Integrated Design Experience
The program's philosophy is that the whole must be greater than the
sum of parts to be most effective. We educate students through a carefully
engineered curriculum based on proven engineering design knowledge, a
breadth of general education, modern computer technologies, and the
development of writing and thinking skills. By carefully integrating
course experiences and breaking down many walls between courses, our
program amplifies the benefits to students without increasing the total
course hours requirement. As a faculty we have built overlapping topics in
the curriculum to reinforce core competencies
The student is required to apply concepts previously learned in
subsequent courses. Students are more comfortable with upper level courses
because they have had exposure and experience in concepts before taking
the class. Furthermore, students begin to see the importance of the course
material and how it will be used after graduation.
The fundamental skills of model building, creativity, problem solving,
and communication are integrated into the topic threads of graphics,
design and writing. These threads are then drawn upon to link important
concepts across many courses. This linking forms a network of
experiences that is the foundation of engineering, beginning in the
first year course
IE105: Introduction to Industrial Engineering, which focuses on exploring
industrial engineering design and analysis problems and understanding how
industrial engineering affects systems. Students study industrial
engineering topics and explore problem solving through team-based projects
and hands-on activities.
IE 304, Design Fundamentals, studies design as a process, as a creative
human activity, and as a philosophy of problem solving. IE 304 requires a
team project that includes the design of a product and the design of its
production. The experience of designing items to fit and enhance human
capability is integrated into IE 340, Ergonomics and Safety. The design
activities usually associated with the computer aspects of the
manufacturing engineering of a product are addressed in IE 375, Computer
Integrated Manufacturing. The design approach to systems engineering is
incorporated in IE 415, Systems Integration, where student teams address
large open-ended problems. In Senior Design Seminar, students use
engineering skills to determine a real world problem, develop and
analyze alternatives and recommend a feasible solution. Design issues
are introduced throughout
the program to assure that students are well prepared for this experience.
Educational Environment
St. Ambrose, an independent coeducational university, can
guarantee small class size where there are less than 30 students per class
overall and less than 20 students per class in engineering courses.
Small classes ease questions and close interaction among all participants
(students and professor.) There are no cavernous lecture halls to
get lost in, and a degreed professor teaches every class. The
industrial engineering program can accept no more than 25 students to the
program each year. This limit on new students allows us to achieve
the goal of value in education.
As a teaching university, the quality of student learning
and teaching measures professor performance. Professionally
qualified faculty members who recognize the importance of high academic
and professional engineering standards teach courses. Professors are
dedicated to ensuring the success of students while at St. Ambrose and in
the working world. The focus is on preparing students for
life. The faculty concentrate their resources on educating
students. Research is secondary.
Liberal Arts Education is Emphasized
Students receive a broader understanding of the world
around them and can interact more effectively with that world.
Extensive Liberal Arts course work to assure awareness and appreciation of
the environment within which engineering solutions must exist.
Effective writing principles for thinking and communicating are taught and
practiced throughout the program. Strong fundamental science (math,
physics, chemistry) to assure an understanding of the physical world in
which all engineering solutions exist.
The emphasis on Liberal Arts uniquely complements the
skills that industrial engineers obtain. This higher level of
Liberal Arts education that St. Ambrose engineers receive sets them apart
from other programs leading to a BSIE. |
