Brazil’s first undergraduate course in acoustical engineering.

Abstract

The fact that the research on acoustics represents an important segment of science and a significant necessity of society is certainly commonplace among acousticians. In many situations, however, it is only marginally incorporated into the curricula of universities. This is particularly the case in the Brazilian educational and research institutions, mainly due to the lack of a comprehensive curriculum that accounts for basic education in acoustics, despite the enormous demand for acousticians in Brazil. To meet this demand, the Federal University of Santa Maria has begun, in the end of 2008, a dedicated 5-year undergraduate course in Acoustical Engineering to provide students with more than basic knowledge in acoustics, vibrations, and audio. Within the first four semesters the curricula are structured to provide fundamental knowledge for enginners with traditional engineering subjects such as math, physics, mechanics, electrical circuits, and the like, accompanied by disciplines concerning musical education for acoustical engineers (first to fourth semester) and issues related to human exposure to noise. Starting at the fifth semester education in acoustics, vibration, and audio is broadened each semester with disciplines like room acoustics, noise control, environmental acoustics, electroacoustics, numerical methods in acoustics, psychoacoustics, and so on. The talk will present the structure of the course as well as discuss challenges and difficulties.