Engineering and Technology

Provost Office

Appendix C

In response to requests from industry, WSU began offering master's degree programs in engineering during the mid- and late-1980's. While never large, enrollments were initially satisfactory. However, as pent-up demand was satisfied and as industry and the Air Force (Fairchild Air Force Base was a large initial subscriber) changed priorities from graduate education, enrollments declined.

Nonetheless, WSU has retained these program offerings in Spokane. WHETS has enabled us to offer courses at the marginal cost rate associated with adding an instructional site rather than building residential specialization. These programs have long been considered necessary to the success of SIRTI. So. at the present time the University offers the following degrees in Spokane:

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Master of Science in Material Science and Engineering Master of Science in Computer Science (course work only)

Master of Engineering Management.

Baccalaureate and doctoral programs have not been offered by WSU Spokane. Both Gonzaga University and the University of Idaho have offered the B.S. in Spokane and Coeur d'Alene respectively,

In the past year, industry has increasingly requested a wider range of engineering programs. At an engineering education forum sponsored by the WSU, UI, and Gonzaga University College of Education in spring 1998, priorities for engineering education in the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene corridor were determined to be:

1. Baccalaureate programs

2. Continuing education

3. Internship coordination

4. Graduate programs.

As a result of the Forum's deliberations, the three colleges of engineering in the region have agreed to develop consortia-based baccalaureate programs in three disciplines: computer engineering, manufacturing engineering, and. if need warrants, environmental engineering. A collegiate-level agreement, "A Cooperative Program Among Three Institutions" is attached as Attachment A. The first two of these degrees are currently in WSU's inventory, approved for offering in Pullman and Vancouver respectively. The third would be a new degree program.

This cooperative initiative will be offered for an initial four-year period as degrees from each of the partner institutions. Students will enroll at their institution of choice and pay tuition and fees to that institution. It will be aimed toward the part-time student and consequently will require approximately four years to complete the upper division sequence. Near the end of the four year period of time for the first graduating class, the institution will approach ABET for accreditation.

It is uncertain at this writing whether accreditation will be sought individually or as a consortium of ABET accredited institutions.

This initiative will bring new degree programs to the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene corridor --- programs not currently available. It is unlikely that any of the institutions acting individually would develop the degree. Each building on its own specialty, however, can contribute a level of institutional resources to address emerging industry needs.

The course of study will be delivered in a variety of locations in the Corridor. However, since laboratories are required in supporting the curriculum, facilities of Gonzaga University will be used. The proposed tuition model takes account of the facility requirements.

A second initiative in engineering sciences is the development of an industry-based, practice oriented master's program in mechanical engineering. This degree would be targeted toward students who wish to make careers in industry as engineers. In that sense, it would be slanted towards being a terminal graduate degree. The program would consist of a structured set of courses and an applied project. It is expected that the project would incorporate high level integration of existing technologies in the solution of a problem or the development of a new product or process. In practical terms, the degree would:

Incorporate course work that has a strong engineering component and bent towards practical applications.

Have an industrially inspired project (likely in a work-team environment) in place of a thesis.

Require an industrial member of each student's committee as a co-advisor.

Require strong industrial participation and financial support of the students' projects.

In addition, the student would be expected to spend part of his/her time in industry as a graduate co-op working on the project. Since the MSME is approved for Spokane, this new, industrially oriented program would not require external approval.

ATTACHMENT A

Engineering in the "Corridor"

A COOPERATIVE PROGAM AMONG THREE INSTITUTIONS

(Coeur d'Alene-Spokane area)

Proposal

What: New baccalaureate degree programs in engineering will be offered cooperatively by Gonzaga University, University of Idaho-Coeur d'Alene, and Washington State University-Spokane. This collaborative effort will consist of upper division courses approved, shared and delivered by all three institutions, building on lower division courses taken at the three universities or transferred from other regional institutions. Programs will be designed to supplement existing programs in the "Corridor", offering new degrees such as Manufacturing Environmental, and/or Computer Engineering.

Why: This proposal is based on a desire to bring new, quality engineering programs to the Coeur d'Alene-Spokane corridor, focusing on the non-traditional, place- or job-bound student's needs. It will combine the quality and rigor of well established and accredited engineering programs at the three institutions with a delivery system and course time schedule suitable and appropriate for these non-traditional students.

When: Starting fall semester 1999, Programs will be reviewed yearly with an initial 3 year commitment by all three institutions.

How: Each institution will offer approximately one third of the curriculum. Students will apply to and graduate from the institution of choice and register for the course number (crosslisted) of that university. A course will likely have students from all three institutions. Students will be expected to meet all core curriculum and graduation requirements of the institution in which they are enrolled.

Where: Courses will be taught at one of several location dependent on which course and which institution is responsible for the course. Locations may be:

1. Spokane-Riverpoint Campus - If WSU course

2. Spokane-Gonzaga University- If Gonzaga course

3. Coeur d'Alene and/or Post Falls - If UI course

4. Telecommunication - all sites simultaneously

Fees: Fees for courses will vary for each institution and will be based on the cost of program delivery, recognizing that laboratories and equipment provided by Gonzaga University will necessarily make the course costs for WSU and UI students greater than some other programs at these institutions- Therefore, tuition and/or fees for WSU and Ul students will include an appropriate surcharge. For GU students enrolled in these collaborative programs, the Gonzaga tuition will reflect a significant discount in lieu of university financial aid.

Home | Search

Back to Table of Contents