Providing flexible and career-correlated paths through the undergraduate electrical and computer engineering curriculum

Abstract

This Research Category Work in Progress paper presents the first phase of an assessment of the EE and CmpE undergraduate curriculum in terms of its effectiveness in providing clear paths and expectations for students pursuing an EE or CmpE degree. The overarching goal of this study is to build a framework for the potential redesign of the EE and CmpE curriculum that can accommodate future changes while providing clearly defined pathways that correlate to careers students are passionate about. At Georgia Tech, EE and CmpE disciplines are structurally organized into eleven relatively distinct research categories that are useful for internal structure and management of courses, but are less helpful for students navigating through the EE and CmpE undergraduate curriculum. Data are provided that show the enrollments in the current categories over the last six years. Of particular interest are: (1) the most common paths students are currently following and how/why chosen (2) student/faculty expectations of the educational paths that should exist given the current industry climate and (3) the integration of design through the new Interdisciplinary Commons (IDC) (e.g., a new makerspace). This paper will present the strategy for the continuation of this study as well as outline expected outcomes that could be of use to other programs assessing EE and CmpE undergraduate curricula.