The Changing Face of Engineering Education in the US

THE CHANGING FACE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
IN THE UNITED STATES

Abstract - The evolution of engineering education is influenced by many factors. While the accreditation process has been the most significant change agent in recent years in the United States, it is by no means the only one. New engineering methods, changing patterns of employment, new kinds of employers, the restructuring of industry, and globalization all have had an impact on how engineering education is structured and delivered. This paper describes some of the ways in which the education process is being modified in response.
Index terms - Engineering education, accreditation, curriculum, current trends.
I. INTRODUCTION
Engineering colleges in the United States, as elsewhere in the world, are subject to many forces, both external and internal. Over the course of many years, these forces ebb and flow and there are periods of stability and periods of relatively rapid change. It is the opinion of this author...