JMU to create engineering program next fall
Posted on August 27, 2007
JMU will continue to expand its academic roster by adding a school of engineering to the College of Integrated Science and Technology next fall, according to Dr. Erwin, the associate vice-president of Academic Affairs.
The program was created as a result of a research group comprised of several professors from different departments such as management, physics and ISAT
“Engineering was really like the last piece of the puzzle,” said Dr. Erwin, a member of the committee, “It was the last major academic program that JMU didn’t have.”
The research group focused on material from several areas that had shown that engineering is in great demand at JMU. The commonwealth of Virginia has also identified the top three labor shortages areas as nursing, education and engineering.
JMU decided to respond to this need by creating a program that will produce close to 50 graduates per year, starting with the first graduating class in 2012.
“The question in our mind was, if we build it, will they come?” Erwin said. “We’ve been flooded with inquiries, especially after word got out so fast and generated a lot of
interest.”
The program will contain a variety of new and unique elements in order to differentiate it from other engineering programs within the state.
The general engineering program will be a 120-hour major program, allowing students to comfortably earn a B.S. in engineering in four years.
“Most undergraduate engineering programs are over 120 hours, even if it’s not by design,” said Dr. Prins, an engineering faculty member.
The school of engineering will also focus on incorporating business elements into the curriculum. The Steering Committee created two new business courses designed for engineering students. The courses, called Management of Technology I and II, will be specially constructed in order to allow students to pursue post-graduate studies in business or engineering upon graduation.
“The addition of business skills is really important to our program,” Prins said. “Having our graduates be able to speak both engineering and business is key to their success.”
The school will also participate in a recent engineering trend by emphasizing a sustainability theme within its general engineering education. The theme will allow students in the program to work on applied projects as well as build off of current projects with other professors and colleges.
The program will also stress group work, building on the communication skills that JMU students already have.
“Because we’re building this program from ground zero, we want to use the interpersonal skills that JMU students have as part of learning,” Erwin said. “We plan to incorporate service learning and undergraduate research.”
In order to be fully staffed, the school will focus on hiring seven professors over a period of three years
The program is also looking toward the future, gauging interest and debating expansions such as a study opportunities and a possible engineering minor, according to Dr. Erwin. The school of engineering will also be integrating transfer students who have completed a two-year engineering program at community colleges.
At this point, the faculty members involved in the creation of the program are looking forward to the future of anticipated program.
“The engineering program really has a glitz about it right now,” said Erwin. “The buzz is there, and we’re really excited to be a part of it.”
For more information about the engineering program, contract Dr. Prins at prinsrj@jmu.edu or visit the Web site, www.jmu.edu/engineering.