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THE DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
BACHELOR OF ARTS
IN ENGINEERING SCIENCES
Eric W. Hansen
Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College
Hanover, New Hampshire 03755-8000
[email protected]
ASEE New England Section Conference 2006
Overview
 Motivation
 Program structure
 Outcomes
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U.S. Engineering A.B. Programs (partial list)
University of Arizona
* Dartmouth
Harvard
Johns Hopkins
Lafayette
Rice
* University of San Diego
** North Carolina State (Benjamin Franklin Scholars Program)
Texas Tech
Yale
* Combined A.B.-B.S. or A.B.-B.E. program
** Double major in engineering and a liberal arts discipline
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Engineering at Dartmouth — history
 Founded 1867 by Gen. Sylvanus Thayer; early emphasis on engineering
with liberal arts
 Mid-1960s
• Interdisciplinary faculty of engineering sciences
• Broad, common core
• Liberal arts A.B. in engineering sciences before professional B.E.
 Mid-1990s
• Curriculum revised to reflect greater breadth of engineering
• Expanded interdisciplinary “modified majors”
 Today, engineering sciences major is second most popular science major,
seventh overall. 65 graduates/year.
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MacLean Engineering Sciences Center — 2006
Will add 64,000 square feet for research and project labs, classrooms, and
offices.
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Characteristics of the Dartmouth environment
 Quarter system — four ten-week terms per year
 Students take three courses per term
 Sophomore summer
 Foreign study in sophomore or early junior year
 Declare major at end of sophomore year
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Engineering at Dartmouth — Undergrad program
 A.B. in Engineering Sciences — liberal arts degree
 Bachelor of Engineering (ABET) — one year post-A.B., can be accelerated
using free electives in A.B. program
B.E. Program
(9-11 courses)
Engineering Sciences
(9-10)
Humanities & Social Science
(7-10)
Dartmouth A.B. in Engineering Sciences
Foreign
Language
(3)
Free Electives
(5-9)
Mathematics & Science
(7)
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Engineering philosophy
Build specialization on a
broad, interdisciplinary
foundation.
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Implementation
Specialized electives
(engs, math, science)
Gateway courses
(choose 2 from different groups)
Elective core
(choose 2)
Common core
Solid, Fluid
Mechanics
Biotech,
Chem Engg
Digital, Analog
Electronics
Environmental
Engg
Materials, Thermodynamics, Controls
Discrete/Probabilistic Systems
Intro to Engg
Lumped Systems
Distributed Systems & Fields
Prerequisites
(3 math, 2 physics, 1 chem, 1 CS)
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Introduction to Engineering (Engs 21)
 Early immersion in design and problem solving (late freshman or early
sophomore year).
 Student groups given a general theme, must develop practical device that
meets a real-world need.
 Structured problem-solving approach
 Stresses teamwork, communication, need assessment, patents & markets,
as well as technical expertise
 Demonstrate prototype at end of course
 Carries through to design projects in other courses
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A recent Engs 21 project: the GyroBike™
Gyroscopic effect of a spinning disk in the front wheel facilitates learning to
ride a bike, without training wheels.
Now patented, seeking to license.
Watch a movie:
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~gyrobike/kids.htm
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Systems core (Engs 22 & 23)
 Provides early foundation in interdisciplinary thinking..
 Allows students to make a more informed choice about eventual
engineering specialty.
 Bridge basic science and more specialized engineering courses.
 Understanding one kind of system enables understanding of other
systems.
 Effective use of faculty time and course credits.


Avoid teaching the same fundamentals in multiple introductory courses
— good for a small faculty.
Efficiently package “old knowledge” so curriculum can include more
“new knowledge”.
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Modified majors
 Elected by 38% of current engineering sciences majors.
 Major consists of six courses in engineering, four in a modifying subject.
• Biology (biotech, premed)
• Chemistry (chemical engg)
• Computer science (computer engg)
• Environmental science (environmental engg)
• Studio art (architecture, product design)
• Economics (business)
 Engineering physics major — 5 courses in engineering, 5 in physics.
 Majors modified with science merge well with B.E. program.
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Engineering for nonmajors
 Minor in engineering or other major modified with engineering
 Minor in materials science — offered jointly with physics and chemistry
 Technology courses for nonmajors
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Everyday technology
Technology of sailing
Materials, the substance of civilization
Technology and the future of healthcare (2)
Biosecurity and homeland security (2)
Nanotechnology
Bioinformatics
Product design
Technology and society
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Postgraduate education of A.B.s
 Bachelor of Engineering program (ABET) — 63% of A.B.s continue
• Admission is automatic for A.B. graduates
• Up to one year post-A.B., but frequently accelerated
• Thayer’s Master of Engineering Management — engineering and
business (elected by 30% of B.E.s)
 Other graduate programs
• M.B.A. (23%)
• M.S. and Ph.D. (16%) (Dartmouth and elsewhere)
• J.D., M.D., other (8%)
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Career outcomes
Looking at cohorts 10 and 20 years after graduation.
 A.B. graduates
• 44% in engineering and technology fields, 46% in business or
consulting, 8% in law, medicine, education (including higher ed)
•
28% in management after 10 years, 60% after 20 years
 B.E. graduates
• 50% in engineering and technology, 41% in business or consulting,
8% in law, medicine, education
•
20% in management after 10 years, 55% after 20 years
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Summary
 A.B. in engineering sciences has been the basis undergrad
engineering education at Dartmouth since mid-1960s
• Preparation for subsequent engineering education and entry
into profession
• Liberal arts degree for other career paths
 One-third liberal arts; one-half math, science, engineering; free
electives
 Common core of design and systems thinking
 Enables foreign study, varsity athletics, performing arts, other
extracurriculars.
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