Comment Re:Good...maybe they'll fix a major problem. (Score 1) 423
I'm not very convinced that what this school is doing better addresses the problems you cite than what older engineering schools have been doing for quite some time.
For example, everyone at MIT (engineer or not) has to take, on the 'besides engineering' side:
8 courses in 'humanities and social science,' three of which must be of the slightly more writing intensive variety and be spread across the major disciplines (history, social science, literature, etc..), and three of four of which must form a cohesive a concentration. There is also a "Communications Intensive" requirement, used to be just a writing requirement, but now also requires classes that focus on discussion and presentation as well. Another oft-said critique of engineers.
And on the 'knowledge' front:
at absolute minimum 2 semesters each of physics and calc, one each of bio and chem, and at least one lab. though most majors require much more than this.
Its not perfect, but does certainly push strongly in both of those directions.
I hope other institutions that claim to graduate engineers require something similar.
For example, everyone at MIT (engineer or not) has to take, on the 'besides engineering' side:
8 courses in 'humanities and social science,' three of which must be of the slightly more writing intensive variety and be spread across the major disciplines (history, social science, literature, etc..), and three of four of which must form a cohesive a concentration. There is also a "Communications Intensive" requirement, used to be just a writing requirement, but now also requires classes that focus on discussion and presentation as well. Another oft-said critique of engineers.
And on the 'knowledge' front:
at absolute minimum 2 semesters each of physics and calc, one each of bio and chem, and at least one lab. though most majors require much more than this.
Its not perfect, but does certainly push strongly in both of those directions.
I hope other institutions that claim to graduate engineers require something similar.
