College of Engineering

Engineering Education

Overview

The Department of Engineering Education (ENGE) teaches first-year and second-year engineering courses, advises General Engineering (GE) students, and offers graduate programs, including a graduate certificate and a Ph.D., in engineering education. The department offers second-year courses in engineering topics such as computer-aided design and programming.

At the undergraduate level, the department provides the foundation for students to complete a bachelor of science degree in one of the college of engineering programs and move into degree-related employment or graduate studies. At the graduate level, the department prepares students to teach engineering and conduct research related to teaching, learning, and assessment in engineering contexts.


Accreditation statements may be found in the listings for individual undergraduate degree programs.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Center for e-Design is a major asset to Engineering Education. The mission of this multi-university industry/university center is to serve as a national center of excellence in IT-enabled design and realization of products and systems. The main objectives are twofold: 1) to research, develop, and test methods and technologies for collaborative design environments that enable lower cost, higher quality, faster to market products, and 2) to nurture and cultivate a new breed of engineers, scientists, and business leaders in this new design paradigm through an educational model that includes close collaborations with industry and use of the latest technologies and methods. Refer to the Center web site for more information: http://e-design.iems.ucf.edu/index.html

Faculty from the department have created and direct the Virginia Tech Engineering Communications Center (VTECC), a research center focused on understanding engineering communication and collaboration practices in industry and academic settings. As part of its outreach mission, VTECC continually uses the findings from industry and classroom research sites to help engineering faculty and departments develop assignments and curricula that effectively address professional skills such as written and oral communication and multidisciplinary collaboration (http://www.vtecc.eng.vt.edu/).

Our department is also the organizational home of the Joseph F. Ware, Jr. Advanced Engineering Laboratory. The Ware Lab, as it is commonly known, is a College of Engineering facility that is home to many of the hardware realization projects in the College (http://www.eng.vt.edu/warelab/ ).

Special Facilities

The department has a student project laboratory, the Frith Freshman Engineering Design Laboratory, equipped for hands on engineering design and reverse engineering activities. The Frith Lab is reconfigurable for a number of different activities and has been used for purposes ranging from simple mechanical fabrication to using small fuel cells for experimental purposes.

First Year Students and General Engineering

The General Engineering (GE) program of the EngE department serves first-year students in the College of Engineering. Through EngE courses, these first-year students, often with little firsthand knowledge of engineering, participate in basic problem solving and design exercises that represent the essence of the engineering profession. The courses emphasize team-based design-oriented hands-on experience to develop students’ concepts of engineering and engineering methods while reinforcing the role of concurrent required courses (e.g. mathematics, chemistry, English, physics), as well as serving as a foundation for subsequent courses in the various engineering curricula. Coverage of engineering ethics instills a sense of the responsibilities of engineers to society. Algorithm development and computer programming develop logical thinking, provide the background for computer use in later courses, and complement problem solving skills. Spatial visualization skills are developed through engineering graphics, a primary engineering tool. Through writing and presentations students begin to develop professional communication skills, including audience analysis, visual rhetoric, effective writing styles, opportunities and problems posed by electronic writing environments, issues in collaborative writing, techniques of oral presentation, print and Web-based research, graphics for written and oral presentations, and editing.

All College of Engineering students must own 1) a convertible tablet PC computer meeting current specifications, and 2) stipulated software used to analyze and solve problems in and out of class.

Transfer to Engineering Departments

Entering students are admitted to General Engineering, the first-year program for all engineering curricula. As noted, this program introduces students to foundational concepts and practices in engineering, allows time to adjust to the College, and provides opportunities to investigate the College’s individual degree programs and select the branch of engineering (or computer science) best suited to their skills and interests. At the end of the year – after additional advising, counseling, contacts with the various departments, and satisfactory progress – students select a degree program and, if academically eligible, are transferred to the appropriate degree-granting department. Students achieving Dean’s List status (GPA of 3.4 or higher) at the end of their first semester can transfer to their selected department in the beginning of their second semester. Students must earn a minimum grade of C- in the first EngE course, ENGE 1024, in order to be eligible to take all subsequent ENGE courses. Also, a minimum grade of C- in all other first-year ENGE courses is required before transferring to a degree-granting department.

In addition to requiring successful completion of the first-year courses, some degree-granting programs have additional restrictions and/or required courses before students may transfer from General Engineering. Please see the previous catalog section, titled “Required Academic Progress,” for details.

First Year
First Semester
CHEM 1035: General Chemistry	(3)
CHEM 1045: General Chemistry Lab	(1)
ENGE 1024: Engineering Exploration	(2)
ENGL 1105: Freshman English	(3)
MATH 1205: Calculus I	(3)
MATH 1114: Linear Algebra	(2)
Liberal Education or other Elective	(1-3)
Credits	(15-17)
Second Semester (Total recommended course load is 15-18 credits. Students interested in degree programs requiring only 14 credits should consider selecting a course from Area 2 or Area 3 of the Curriculum for Liberal Education.
ENGL 1106: Freshman English	(3)
MATH 1206: Calculus II	(3)
MATH 1224: Vector Geometry	(2)
PHYS 2305: Foundations of Physics I (includes laboratory)	(4)
Students interested in Biological Systems Engineering: CHEM 1036: General Chemistry
Students interested in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Electrical Engineering: ENGE 1104: Exploration of the Digital Future	(2)
Students interested in Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering: ECE 1574: Programming and Problem Solving for EEs and CPEs	(3)
Students interested in Computer Science: CS 1705: Intro to Object-Oriented Development or CS 1124: Intro to Media Computation	(3)
Students interested in Aerospace Engineering, Biological Systems Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Construction Engineering & Management, Engineering Science & Mechanics, Industrial & Systems Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mining & Minerals Engineering, and Ocean Engineering:
ENGE 1114: Exploration of Engineering Design	(2)
Students interested in Chemical Engineering:
CHEM 1036 & 1046: General Chemistry & Laboratory	(3&1)

Graduate Courses

The department’s growing graduate program provides opportunities for students pursuing advanced degrees in engineering (or related areas) to expand their knowledge of teaching and learning in engineering contexts. Courses help prepare students for academic careers in engineering, understand the principles that guide teaching methods in various types of engineering courses, and develop tools for assessing both student learning and program effectiveness. In addition, the department provides opportunities for students to participate in research projects that advance our understanding of engineering pedagogy. A Graduate Certificate in Engineering Education is available for graduate students from any Virginia Tech department. The Ph.D. in Engineering Education is designed for graduate students who desire to perform and lead rigorous research in the field of engineering education.

Undergraduate Course Descriptions (ENGE)

1024: ENGINEERING EXPLORATION
Introduction to the profession and the College of Engineering. Foundation material in: problem definition, solution and presentation; design, including hands-on realization working in teams; modeling and visual representation of abstract and physical objects; scientific computation; algorithm development, computer implementation and application; documentation; ethics; and professionalism. Grade of C- or better required of all students attempting entry into College of Engineering programs. Attempts to achieve grade of C- or better limited to two attempts, including attempts utilizing the W grade option. Co: MATH 1205. (2H,2C)

1044: GREEN ENGINEERING LECTURE SERIES
Weekly discussions presented by engineers, environmentalists, scientists, and public officials concerning the need for engineering works to be planned, constructed, and operated in harmony with the environment. (1H,1C)

1104: EXPLORATION OF THE DIGITAL FUTURE
Builds on the principles and practice of engineering design introduced in 1024 and introduces various discipline-specific engineering tools. Topics covered include: the engineering design cycle; patent application and search; basic project management; written and oral communications. Basic computer organization and Boolean algebra. Signal and information coding and representation. Introduction to networking. For students planning to major in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or Electrical Engineering. Grade of C- or better required of all students attempting entry into College of Engineering programs. Attempts to achieve grade of C- or better limited to two attempts, including attempts utilizing the W grade option. Partially duplicates 1114. Duplicates 1204. Prerequisite requires grade of C- or better. Pre: 1024. (2H,2C)

1114: EXPLORATION OF ENGINEERING DESIGN
Builds on principles and practice of engineering design introduced in 1024 and introduces various discipline-specific engineering tools. Topics covered include: engineering design cycle; patent application and search; basic project management; written and oral communications; computer assisted design and analysis; the graphics language; working in a team environment. Requires successful completion of a team-based design project. For students planning to major in Aerospace Engineering, Biological Systems Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Engineering Science and Mechanics, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mining and Minerals Engineering, and Ocean Engineering. Grade of C- or better required of all students attempting entry into College of Engineering programs. Attempts to achieve grade of C- or better limited to two attempts, including attempts utilizing the W grade option. Partially duplicates 1104. Duplicates 1214. Prerequisite requires grade of C- or better. Pre: 1024. (2H,2C)

1204: DIGITAL FUTURE TRANSITION
Builds on the principles and practice of engineering design introduced in 1024 and introduces various discipline-specific engineering tools. Basic computer organization and Boolean algebra. Signal and information coding and representation. Introduction to networking. For students who have successfully completed 1114 and are now planning to major in Computer Engineering, Computer
Science, or Electrical Engineering. Grade of C- or better required of all students attempting entry into College of Engineering programs. Attempts to achieve grade of C- or better limited to two attempts, including attempts utilizing the W grade option. Partially duplicates 1104. Prerequisite requires a grade of C- or better. Pre: 1114. (1H,1C)

1214: ENGINEERING DESIGN TRANSITION
Builds on the principles and practice of engineering design introduced in 1024 and introduces various discipline-specific engineering tools. Topics covered include computer assisted design and analysis and the graphics language. For students who have successfully completed 1104 and are currently planning to major in Aerospace Engineering, Biological Systems Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Engineering Science and Mechanics, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mining and Minerals Engineering, and Ocean Engineering. Grade of C- or better required of all students attempting entry into College of Engineering programs. Attempts to achieve grade of C- or better limited to two attempts, including attempts utilizing the W grade option. Partially duplicates 1114. Prerequisite requires grade of C- or better. Pre: 1104. (1H,1C)

1224: INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING ETHICS
Introduction to the application of basic ethical theories to ethical dilemmas in engineering. Topics include risk and design, professional responsibility, loyalty, conflict of interest, safety, and intellectual property concerns with an emphasis on real-world engineering case studies. Grade of C- or better required of all students attempting entry into College of Engineering programs. Attempts to achieve grade of C- or better limited to two attempts, including attempts utilizing the W grade option. Partially duplicates 1024. (1H,1C)

1234: ENGINEERING HANDS-ON LAB
Introduction to teamwork; introduction to hand tools; dissection and reassembly of various mechanical and electrical devices such as cameras, computers, drills, and engines; examination of engineering principles and design issues; oral presentation using computer software. (2L,1C)

1354: INTRO TO SPATIAL VISUALIZATION
Introduction to spatial visualization. Training to improve three-dimensional visualization skills. Does not count towards College of Engineering graduation credit. (1H,1C)

1434: FUNDAMENTALS OF ENGINEERING
Introduction to the profession and the College of Engineering. Foundation material in: problem definition, solution and presentation; design, including hands-on realization working in teams; modeling and visual representation of abstract and physical objects; scientific computation; algorithm development, computer implementation and application; documentation; ethics; and professionalism. Various discipline-specific engineering tools. Requires successful completion of a team-based project. Grade of C- or better is required of all students attempting entry into College of Engineering programs. Duplicates 1024, 1104, 1114, 1204, and 1214. This course counts as an attempt at each of those courses. Attempts to achieve grade of C- or better is limited to two attempts, including attempts utilizing the W grade option. Enrollment restricted to external transfer students. Co: MATH 1205. (5H,5C)

2314: ENGINEERING PROBLEM SOLVING WITH C++
Algorithmic problem solving techniques for engineering problems for various fields; flowcharting, pseudocode, object-oriented program development, editing, compiling, and debugging using the C++ programming language. For Engineering students only. Must have a C- or better in ENGE 1104 and/or ENGE 1114. Pre: (1104 or 1114), MATH 1114, MATH 1206. (1H,2L,2C)

2324: ENGINEERING PROBLEM SOLVING USING FORTRAN
Introduction of basic computing concepts and programming process including algorithm development, flowcharting, program development, editing, compiling, and debugging using Fortran 90. Emphasis will be on the development and execution of program code to solve engineering problems. Must have C- or better in ENGE 1024. Pre: 1024. (1H,1C)

2344: COMPUTER-AIDED DRAFTING
Introduction to computer-aided drafting concepts, primarily in two dimensions. Creation of two-dimensional system views utilizing lines, polygons, polylines, construction lines; creating drawing views principally applied to facilities design and layout. Must have C- or better in ENGE 1114. Pre: 1114. (1H,1C)

2414: ADVANCED ENGINEERING PROBLEM SOLVING WITH C++
Object-oriented problem solving techniques for engineering problems from various fields; object-oriented program development, editing, compiling, and debugging using the C++ programming language. This course builds on ENGE 2314, the introductory C++ course, so that the student has the prerequisite knowledge required to take ECE 2574. Taught in an on-line format only. Students should request the course directly from the Department of Engineering Education. Partially duplicates 1574. For engineering students only. Not open to EE or CPE majors. Must have a C- or better in ENGE 2314. Pass/Fail only. Pre: 2314. (1H,1C)

2514: INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING COMPUTATION AND CONTROL WITH LABVIEW
Introduces engineering computation and control using the LabVIEW graphical programming language and the text/matrix-based (and MATLAB compatible) MathScript programming language. Topics include algorithm development, flowcharts, pseudocode, programming control structures, structured programming, object oriented programming (OOP), data-flow programming, data acquisition, analysis and device control. Partially duplicates ENGE 2314. Pre: 1104 or 1114. (1H,2L,2C)

2714: PREPARING FOR UNDERGRADUATE ENGINEERING RESEARCH
Preparing for undergraduate research, best engineering research practices, effective technical communication. Limited enrollment determined through written application process. Pre: 1114 or 1104. (1H,1C)

2824: CIVIL ENGINEERING DRAWINGS AND CAD
Introduction to use of CAD in civil engineering, construction, and other land development projects. Read typical civil engineering drawings. Create land development plans, cross section and profile drawings, and detail drawings utilizing computer aided design and drafting tools. Create two and three dimensional visualizations of civil engineering, construction, and other land development projects. Partial duplication of ENGE 2344. CEE majors only. Co: CEE 2804, 1114. (1H,1L,1C)

2974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.

2984: SPECIAL STUDY
I Variable credit course.

2994: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.

3714: DOCUMENTING UNDERGRADUATE ENGINEERING RESEARCH
Oral and written documentation of undergraduate research experience. A valid engineering undergraduate research experience required. Pre: 2714. (2H,2C)

4974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course. X-grade allowed.

4984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course. X-grade allowed.

4994: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course. X-grade allowed.

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