Philosophy of Engineering Division (TELPhE) Technical Session 1
Tagged Division: Technological and Engineering Literacy/Philosophy of Engineering Division (TELPhE)
Page Count: 11
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--42623
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/42623
Download Count: 186

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Paper Authors

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John R. Reisel, P.E. University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

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Dr. John R. Reisel is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). He also serves as Secretary of the University at UWM. In addition to research into engineering education, his efforts focus on combustion and energy utilization. Dr. Reisel was a 2005 recipient of the UWM Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award, a 2000 recipient of the UWM College of Engineering and Applied Science Outstanding Teaching Award, and a 1998 recipient of the SAE Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award. Dr. Reisel received his B.M.E. degree from Villanova University in 1989, his M.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University in 1991, and his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Purdue University in 1994.

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Abstract

A standard feature of many, if not most, undergraduate engineering programs is the requirement that students in the program take a certain number of technical elective courses. The widespread and long-standing use of this requirement in engineering programs may have led to a situation where many faculty do not even consider the purposes these courses serve, or whether requiring students to take a certain number of these courses is in the best interest of the students. The intention of this paper is to start a conversation on the purpose and appropriate number of technical electives required in an undergraduate engineering program.

Technical electives can provide students with a number of benefits. One benefit is that technical electives give students the opportunity to learn specialized knowledge of an advanced nature that they can then apply to their work in various subfields of engineering. For example, a mechanical engineering student interested in the electricity-generation industry would benefit from taking technical elective courses in traditional power generation methods and in renewable energy technologies. But by their very nature as electives, technical elective courses should not be teaching material that is expected to be learned by every student graduating from a particular engineering discipline. Requiring students to take several such courses may impact their ability to take courses from other disciplines which may be beneficial to them in achieving their personal career goals. Therefore, it is important for engineering programs to consider the results they are intending to achieve by requiring students to take technical electives, how these courses may be impacting the overall education of the students, and what is an appropriate number of technical elective courses to require. It can be noted that ABET accreditation requirements should not be forcing programs to require students to take technical elective courses.

In this paper, an overview of the nature of technical elective courses will be provided. The potential benefits and detriments of requiring technical elective courses will be explored. The paper concludes with some recommendations of what engineering programs should do as they consider the optimal number of technical elective courses to require of their students.

Citation
Format

Reisel,, J. R. (2023, June), An Exploration of the Use of Technical Electives in Engineering Curricula Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--42623

TY - CPAPER
AB - A standard feature of many, if not most, undergraduate engineering programs is the requirement that students in the program take a certain number of technical elective courses. The widespread and long-standing use of this requirement in engineering programs may have led to a situation where many faculty do not even consider the purposes these courses serve, or whether requiring students to take a certain number of these courses is in the best interest of the students. The intention of this paper is to start a conversation on the purpose and appropriate number of technical electives required in an undergraduate engineering program.

Technical electives can provide students with a number of benefits. One benefit is that technical electives give students the opportunity to learn specialized knowledge of an advanced nature that they can then apply to their work in various subfields of engineering. For example, a mechanical engineering student interested in the electricity-generation industry would benefit from taking technical elective courses in traditional power generation methods and in renewable energy technologies. But by their very nature as electives, technical elective courses should not be teaching material that is expected to be learned by every student graduating from a particular engineering discipline. Requiring students to take several such courses may impact their ability to take courses from other disciplines which may be beneficial to them in achieving their personal career goals. Therefore, it is important for engineering programs to consider the results they are intending to achieve by requiring students to take technical electives, how these courses may be impacting the overall education of the students, and what is an appropriate number of technical elective courses to require. It can be noted that ABET accreditation requirements should not be forcing programs to require students to take technical elective courses.

In this paper, an overview of the nature of technical elective courses will be provided. The potential benefits and detriments of requiring technical elective courses will be explored. The paper concludes with some recommendations of what engineering programs should do as they consider the optimal number of technical elective courses to require of their students.

AU - John R. Reisel, P.E.
CY - Baltimore , Maryland
DA - 2023/06/25
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - An Exploration of the Use of Technical Electives in Engineering Curricula
UR - https://peer.asee.org/42623
DO - 10.18260/1-2--42623
ER -