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| Sunday, 25 July 2004 |
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Engineering studies in the USA : Accreditation 101 by Srilal Weerasinghe, PhD There are many overseas institutions (including in Sri Lanka) that offer undergraduate engineering courses in preparation for transfer to universities in the USA. Some are legitimate and have proper affiliations with recognised US colleges. Based on my discussions with many transfer students who have come to the USA, it appears that the majority had no prior knowledge of engineering accreditation. Many are baffled at the complexity of the issue. In this short article I intend to present some general information, which will hopefully enable you -as a student- to shop around more effectively for the college of your choice. For instance, if the institution you have attended in Sri Lanka is not recognized or affiliated, you may find that many of the prep courses that you have taken in Sri Lanka (and paid for!) are not recognized once you transfer to a US college. Advantages Note that the terms 'university' and 'college' are used interchangeably in this article. Colleges tend to be smaller and usually offer only undergraduate studies while universities may also offer postgraduate degrees (-though there are exceptions). While you may prefer to get your degree from a well-known university with a student population in the tens of thousands, small liberal arts colleges have their own advantages. The student/faculty ratio is small in colleges and there's less pressure on faculty members to bring in research grant money; thus they can devote more time to teaching. The universities are usually state funded whereas colleges are mostly private (hence more expensive comparatively). Accreditation First and foremost, remember that it is important to get your degree from a recognized college in the USA. This is especially true if you plan to obtain a job or pursue higher studies in the USA. Employers and graduate schools give preference to students from 'accredited' institutions, since by and large it would ensure that the applicants possess necessary academic background. Indeed, State and Federal jobs are off-limit without such credentials. Unlike in many countries, the Federal Government does not regulate the educational institutions in the US. Instead, there are professional bodies that scrutinize and evaluate educational programs and universities. For engineering studies, the authoritative body is the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). ABET is a federation of 28 professional organizations. Each organization is tasked with the accreditation of a certain discipline in engineering. For example, IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) is authorized to evaluate Electrical Engineering programs. ABET accreditation ensures that the academic programs have met the minimum acceptable requirements. This involves meeting stringent criteria for all components of the academic program such as, students, faculty, curricula, administration, facilities and institutional commitment. Each year ABET evaluators visit universities to assess and ensure the programs maintain high quality of standards. Philosophy of US Higher Education The US higher education is built upon the premise of 'liberal arts (& sciences)' concept. Universities are expected to provide a well-rounded education to develop the student's verbal, written and reasoning skills. This entails the adoption of a broad academic curriculum. It is not uncommon for science or engineering majors to take literature and history classes or arts majors to take math and physics classes. However this factor limits the number of classes one could take in 4 years, therefore careful planning is needed to reap the maximum benefits. Every department has a faculty member assigned as a 'student advisor' to help you in this task. For engineering majors, ABET minimum requirements are 1 year of math & science, 1 and 1/2 years of engineering topics and a general education component consisting of humanities and social sciences. (duration used to be 6 months). Note that individual schools have their own degree requirements and the students must refer to the course catalog (usually available on-line) for current requirements. Objectives Based on the broadbased education concept, the consummate graduate is expected to be proficient in more than just technical skills. To attain this goal, engineering curricula must expose the students to all facets of the profession. Supposedly, such an approach will give students the edge to succeed in today's multi-faceted industrial environment. Per ABET criteria, Engineering programs must demonstrate that their graduates have: (a) An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering (b) An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data (c) An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs (d) An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams (e) An ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems (f) An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility (g) An ability to communicate effectively (h) The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context (i) A recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in, life-long learning (j) A knowledge of contemporary issues (k) An ability to use the techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice. The above are commonly known as the 'a-k criteria'. Note the emphasis in (d), (f), (g), (h), (i) and (j): It is not sufficient to provide just the technical knowledge; colleges must prove that they satisfy ALL of the above criteria to receive and maintain accreditation. Continued next week |
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