Integrated Engineering is a multi-diciplinary, design project based engineering degree program. Integrated Engineering originated at the University of Western Ontario (UWO) in Ontario, Canada and the Applied Science Faculty of the University of British Columbia (UBC) also began a degree program for Integrated Engineering in 2000.
Integrated Engineering (IGEN) is intended to provide students with a broad engineering education. Students gain background in core disciplines such as: materials, solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, and systems involving chemical, electro-mechanical, and biological components. At UBC, students have the freedom of choosing 18 credits of technical electives. This translates in to the student establishing a primary in one discipline and a secondary in another dicipline. The program has been fully accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board and engineers are able to obtain a Professional Engineer Certificate.
Integrated Engineering was created in response to industry. For some time there has been a concern in Canada and in the United States that engineering graduates were not well-prepared for many of today's multi-diciplined and project-based workplace. Several committees have been formed to study this and have published some material. One Canadian study was done by the Canadian Academy of Engineering and two of its main conclusions were:
- Engineering faculties should ensure that breadth of learning, beyond the technical aspects of the specialist engineering discipline, is a major thrust in engineering education.
- The engineering curriculum should emphasize problem-solving, design, and the development of the learning skills of their students.
Project Design
Engineering design is emphasized through design project courses taken in each term. Usually the design projects directly involve knowledge gained in courses, but some projects require students to do some independent learning.
Integrated Engineeers in the Work Force
Integrated Engineering popularity in industry continues to grow and more Integrated Engineers enter the workforce.
External links
- University Of British Columbia Integrated Engineering: http://www.igen.ubc.ca/
- University of Western Ontario Integrated Engieering: http://www.engga.uwo.ca/integrated/
- Evolution of Engineering Education in Canada: http://www.acad-eng-gen.ca/publis/Evolution_a.pdf
- The Canadian Academy of Engineering: http://www.acad-eng-gen.ca/ACG_an.html
- APEGBC - Integrated Engineering: http://www.apeg.bc.ca/reg/documents/IntegratedEngineering.pdf