AC 2011-798: PRINCIPLES AND STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING AN INTERDISCIPLINARY UNDERGRADUATE CUR- RICULUM

Traditional undergraduate engineering disciplines, due to their focus on single disciplines, cannot meet the growing need for engineers skilled in multiscale design: they educate engineers to handle systems issues or component issues, but not both. Furthermore, many interdisciplinary programs in engineering are more focused on developing knowledge and skills in multiple component-level domains (e.g., mechatronics focuses on developing component level knowledge in electrical, mechanical, and computer domains) than in component-level and systems-level areas. These observations serve as the basis for the Technology Leaders Program (TLP), a transportable interdisciplinary program being developed at the University of the Blue Ridge and Central Community College. The TLP is designed to develop in students 1) a deep understanding of the need for interdisciplinary knowledge that is at both componentand systems-levels, 2) disciplinary grounding in a component-level domain (electrical and computer engineering) and a systems-level area (systems engineering), 3) integration skills whereby students can design integrated systems of electrical and computer components, and 4) critical awareness of the need for this combination of knowledge and the opportunities and limitations for its application. Development and implementation of the TLP began in 2008 with the first class of students entering the program as sophomores in 2009. The purpose of this paper is to report on the key principles used in structuring and implementing the Technology Leaders Program. These principles focus on ensuring benefits to students in the program and developing a clear sense of identity for the TLP. In addition, the process of transporting the TLP to other institutions is described, with a focus on transporting core elements of the TLP (not necessarily the entire TLP) and on improving the TLP through the process of transporting it to other schools.