Document 2463023

Board of Regents Program Action Request
University of Alaska
Proposal to Add, Change, or Delete a Program of Study
lb. School or College
College of Engineering
la. UA University
(choose one) UAA
lc. Department or Program
Electrica l Engineering Department
2. Complete Program Title Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
3. Type of Program
D Undergraduate Certificate
0
0
0Graduate Certificate
Master's
Associate
~ Baccalaureate
0
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0
Doctorate
5. Implementation date (semester, year)
4. Type of Action
~Change
0Add
0
~Fall
Delete
D Spring
0
Summer
Year 2015
6. Projected Revenue and Expenditure Summary. Not Required If the requested acti on is deletion.
(Provi~e information for the 5th year after program or program change approv al if a bacca lau/eate or doctoral degree progra m; for
t he 3' year after program approval if a master's or associate degree program; and fo r the 2" year after program approval if a
graduate or undergraduate certifi cate. If information is provided for an ot her year, specify (1st) and explaih In t he program
summa ry attached). Note that Revenues and Expen ditures are not always entirely new; some may be current (see 7d.)
Projected Annual Revenues in FY
Unrestricted
General Fund
Student Tuition & Fees
Indirect Cost Recovery
lVEP or Other (specify):
Restricted
Federal Receipts
lVEP or Other (specify):
TOTAL REVENUES
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Projected Annual Expen ditures in FY
Salaries & benefits (faculty and staff)
$
Other (commodities, services, etc.)
$
TOTAL EXPENDITURES
$
One-time Expenditures to Initiate Program (if >$2 50,000)
(These are costs in addition to the annual costs, above.)
Year 1
$
Year2
$
Year3
$
Year4
$
Page# of attached summary where the budget is discussed, including initial phase-in: 3. Name change, no new resources .
7. Budget Status. Items a., b., and c. indicate the source(s) of the General Fund revenue specified in item 6. If any grants or
contracts will supply revenue needed by the program, indicate amount anticipated and expiration date, if applicable.
Revenue source
a. In current legislative budget requ est
b. Additional appropriation required
c. Funded thro ugh new internal UA university redistribution
1
d. Funds already committed to the program by the UA university
e. Funded all or in part by external fund s, expiration date
f. Other fundin g source Specify Type:
8. Facilities: New or substantially (>$25,000 cost) renovated facilities will be required .
Continuing
One-time
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
DYes
t8JNo
If yes, discuss the extent, probable cost, and anticipated funding source(s), in addition to those listed in sections 6 and 7 above.
all.·,.
;
~
..
~
.;
'
.. .
9. Projected enrollments (headcount of majors). If this is a program deletion request, project the teach out enrollments.
I Year 1: 144
I Year 2: 149
I Year 3: 154
I Year 4: 159
I
Page number of attached summary where demand for this program is discussed: 2
1
Sometimes the courses required by a new degree or certificate program are already being taught by a UA university, e.g., as a minor requirement.
Similarly, other program needs like equipment may already be owned. 100% of the value is indicated even though the course or other resource
may be shared.
1 of 13
UAA Electrical Engineering BS Prospectus
10. Number* of new TA or faculty hires
11. Number* of TAs or faculty to be reassigned:
anticipated (or number of positions eliminated if a
Graduate TA
0
program deletion):
Adjunct
0
Graduate TA
0
Term
0
Adjunct
0
Tenure track
0
Term
0
Former assignment of any reassigned faculty: N/A
Tenure track
0
For more information see page 5 of the attached summary.
12. Other programs affected by the proposed action, including those at other MAUs (please list):
Program Affected
N/A
An t icipated Effect
Changing the name of an existing program is not anticipated to impact any other program.
Page number of attached summary where effects on other programs are discussed: 4-5
13. Specialized accreditation or other external
program certification needed or anticipated. List
all that apply or 'none': ABET accreditation 2009.
14. Aligns with University or campus mission, goals, core themes, and
objectives (list} :Teaching & learning; Student Success.
Page in attached summary where alignment is discussed: 2
15. Aligns with Shaping Alaska's Future themes:
16. Aligns with Academic Master Plan goals:
Page in attached summary where alignment is discussed: 2. Student
Achievement and Attainment, Productive Partnerships with Public and Private
Entities.
Page in attached summary where alignment is
discussed: 2. Educate students to become
informed and responsible citizens, develop and
enhance programs to respond to state needs.
17. State needs met by this program (list): High demand nationally, statewide,
and locally; frequent industry requests for students and interns.
18. Program is initially planned to be: (check all
that apply)
Page in the attached summary where the state needs to be met are discussed :
fZI
D
Available to students attending classes at
UAA campus(es).
Available to students viae-learning.
D
Partially available students via e-learning.
3
Page# in attached summary where e-learning is
discussed: 5
Submitted by the University of Alaska Anchorage.
OJ~OOZ~}
/
D
0
Cltl (a I(
Date'
Provost
Recommend Approval
Recommend Disapproval
-1~
/111,},
Chancellor
&p
Date
I
UA Vice President for Academic Affairs with the
concurrence of the Statewide Academic Council
Date
*Net FTE (full-time equivalents) . For example, 1f a faculty member will be reassigned from another program, but his/her orig1nal program Will h1re a replacement,
there is one net new faculty member. Use fractions if appropriate. Graduate TAs are normally 0.5 FTE. The numbers should be consistent with the
revenue/expenditure information provided.
Attachm ents:
Revised :
0
Su mmary of Degree or Certificat e Program Proposal
D
Other (optional)
09/12/2014
UAA Electrical Engineering BS Prospectus
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New Program Proposal
Prospectus
1. Program Overview: The Electrical Engineering (EE) Department is proposing that the current
undergraduate degree offering, the Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a concentration in
Electrical Engineering (BSE/EE) degree, be replaced with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical
Engineering (BSME) degree. This proposal represents a change in name only, and would not require
any changes in the undergraduate EE curriculum, student learning outcomes, EE faculty workloads,
or department or college resourcing.
The bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering offered at UAA began in 2005 as the Bachelor of
Science in Engineering (BSE), Concentration in Electrical Engineering (BSE/EE). Two other
concentrations are offered, one in Mechanical Engineering and one in Computer Systems
Engineering. The BSE program was developed in collaboration with industry advisors. Despite their
technical designations as concentrations within the same BSE program, the EE, ME and CSE
concentrations offer separate curricula with few common courses, are administered by faculty in three
separate departments and are separately accredited by ABET (the external accrediting body, the
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). ABET accreditation utilizes a rigorous peerreview process to ensure that the engineering program meets the standards of the profession, regularly
assesses student attainment of learning outcomes, takes action to improve the program, and engages
with internal and external stakeholders.
The BSE Program with its three separate concentrations was approved by the UA Board of Regents
on February 17, 2005. The first BSE/EE graduates received their degrees in December of 2007. All
three concentrations have been ABET accredited since 2009 (retroactive). The bachelor’s degree
offered by the UAA EE Department is described on ABET’s website as accredited according to the
criteria for bachelor’s (4-year) degrees in Electrical Engineering.
The three concentrations of the BSE degree were administered by the BSE Department until
AY2011-12, when the BSE Department separated and the EE Department as it now exists was
created. This has allowed the EE faculty greater control over BSE/EE curriculum, accreditation
activities, student advising and other department-level matters. However, the BSE degree designation
still causes some administrative difficulties. For example, since the EE Department does not have its
own bachelor’s degree program, its students are difficult to track on Banner. Also, the BSE/EE
distinction causes confusion among students and employers, who wonder what the difference is
between this degree and degrees at other institutions with the more common title of Bachelor of
Science in Electrical Engineering. This proposal will resolve this confusion, because the BSE/EE
degree is a fully-accredited bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.
The catalog copy for the proposed program is included as Appendix A.
2. Mission and Strategic Alignment: This proposal is not a program that will be new to UA, nor will it
involve making substantive changes to anything other than the title of the degree conferred to students
at the completion of an established course of study. Changes are not being proposed to the
curriculum, student learning outcomes, faculty or staff workloads, or the level of resourcing currently
provided to the EE Department.
The BSE/EE program itself is well-established and successful. As evidence of this, all academic
programs at UAA submitted to a process of program prioritization in the 2013-14 academic year. A
panel of faculty from various programs around UAA determined that the BSE/EE program was
worthy to be considered for enhancement based on “evidence of quality in terms of inputs and
UAA Electrical Engineering BS Prospectus
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outputs, and efforts to stay up-to-date. . . program enrollments [that are] substantial (source: UAA
Program Prioritization 2013-14, Final Report of the Academic Task Force, June 2014).” The
following are summaries of how the proposed change in the title of UAA’s baccalaureate electrical
engineering degree from BSE/EE to BSEE is aligned with the mission and strategic planning of UAA
and UA.
a. UAA 2017 Strategic Plan: This proposed change supports Priority A: Strengthen the total UAA
instruction program and Priority C: Expand educational opportunity and increase student success.
The BSE/EE title gives some students, parents, and employers the impression that the degree is
not as “high quality” as other ABET-accredited BSEE degrees. The perception is false, but may
negatively impact the department’s ability to recruit top high school graduates to the program,
including top students from the Anchorage School District. The lack of separate degrees for the
CSE, EE, and ME programs leads to administrative inefficiencies because students are more
difficult to track. The proposed change will allow faculty and staff to increase the efficiency of
student advising and collection of data to assess the EE program.
b. UA Academic Master Plan: As noted above, this program change is closely aligned with goals to
educate students, improve pathways to efficient degree completion, and meet state needs with
academic programs. The fact that the electrical engineering degree at UAF is its own degree
while the EE degree at UAA is a concentration with two other dissimilar disciplines adds a
needless layer of confusion when students compare the two degrees or transfer between MAUs.
Both programs are needed to reach the goal of training 200 engineers each year. This change will
improve clarity for prospective students, which may affect some of the top Anchorage high
school students’ decisions as to whether to remain in state for college. High performing students
have opportunities to collaborate with faculty on research projects.
c. UA Shaping Alaska’s Future: As noted above, this program change will reduce confusion for
prospective students, advisory board members, and local employers. It will also improve the
program’s ability to track students and gather data for program assessment and accreditation.
3. Student Demand and State Needs: Electrical engineering is listed as a high demand job area
program. State needs for EE graduates are still not being fully met, and a great majority of the
program’s graduates are currently employed in the field. Graduates from both UAF and UAA’s
programs are essential to responding to this demand and meeting the UA goal of graduating 200
engineers per year for the state of Alaska.
Constituent surveys of employers, alumni, and current students overwhelmingly support the
proposed change. Respondents noted the change would bring the program more familiar to
employers, decrease confusion, and bring it in line with national norms. Both the EE Curriculum
Advisory Board and the College of Engineering Advisory Board are in full support of the proposed
change.
Enrollment Projections Table
FTE Enrollment
Enrollment Headcount
Graduates
AY14
121.5
153
21
AY15
116.8
144
22
AY16
120
149
22
AY17
123
154
23
AY18
127
159
23
Over the past five years, enrollments and awarded degrees in the UAA baccalaureate EE program
have grown considerably. Enrollments and degree awards in the EE Department continue to
increase, and there is potential for additional recruitment among top students from Anchorage
UAA Electrical Engineering BS Prospectus
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School District, many of whom still choose to go out of state for their education. The enrollment
and degree award projections here represent an estimated 3% growth per year over the next five
years.
The headcounts in the table above reflect the concentration’s majors and pre-majors as indicated in
Banner. Actual enrollments may be higher after this change. With the division of the BSE
concentrations into separate BS degrees, it will be easier to accurately track program enrollments.
4. Student Opportunities and Student Success: The BSE/EE program already has a well-established
record of supporting student success. The College of Engineering Advising Center provides
advising for all freshman and the College is in the process of forming a permanent Tutoring Center.
All EE faculty participate in academic advising and teach courses at all levels of the program, from
introductory courses through advanced electives. EE Faculty have advised undergraduate research,
and numerous students have received undergraduate research grants.
The proposed change will enhance the EE Department’s ability to advise its students. Currently,
because the EE Department shares a degree program with two other departments, it is difficult to
track students in Banner, and therefore difficult to use internal data to assess the impact of things
such as changes in advising practice or curriculum. Anecdotally, BSE/EE students report confusion
with potential employers over the official name of the degree. The proposed change will bring the
title of UAA’s baccalaureate electrical engineering degree into line with what is normal nationwide
for similar curricula. This will allow UAA’s EE students to stand out with potential employers for
their accomplishments rather than for the unusual title of their degree program.
5. Current Capacity and Quality. Student services such as Student Affairs, Bookstore, Library,
College of Engineering Dean’s Office and Advising Center, are already set up and provide quality
support to CoEng undergraduate programs.
The EE Department has the following lab facilities which are capable of supporting both teaching
and research activities: an Electronics Laboratory, an Electromagnetics Laboratory, an
Instrumentation and Controls Laboratory, a Radio-Frequency Lab, and a Power Engineering
Laboratory. These facilities demonstrate many unique and well-established engineering activities
available to students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering on the UAA campus.
The facilities also attract collaborators from the community and with other UAA programs.
6. Resource Implications: The elements needed to implement the BSEE program are in place,
including the current faculty, administrative support and lab space of the EE Department.
Additional faculty hires and construction of additional lab space are not required for the change of
degree title proposed.
7. Affected Programs: The BSE/EE curriculum shares some courses with the BS/CSE degree at
UAA, and the faculty of the two departments share teaching responsibility for those courses. The
proposed change of the electrical engineering degree title would not affect this relationship, nor
would it have any effect on faculty workloads in either department. UAA EE Department faculty
teach one service course for the BSE/ME Degree (ES A309 – Elements of Electrical Engineering)
and would continue to do so as before under the proposed change.
UAF also offers an ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, but the
addition of the BSE/EE program to UA’s offerings has not lead to a decrease in baccalaureate
degrees in electrical engineering awarded at UAF. It seems reasonable to expect that both
programs will continue to produce graduates at similar rates in the future.
UAA Electrical Engineering BS Prospectus
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UAA’s College of Engineering has coordinated with UAF’s College of Engineering about this
proposed administrative change and received support for the action. The UAF Dean was present
when the UAA Advisory Board passed a resolution for this change in December 2014, and heard an
update on the proposal during a Joint Advisory Board meeting in January 2014. UAA has notified
the UAS engineering faculty of the proposed change, but have not worked as closely with them
because the UAS pre-engineering program is suspended, with courses being taught out this
academic year.
8. Program accreditation and special certifications: The BSE/EE program is accredited by ABET
(formerly the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). A change in the title of the
degree offered for completion of this program would not be considered a major change by ABET,
and an off-cycle report would not be required.
9. Program student learning outcomes and plan for assessment: The Electrical Engineering
faculty have adopted the eleven ABET student outcomes as the student outcomes of the Electrical
Engineering Program, otherwise known as ABET a-k. The following table shows these student
outcomes and the methods which are used to assess student learning.
Program Student Learning Outcomes and Plan for Assessment
Outcome
(a) an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science
and engineering
Plan for Assessment
Direct Course Level Assessment (CLA),
senior exit survey, FE exam
(b) an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well
as analyze and interpret data
(c) an ability to design a system, component, or process
to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as
economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health,
and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
Direct CLA, EE A438 capstone design,
senior exit survey
(d) an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams
(e) an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams
Direct CLA, EE A438 capstone design,
senior exit survey
Direct CLA, EE A438 capstone design,
senior exit survey
Direct CLA, EE A438 capstone design,
senior exit survey, FE exam
(f) an understanding of professional and ethical
responsibilities
Direct CLA, senior exit survey, FE exam
(g) an ability to communicate effectively
Direct CLA, EE A438 capstone design,
senior exit survey
(h) the broad education necessary to understand the
impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic,
environmental and societal context
(i) a recognition of the need for, and the 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
Direct CLA, senior exit survey
EE A438 capstone design, senior exit
survey
EE A438 capstone design, senior exit
survey
Direct CLA, EE A438 capstone design,
senior exit survey
10. Outline of schedule for implementation of the program: This proposal is not a program that will
be new to UA, nor will it involve making substantive changes to anything other than the title of the
degree conferred to students at the completion of an established course of study. Changes are not
UAA Electrical Engineering BS Prospectus
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being proposed to the curriculum, student learning outcomes, faculty or staff workloads, number of
faculty and staff, or the level of resourcing currently provided to the EE Department. Currently
admitted BSE/EE students would become BSEE students when the change is implemented. The
first degree awards would take place at the first commencement ceremony after the change is
implemented.
Implementation Schedule*
Critical Milestone
Date
1. Program change approval
Spring/Summer 2015
2. Implementation of program changes in Banner
Spring/Summer 2015
3. Award first BSME degrees
Fall 2015
*Dates are contingent upon approval by the BOR and NWCCU
11. E-learning Availability: The program is not currently available via e-learning. Many courses require
a hands-on laboratory activity with specialized equipment that does not currently map to an e-learning
environment. Learning to perform these activities as a team to solve engineering problems is also one
of the program’s student learning outcomes.
12. Faculty and Staff: The UAA Electrical Engineering Department currently has four full-time tenured
and tenure-track tripartite faculty members, and one term faculty member. Each of the tenured,
tenure-track and term EE faculty hold a terminal degree of PhD in electrical engineering or a closelyrelated field. All full-time EE faculty are involved in teaching both required undergraduate courses
and advanced 400-level electives, as well as advising EE students. This includes both academic
advising and mentoring student project teams and/or undergraduate research projects. Electrical
engineering faculty will continue to provide academic advising to undergraduate students. Because
the proposed BSEE degree constitutes the same courses as the BSE/EE degree, workload adjustments
will not be necessary.
The following appendices are included:
• Appendix A: Catalog Copy
• Appendix B: Resolution of support from the CoEng Advisory Board
UAA Electrical Engineering BS Prospectus
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Appendix A: Catalog Copy
Electrical Engineering
The Department of Electrical Engineering offers a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE),
and a minor in Electrical Engineering. The program is a fully-accredited Bachelor of Science in Electrical
Engineering degree program. During the first two years of study, students are introduced to principles of
mathematics, chemistry and physics, as well as basic circuit theory, digital logic and electrical devices.
The third year of study largely focuses on fundamental electrical engineering concepts including courses
in signal analysis, electromagnetism, instrumentation and telecommunication. During the fourth year
students take more advanced courses including technical electives that are more focused on electrical
engineering analysis and design. Upper division electives include courses in computer design, antenna
theory, communication theory, power and control systems. Students also take courses on written and oral
communication, humanities, social sciences and fine arts to improve their communication skills and to put
their profession into a broader societal context.
Accreditation
The Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering program is accredited by Engineering Accreditation
Commission of ABET.
Program Objectives
1. To produce electrical engineering graduates with the training and skills to enter the job market or
to continue their education by attending graduate school.
2. To produce graduates who will become business and community leaders in Alaska and
throughout the world.
3. To produce graduates who will, through their training in electrical engineering and their
commitment to their continuing education, become the entrepreneurs driving Alaska’s growth in
the future.
4. To produce graduates in electrical engineering who conduct themselves and practice their
profession with the highest of professional standards.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
It is expected that graduates from the program will have:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering.
An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as analyze and interpret data.
An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic
constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety,
manufacturability, and sustainability .
An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams.
An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.
An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
An ability to communicate effectively.
UAA Electrical Engineering BS Prospectus
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•
•
•
•
The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global,
economic, environmental, and societal context.
A recognition of the need for, and the ability to engage in, lifelong learning.
A knowledge of contemporary issues.
An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering
practice.
Preparation
While in high school, students can prepare for entering and succeeding in the university engineering
program. In order to be the best prepared, students should complete the following high school courses
with grades of C or better:
Algebra
Chemistry
English
Physics
Trigonometry
2 years
1 year
3 years
1 year
1/2 year
Students successfully completing the above courses should be prepared to enroll in the first year of
courses that count toward the engineering degree. Students without the above preparatory courses will
need to take equivalent university courses before taking some of the first year of courses that count
toward the engineering degree.
Admission Requirements
Satisfy the Application and Admission Requirements for Baccalaureate Programs.
Pre-Electrical and Electrical Levels
Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering program is to one of two levels: preelectrical or electrical. Students admitted to either of the two levels are considered to be degree-seeking
electrical engineering students.
Applicants for admission who have completed only the Application and Admission Requirements for
Baccalaureate Programs are admitted to the program at the pre-electrical level.
Applicants for admission who, in addition to the Application and Admission Requirements for
Baccalaureate Programs, have completed the high school preparation courses listed above (or their
university equivalents) with grades of C or better will be admitted to the program at the electrical
engineering level.
Advancement
To advance from the pre-electrical level to the electrical level, students must meet the admission
requirements to the electrical level and complete and submit a Change of Major form.
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Academic Progress Requirements
All prerequisites for engineering courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher, and all courses
listed in the major requirements must be completed with a grade of C or higher. A student who is unable
to earn a grade of C or higher in any course offered by the college may attempt to earn a satisfactory
grade one additional time on a space-available basis. Failure to earn a grade of C or higher on the second
attempt may result in removal from the program. Re-admittance requires a letter of appeal from the
student requesting re-admittance with an explanation of any mitigating factors and how these factors have
been addressed. Re-admittance is subject to approval by the department chair of the program.
A student who has a semester GPA below 2.00 in the major requirements will be placed on academic
warning by the program. If a student on academic warning status receives a semester GPA of at least 2.00
in the major requirements, that student will be removed from academic warning status by the program.
Otherwise, if a student on academic warning status receives a semester GPA below 2.00 in the major
requirements, the student will be dropped from the program and must reapply in order to continue in the
program.
Academic Integrity
The program requires its students to abide by the principles of academic integrity described in the Student
Code of Conduct. Should suspected cases of academic misconduct occur, these cases may be submitted to
the UAA Dean of Students Office, where the assistant director of student conduct reviews all allegations
of academic misconduct. At the conclusion of the review, the assistant director of student conduct issues a
notification of the findings and conclusions to the reporting faculty member, department chair and dean.
Should a student from the program be found responsible for a case of academic misconduct by the UAA
Dean of Students Office on two separate occasions, that student will be dropped from the program. Readmittance requires a letter of appeal from the student requesting re-admittance with an explanation of
any mitigating factors and how these factors have been addressed. Re-admittance is subject to approval by
the department chair of the student’s degree program.
Graduation Requirements
•
•
•
Satisfy the General University Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
Complete the General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
Complete the Major Requirements below with a grade of C or higher.
Major Requirements
Core Courses
CHEM A105
& A105L
CSE A205
CSCE A248
EE A203
EE/CSCE A241
EE A261
EE A307
EE/ME A308
EE/PHYS
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory
Introduction to C Programming for Engineers
Computer Organization and Assembly Language Programming
Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering I
Computer Hardware Concepts
MATLAB for Electrical Engineers
Introduction to Power Systems
Instrumentation and Measurement
Electromagnetics
UAA Electrical Engineering BS Prospectus
4
3
3
4
4
1
3
3
3
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A314
EE/PHYS
Electromagnetics II
A324
EE A324L
Electromagnetics Laboratory II
EE A333
Electronic Devices
EE A353
Circuit Theory
& A353L
and Circuit Theory Lab
EE A354
Engineering Signal Analysis
EE A438
Design of Electrical Engineering Systems
EE A441
Integrated Circuit Design
EE A465
Telecommunications
EE/ME A471 Automatic Control
ENGL A212
Technical Writing
ENGR A105A Engineering Computer-Aided Design I
ENGR A105B Engineering Computer-Aided Design II
ENGR A151
Introduction to Engineering
ES A208
Engineering Statics and Dynamics
ES A302
Engineering Data Analysis
ESM A450
Economic Analysis and Operations
MATH A200 Calculus I
MATH A201 Calculus II
MATH A202 Calculus III
MATH A302 Ordinary Differential Equations
PHYS A211
General Physics I
& A211L
and General Physics I Laboratory
PHYS A212
General Physics II
& A212L
and General Physics II Laboratory
Advanced Mathematics Electives
Select 3 credits from the following:
Linear Algebra
MATH A321 Analysis of Several Variables
MATH A371 Stochastic Processes
MATH A407 Mathematical Statistics I
MATH A410 Introduction to Complex Analysis
MATH A422 Partial Differential Equations
MATH A423 Advanced Engineering Mathematics
MATH A426 Numerical Methods
Advanced Engineering Electives
Complete 12 credits, including at least 6 credits of EE courses, from the following:
CE A403
Arctic Engineering **
or CE A603
Arctic Engineering
or ES A411
Northern Design
CSCE A365
Computer Networks
CSCE A445
Computer Design and Simulation
CSCE A465
Computer and Network Security
3
1
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
1
1
1
5
3
3
4
4
4
3
4
4
3
MATH A314
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PHYS A303
Dynamics of Systems
Power Distribution
Digital Signal Processing
Antenna Theory
Communication Systems
Modern Physics
**
Only one of CE A403 or CE A603 or ES A411 can apply to the degree.
EE/ME A306
EE A407
EE A451
EE A458
EE A462
A total of 131 credits is required for the degree, of which 42 credits must be upper division.
Honors in Electrical Engineering
Undergraduate students in the program may be recognized for exceptional performance by earning
departmental honors. The award will be noted on their permanent university transcript. In order to receive
departmental honors, a student must meet each of the following requirements.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Complete all program requirements.
Be an active member for at least one year of both a national and an on-campus student chapter of a
professional engineering society that addresses issues relevant to the engineering profession.
Earn a GPA of 3.50 or above in the courses required for the major.
Gain approval for, complete and present a design/research project prior to applying for graduation. The
project proposal, presentation, and final written report must be approved by the program faculty.
Faculty
Radian Belu, Associate Professor, [email protected]
Matthew Kupilik, Assistant Professor, [email protected]
Joe Mixsell, Associate Professor, [email protected]
Jens Munk, Professor/Chair,[email protected]
Todd Petersen, Assistant Professor, [email protected]
UAA Electrical Engineering BS Prospectus
12 of 13
UAA College of Engineering Advisory Board
Resolution
WHEREAS the existing UAA Bachelor of Science in Engineering currently contains three distinct
concentrations in Computer Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering;
and
WHEREAS each of the Bachelor of Science in Engineering concentrations are designed as independent
Bachelor of Science degrees; and
WHEREAS each of the Bachelor of Science in Engineering concentrations is a separately accredited
baccalaureate program by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc.; and
WHEREAS the UAA transcripts and diplomas do not accurately represent the three concentrations as the
complete engineering degrees that they are; and
WHEREAS the UAA College of Engineering has embarked on the process of replacing the Bachelor of
Science in Engineering with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems Engineering, a Bachelor of
Science in Electrical Engineering, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering;
WHEREAS the proposed change from the Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree to three separate
Bachelor of Science degrees would be a change in name only and would not involve changes to program
curricula, faculty or staff workloads, student outcomes, or the level of resourcing needed within the
College of Engineering;
WHEREAS the proposed change would create administrative efficiencies within the affected programs
and bring the degree titles of the baccalaureate Computer Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering
and Mechanical Engineering programs into line with what is usual for other engineering programs
nationally, thus eliminating confusion among students and potential employers; therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the UAA College of Engineering Advisory Board fully endorses and supports these
changes.
This resolution passed by a 16-0 vote at the December 5, 2014 regular meeting of the UAA College of
Engineering Advisory Board.
Loren Leman, P.E, Chairman
UAA Electrical Engineering BS Prospectus
13 of 13
Board of Regents Program Action Request
University of Alaska
Proposal to Add, Change, or Delete a Program of Study
Ll
la. UA University
(choose one) UAA
lc. Department or Program
Computer Science and Engineering Department
lb. School or College
College of Engineering
2. Complete Program Title Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems Engineering
3. Type of Program
~ Baccalaureate
0
Undergraduate Certificate
D Associate
0
Master's
0Graduate Certificate
4. Type of Action
0
Doctorate
5. Implementation date (semester, year)
~Change
0Add
D Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
IZJ Fall
D Delete
D Spring
Dsummer
Year 2015
6. Projected Revenue and Expenditure Summary. Not Required If the requ ested acti on Is deletion.
(Provi~e information for the 5th year after program or program change approval if a baccala ~eate or doctoral degree program; for
the 3' year after program approva l if a master's or associate degree program; and for the 2 year after program approval if a
graduate or undergraduate certificate. If information is provided for another year, specify (1st) and explai n in the program
summary attached) . Note t hat Revenues and Expenditures are not al ways entirely new; some may be current (see 7d.)
Projected Annual Revenues in FY
Unrestricted
General Fund
Student Tuition & Fees
Indirect Cost Recovery
TVEP or Other (specify) :
Restricted
Federal Receipts
TVEP or Other (specify):
TOTAL REVENUES
Projected Annual Expenditures in FY
Salaries & benefits (faculty and staff)
$
Other (commodities, services, etc.)
$
TOTAL EXPENDITURES
$
One-time Expenditures to Initiate Program (lf >$250,000)
(These are costs in addition to the annual costs, above.)
Year 1
$
Year 2
$
Year 3
$
Year 4
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Page# of attached summary where the budget is discussed, including initial phase-in : 4. Name change, no new resources.
7. Budget Status. Items a., b., and c. indicate the source(s) of the General Fund revenue specified in item 6. If any grants or
contracts will supply revenue needed by the program, indicate amount anticipated and expiration date, if applicable.
Revenue source
a. In current legislative budget request
b. Additional appropriation required
c. Funded th rough new internal UA univ ersity redistribution
d. Funds already committed to the program by the UA universitl
e. Funded all or in part by external funds, expiration date
f. Other funding sou rce Specify Type:
8. Facilities: New or substantially (>$25,000 cost) renovated facilities will be required.
Continuing
$
$
$
$
$
$
One-time
$
$
$
$
$
$
DYes
[giNo
If yes, discuss the extent, probable cost, and anticipated funding source(s), in addition to those listed in sections 6 and 7 above .
...;
......
•
•
·. " '~J
,
9. Projected enrollments (headcount of majors). If this is a program deletion request, project the teach out enrollments.
I Year 1: 59
I Year 2: 63
I Year 3: 65
I Year 4: 67
I
Page number of attached summary where demand for this program is discussed: 3. Change will improve tracking, may be higher.
1
Sometimes the courses required by a new degree or certificate program are already being taught by a UA university, e.g., as a minor requirement.
Similarly, other program needs like equipment may already be owned . 100% of the value is indicated even though the course or other resource
may be shared .
UAA Computer Systems Engineering BS Prospectus
1 of 15
10. Number* of new TA or faculty hires
11. Number* of TAs or faculty to be reassigned:
anticipated (or number of positions eliminated if a
Graduate TA
0
program deletion):
Adjunct
0
Graduate TA
0
Term
0
Adjunct
0
Tenure track
0
Term
0
Former assignment of any reassigned faculty: N/A
Tenure track
0
For more information see page 6 of the attached summary.
12. Other programs affected by the proposed action, including those at other MAUs (please list):
Program Affected
Anticipated Effect
Changing the name of this existing program is not anticipated to impact any other program.
N/A
Page number of attached summary where effects on other programs are discussed: 4
13. Specialized accreditation or other external
program certification needed or anticipated. list
all that apply or 'none': ABET accreditation since
2009.
14. Aligns with University or campus mission, goals, core themes, and
objectives (list):Teaching & learning; Research, Scholarship, and Creative
Activity; Student Success.
Page in attached summary where alignment is discussed: 2
15. Aligns with Shaping Alaska's Future themes:
16. Aligns with Academic Master Plan goals:
Page in attached summary where alignment is discussed: 2. Student
Achievement and Attainment, Productive Partnerships with Public and Private
Entities.
Page in attached summary where alignment is
discussed: 2. Educate students to become
informed and responsible citizens; develop and
enhance programs to respond to state needs.
17. State needs met by this program (list): High demand nationally, statewide,
and locally; frequent industry requests for students and interns.
18. Program is initially planned to be: (check all
that apply)
Page in the attached summary where the state needs to be met are discussed :
2-3
~
D
Available to students attending classes at
UAA campus(es).
Available to students viae-learning.
D
Partially available students viae-learning.
Page# in attached summary where e-learning is
discussed: 5
Submu
he Unlve""t of Ala<ka Anoho"ge.
(choose o; •
,
0
0
01)
~~
Provost
Recommend Approval
Recommend Disapproval
£ tttulf
Date
~~
I ll AJ
Date If.
Chancellor
UA Vice President for Academic Affairs with the
concurrence of the Statewide Academic Council
Date
..
*Net FTE (full-time equivalents). For example, 1f a faculty member w1ll be reassigned from another program, but his/her ongmal program will h1re a replacement,
there is one net new faculty member. Use fraction s if appropriate. Graduate TAs are normally 0.5 FTE . The numbers should be consistent with the
revenu e/expe ndit ure informat ion provi ded.
Attachments:
0
Su mma ry of Degree or Certifica te Program Proposal
UAA Computer Systems Engineering BS Prospectus
D Oth er (opt ional )
2 of 15
New Program Proposal
Prospectus
1. Program Overview: The Computer Science & Engineering (CS&E) Department is proposing that
the current undergraduate degree offering, the Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a
concentration Computer Systems Engineering (BSE/CSE), be replaced by a Bachelor of Science in
Computer Systems Engineering (BSCSE) degree. This proposal represents a change in name only,
and would not require any changes in the undergraduate CSE curriculum, student learning outcomes,
CSE faculty workloads, or department or college resourcing.
The bachelor’s degree in computer systems engineering offered at UAA began in 2005 as the
Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE), Concentration in Computer Systems Engineering
(BSE/CSE). Two other concentrations were offered in electrical engineering and mechanical
engineering. The BSE program was developed in collaboration with industry advisors. Despite their
technical designations as concentrations within the same BSE degree, the CSE, EE and ME programs
offered separate curricula with little overlap, were administered by faculty in three separate
departments, and were separately accredited by ABET, Inc. (the external accrediting body, formerly
the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). ABET accreditation demonstrates that the
program is aligned with industry standards and peer reviewed for quality. The three concentrations of
the BSE degree were administered by the BSE Department until AY2011-12, when the BSE
Department separated into three discipline-focused departments.
In 2012, a new Computer Science & Engineering Department was formed in the School of
Engineering, bringing together the CSE program and the Computer Science (CS) programs (which
had previously been part of the Mathematical Sciences Department in the College of Arts and
Sciences). Faculty from the two programs immediately began to look for ways to eliminate
duplication between the programs and expand the upper-division elective offerings available to
students in either program. The resulting streamlined curricula were adopted by both programs in
2013. To symbolize the new allegiance between the programs, all computing coursework required for
either CSE or CS majors were given a new designator: CSCE. [NOTE: The four remaining courses
with a CS designation (CS A101, 109, 110, and 111) continue to be offered as service courses that
fulfill the College of Arts and Sciences general education computing requirement, while the lone
remaining course with a CSE designation (CSE A205) continues to be offered as a service course for
the Electrical Engineering (EE) program. These five courses are the only regular courses not taught
by faculty holding a PhD degree in computer engineering or a closely related field.
This new program prospectus seeks approval of the BSCSE program as an independent degree
program beginning in the Fall 2015 semester. The primary goal is clarification: students completing
the program will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems Engineering degree rather
than a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree with a Computer Systems Engineering
concentration. The department believes that the current designation is confusing to students,
employers, and parents alike. Program concentrations are printed on transcripts, but not on diplomas.
Any changes to the degree program that might come about in the next few years will be made
regardless of whether the program retains its current designation (BSE concentration CSE, or
BSE/CSE) or adopts the BSCSE designation.
UAA Computer Systems Engineering BS Prospectus
3 of 15
The CSE program strives to produce graduates that are successful practitioners of computer
engineering, exhibit high standards, and engage in life-long learning. The department addresses the
needs for computer engineers and software developers in the state. It differs from CS in its focus on
hardware and systems over computational theory, and is accredited by a separate engineering
commission.
2. Mission and Strategic Alignment
a. UAA 2017 Strategic Plan: The CSE program prepares students for careers in the high-demand
field of computer systems engineering. Graduates with computer engineering skills are
immensely needed by government and industry, both in the Southcentral Alaska region and
across the United States. The program collects and uses data for assessment and continuous
improvement. Faculty who support the program are engaged in significant cutting-edge research.
Many CSE students participate in the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP).
Alumni have gone on to create and support start-up technology companies that contribute
significantly to the Alaska economy.
This proposed change supports Priority A: Strengthen the total UAA instruction program and
Priority C: Expand educational opportunity and increase student success. The BSE/CSE title
gives some students, parents, and employers the impression that the degree is not as “high
quality” as other ABET-accredited BSCSE degrees. The perception is false, but may negatively
impact the department’s ability to recruit top high school graduates to the program, including top
Alaskan students. The lack of separate degrees for the CSE, EE, and ME programs leads to
administrative inefficiencies because students are more difficult to track. The proposed change
will allow faculty and staff to increase the efficiency of student advising and collection of data to
assess the CSE program.
b. UA Academic Master Plan: The program meets the Academic Master Plan’s goal of educating
students to become informed and responsible citizens. In addition to courses that meet the
University’s overall goal of a well-rounded liberal arts education, the CSE program requires
students to take Professional Ethics. Research, scholarship, and creative activity are advanced
through faculty engagement in a wide range of research projects leading to publication, external
funding, and student support. The program responds to state needs. The State of Alaska and its
employers are vocal in their need for qualified computer systems engineers, who can be difficult
to recruit from outside the State.
c. UA Shaping Alaska’s Future: The program primarily supports two themes within UA’s Shaping
Alaska’s Future: Student Achievement and Attainment, and Productive Partnerships with Public
and Private Entities. CSE majors develop strong critical thinking skills and high ethical standards
through the required coursework. The program produces highly-skilled graduates, approximately
100% of whom are employed in computer engineering or a closely related field. CSE graduates
perform well above average on national standardized tests, and many have gone on to perform
well in top graduate programs.
3. Student Demand and State Needs: Demand is high for CSE graduates nationally, statewide, and
locally. Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks job growth for Software Developers at 22%
(much faster than average) for 2012-2022 (http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-informationtechnology/software-developers.htm) and at 7% for Computer Hardware Engineers
(http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/computer-hardware-engineers.htm).
In Alaska, CSE is considered a High Demand Job Area Program as of June 2013. From 2010 to 2020
the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development projects Computer Engineers at 10%
growth and Software Application Developers at 17% growth
UAA Computer Systems Engineering BS Prospectus
4 of 15
(http://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/occfcst/index.cfm). A 2012 National Association of Colleges and
Employers survey found that CSE majors started at an average salary of $71,700
(http://naceweb.org/s04032013/salary-survey-engineering-majors.aspx).
In Anchorage, demand currently exceeds the supply of locally-produced CSE graduates. The CS&E
Department frequently receives requests from organizations for CSE students to fill their technology
positions. This sentiment is echoed by the Computer Science & Engineering Industry Advisory Board
established in 2012.
The CS&E Advisory Board consists of leaders in the computing community who provide the
department with the latest knowledge of current trends in the computing industry. Their feedback
informs the development of the CSE curriculum and other educational activities such as outreach and
retention. The board members are voluntarily participating in the program’s commitment to educate
the next generation of computing professionals. The board’s efforts have led to “civic hacking” where
CSE students lend their technical skills to help solve community problems, and local startup
companies that came about through a 3-day startup weekend event.
To meet demand the department has increased faculty capacity through the merger with Computer
Science and has focused on outreach to pre-college students with a particular emphasis on robotics
events and competitions.
The program also has external demand for interns. Local organizations such as Saltwater Inc.,
Northrim Bank, Honeywell, Resource Data Inc., the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, the
Municipality of Anchorage, the Alaska Railroad, and GeoNorth have hired or expressed interest in
hiring CSE students.
Enrollment Projections Table
FTE Enrollment
Enrollment Headcount
Graduates
AY14
45.1
59
4
AY15
50.9
59
5
AY16
55
63
6
AY17
57
65
7
AY18
59
67
8
The department anticipates that enrollments will continue to go up as a result of clarifying the
program to prospective students through the name change, as well as in response to nationwide
enrollment trends and continued high demand at the local, state, and national levels for CSE
graduates. In addition, retention and graduation rates are expected to improve as a result of minor
changes to the curriculum that were implemented during the CSE/CS streamlining process; for
example, changing the CSCE A201 Computer Programming I course from three to four credits and
adding a laboratory section has significantly improved retention in that course, where students have
historically been most vulnerable.
The headcounts in the table above reflect the concentration’s majors and pre-majors as indicated in
Banner. Actual enrollments may be higher after this change. With the division of the BSE
concentrations into separate BS degrees, it will be easier to accurately track program enrollments.
4. Student Opportunities and Student Success: CSE is designated as a high demand degree program.
The intended student population consists of men and women of all types and from all backgrounds
who are motivated to complete a challenging undergraduate program of study in order to become a
competent computer systems engineer. The immediate and foreseeable career opportunities are
UAA Computer Systems Engineering BS Prospectus
5 of 15
extremely strong. Computing is ubiquitous, and as a result, computer engineering graduates can work
in almost any type of organization. Computer engineers can become involved in a wide range of
multi-disciplinary research and development projects.
Student success will be enhanced by continuing assessment and curriculum modernization. The
department also supports student success through faculty advising.
5. Current Capacity and Quality. The UAA/Alaska Pacific University Consortium Library collections
include electronic access to several IEEE journals and online books (such as IEEE Xplore), a modest
collection of books related to CS&E, and access to additional resources through inter-library loans.
Access to the library’s electronic databases requires the user to log onto the library website using a
standard UAA username and password.
CS&E faculty regularly participate in reviews of the resources provided by library, and may request
the acquisition of specific books, journals, and proceedings. Generally, these requests have been
granted through available library resources. The program’s library liaison holds a MS degree in
Library Science and has experience in software development and project management. Reference
librarians are available to assist faculty, staff, and students as needed.
The CSE program curriculum includes several laboratory courses. These laboratories are well
supplied with equipment, which is updated or replaced on a continuing basis. The quality of this
equipment is adequate to support the needs of current and future CSE majors.
High-quality computing laboratories in the Engineering and Natural Sciences Buildings may be used
by CSE majors for coursework, projects, and research. The images installed on these computers
provide students with access to a wide range of software resources.
6. Resource Implications: No new funding or resources will be needed for the new program, since it
already exists as a concentration with the BSE program. The revised program will continue to share
administrative support with Electrical Engineering, as is the current practice.
7. Affected Programs: Since the program currently exists as a concentration within the BSE program,
changing the concentration into the BSCSE program will have no impact on any other program.
UAA’s College of Engineering has coordinated with UAF’s College of Engineering about this
proposed administrative change and received support for the action. The UAF Dean was present when
the UAA Advisory Board passed a resolution for this change in December 2014, and heard an update
on the proposal during a Joint Advisory Board meeting in January 2014. UAA has notified the UAS
engineering faculty of the proposed change, but have not worked as closely with them because the
UAS pre-engineering program is suspended, with courses being taught out this academic year.
8. Program accreditation and special certifications: The program is already fully accredited by the
appropriate board (ABET, Inc.). Approval of the BSCSE degree program will not impact this
accreditation.
9. Program student learning outcomes and plan for assessment: The following table lists the Student
Learning Outcomes for the CSE Program. Each outcome is assessed using the CSE Exit Survey,
exercises administered in one or more required courses (as specifically listed in the table), and/or the
Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam.
UAA Computer Systems Engineering BS Prospectus
6 of 15
Program Student Learning Outcomes and Plan for Assessment
Graduates from the Computer Systems Engineering program will have:
Outcome
An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics,
science, and engineering.
Plan for Assessment
CSCE A311 (Data Structures), CSCE A365
(Computer Networks), Exit Survey, FE Exam
An ability to design and conduct experiments, as
well as analyze and interpret data.
An ability to design a system, component, or
process to meet desired needs within realistic
constraints such as economic, environmental, social,
political, ethical, health and safety,
manufacturability, and sustainability.
CSCE A365, CSCE A470 (Capstone), Exit
Survey
An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams.
CSCE A470, Exit Survey
An ability to identify, formulate, and solve
engineering problems.
CSCE A365, CSCE A470, Exit Survey, FE
Exam
An understanding of professional and ethical
responsibility.
CSCE A470, Exit Survey
An ability to communicate effectively.
The broad education necessary to understand the
impact of engineering solutions in a global,
economic, environmental, and societal context.
A recognition of the need for, and the ability to
engage in, lifelong learning.
A knowledge of contemporary issues.
CSCE A320 (Operating Systems), CSCE
A470, Exit Survey
CSCE A470, Exit Survey
CSCE A470, Exit Survey
CSCE A320, CSCE A465 (Computer and
Network Security), CSCE A470, Exit Survey
CSCE A320, CSCE A470, Exit Survey
An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern
CSCE A465, CSCE A470, Exit Survey
engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.
10. Outline of schedule for implementation of the program: Transition from a CSE concentration
within the BSE program to a separate BSCSE program will be smooth and nearly free. Students
currently majoring in BSE, CSE concentration will be grandfathered into the new BSCSE program,
and first graduates will begin the semester following program approval. The program is ABETaccredited and the faculty and staff needed to support the program are in place.
Implementation Schedule
Critical Milestone
1. Program change approval
2. Implementation of program changes in Banner
3. Award first BSCSE degrees
Date
Spring/Summer 2015
Spring/Summer 2015
Fall 2015 or Spring 2016
11. E-learning Availability: The program is not currently available via e-learning. Many courses require
a hands-on laboratory activity with specialized equipment that does not currently map to an e-learning
environment. Learning to perform these activities as a team to solve engineering problems is also one
of the program’s student learning outcomes.
UAA Computer Systems Engineering BS Prospectus
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12. Faculty and Staff: The CSE program currently has three PCNs. This number is sufficient to support
the BSCSE program. The department will continue to share its administrative assistant with the
Electrical Engineering department.
The following appendices are included:
• Appendix A: Catalog Copy
• Appendix B: Minutes from the CS&E Advisory Board indicating support of the CSE Degree
and Resolution of support from the CoEng Advisory Board
UAA Computer Systems Engineering BS Prospectus
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Appendix A: Catalog Copy
Computer Systems Engineering
Natural Sciences Building (NSB), Room 223, (907) 786-5475
http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/schoolofengineering
The Department of Computer Science and Engineering offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems
Engineering (BSCSE), and a minor in Computer Systems Engineering. The program is a fully-accredited
Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems Engineering degree program. Students are introduced to
principles of mathematics and physics during the first two years of study along with introductory courses
in fundamentals of computer hardware and programming. The third and fourth years consist of upper
division courses applicable to computer systems along with computer systems engineering electives in the
area of the students’ interests. Students complete a project-oriented capstone course where they will apply
their knowledge in computer systems engineering to solve challenging problems. Students also take
courses on written and oral communication, humanities, social sciences and fine arts to improve their
communication skills and to put their profession into a broader societal context.
Accreditation
The Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems Engineering (BSCSE) program is accredited by the
Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Program Objectives
1. Graduates are successful practitioners of computer systems engineering in a variety of industries,
government agencies and research/academic institutions, serving the State of Alaska as well as
national/international needs.
2. Graduates exhibit high standards regarding ethical behavior and social responsibility.
3. Graduates successfully engage in life-long learning experiences such as graduate education, short
courses, technical talks, conferences, training program, community groups, and writing and/or
publishing papers.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
It is expected that graduates from the program will have:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering.
An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as analyze and interpret data.
An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic
constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety,
manufacturability, and sustainability .
An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams.
An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.
An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
An ability to communicate effectively.
UAA Computer Systems Engineering BS Prospectus
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•
•
•
•
The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global,
economic, environmental, and societal context.
A recognition of the need for, and the ability to engage in, lifelong learning.
A knowledge of contemporary issues.
An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering
practice.
Preparation
While in high school, students can prepare for entering and succeeding in the university engineering
program. In order to be adequately prepared, students should complete a minimum of the following high
school courses with grades of C or better:
Algebra
Chemistry
English
Physics
Trigonometry
2 years
1 year
3 years
1 year
1/2 year
Students successfully completing the above courses should be prepared to enroll in the first year of
courses that count toward the engineering degree. Students without the above preparatory courses will
need to take equivalent university courses before taking some of the first year of courses that count
toward the engineering degree.
Admission Requirements
Satisfy the Application and Admission Requirements for Baccalaureate Programs.
Pre-engineering and Engineering Levels
Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems Engineering program is to one of two levels:
pre-Computer Systems Engineering or Computer Systems Engineering. Students admitted to either of the
two levels are considered to be degree-seeking computer systems engineering students.
Applicants for admission who have completed only the Application and Admission Requirements for
Baccalaureate Programs are admitted to the program at the pre-Computer Systems Engineering level.
Applicants for admission who, in addition to the Application and Admission Requirements for
Baccalaureate Programs, have completed the high school preparation courses listed above (or their
university equivalents) with grades of C or better will be admitted to the program at the computer systems
engineering level.
Advancement
To advance from the pre-Computer Systems Engineering level to the Computer Systems Engineering
level, students must meet the admission requirements to the Computer Systems Engineering level and
complete and submit a Change of Major form.
UAA Computer Systems Engineering BS Prospectus
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Academic Progress Requirements
All prerequisites for engineering courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher, and all courses
listed in the major requirements must be completed with a grade of C or higher. A student who is unable
to earn a grade of C or higher in any course offered by the College of Engineering may attempt to earn a
satisfactory grade a maximum of two additional times on a space-available basis. Failure to earn a grade
of C or higher on either the second or third attempt shall result in removal from the program. Readmittance requires a letter of appeal from the student requesting re-admittance with an explanation of
any mitigating factors and how these factors have been addressed. Re-admittance is subject to approval by
the Computer Science & Engineering Department Chair.
A student who has a semester GPA below 2.00 in the major requirements will be placed on academic
warning by the program. If a student on academic warning status receives a semester GPA of at least 2.00
in the major requirements, that student will be removed from academic warning status by the program. If
a student on academic warning status receives a semester GPA below 2.00 in the major requirements, the
student will be dropped from the program and must reapply in order to continue in the program.
Academic Integrity
The program requires its students to abide by the principles of academic integrity described in the Student
Code of Conduct. Should suspected cases of academic misconduct occur, these cases may be submitted to
the UAA Dean of Students Office, where the assistant director of student conduct reviews all allegations
of academic misconduct. At the conclusion of the review, the assistant director of student conduct issues a
notification of the findings and conclusions to the reporting faculty member, department chair and dean.
Should a student from the program be found responsible for a case of academic misconduct by the UAA
Dean of Students Office on two separate occasions, that student will be dropped from the program. Readmittance requires a letter of appeal from the student requesting re-admittance with an explanation of
any mitigating factors and how these factors have been addressed. Re-admittance is subject to approval by
the department chair of the student’s degree program.
Graduation Requirements
•
•
•
Satisfy the General University Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
Complete the General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
Complete the Major Requirements below with a grade of C or higher.
Major Requirements
Core Courses
CSCE A201
Computer Programming I
4
CSCE A211
Computer Programming II
4
CSCE/EE A241
Computer Hardware Concepts
4
CSCE A248
Computer Organization and Assembly Language Programming
3
CSCE A311
Data Structures and Algorithms
3
CSCE A320
Operating Systems
3
CSCE A342
Digital Circuits Design
3
CSCE A365
Computer Networks
3
CSCE A448
Computer Architecture
3
UAA Computer Systems Engineering BS Prospectus
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CSCE A465
Computer and Network Security
3
CSCE A470
Computer Science and Engineering Capstone Project
3
EE A203
Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering I
4
EE A333
Electronic Devices
4
EE A353
Circuit Theory
3
ENGL A212
Technical Writing
3
ESM A450
Economic Analysis and Operations
3
MATH A200
Calculus I
4
MATH A201
Calculus II
4
MATH A202
Calculus III
4
MATH A231
Introduction to Discrete Mathematics
3
MATH A302
Ordinary Differential Equations
3
PHIL A305
Professional Ethics
3
PHYS A211
& A211L
General Physics I
and General Physics I Laboratory
4
PHYS A212
& A212L
General Physics II
and General Physics II Laboratory
4
STAT A307
Probability and Statistics
4
Advanced Engineering Electives
*
Complete 15 credits from the following:
15
Any upper division elective with a CSCE prefix
EE/PHYS A314
Electromagnetics
EE/PHYS A324
Electromagnetics II
EE A324L
Electromagnetics Laboratory II
EE A354
Engineering Signal Analysis
EE A441
Integrated Circuit Design
EE A451
Digital Signal Processing
EE A462
Communication Systems
EE A465
Telecommunications
*
Of the 15 credits of advanced engineering electives, at least 6 credits must be from CSCE courses. A
maximum of 3 credits from CSCE A395, a maximum of 3 credits from CSCE A495 and a maximum
of 6 credits from CSCE A498 may be applied toward this degree requirement. Other relevant
courses may be accepted by approved petition.
A total of 120 credits are required for the degree, of which 42 credits must be upper division.
Honors in Computer Systems Engineering
Undergraduate students in the program may be recognized for exceptional performance by earning
departmental honors. The award will be noted on their permanent university transcript. In order to receive
departmental honors, a student must meet each of the following requirements.
1.
2.
Complete all program requirements.
Earn a GPA of 3.50 or above in the courses required for the major.
UAA Computer Systems Engineering BS Prospectus
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3.
Gain approval for, complete and present a design/research project prior to applying for graduation. The
project proposal, presentation, and final written report must be approved by the program faculty.
Faculty
Martin Cenek, Assistant Professor, [email protected]
Kenrick Mock, Professor, [email protected]
Frank Moore, Professor/Chair, [email protected]
Randy Moulic, Associate Professor,[email protected]
Kirk Scott, Professor, [email protected]
Frank Witmer, Assistant Professor, [email protected]
UAA Computer Systems Engineering BS Prospectus
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Appendix B: Advisory Board Support for the CSE Degree Program
UAA Computer Science & Engineering Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes
Date:
Time:
Place:
I.
Friday, December 5, 2014
12 noon to 1:30 pm
ENGR 315 (reminder - free parking on Friday)
Call to order (Frank Moore)
II. Roll call
a. Frank Moore
b. Kenrick Mock
c. Lance Ahern
d. Jazon Burnell
e. Brian Walch
f. Jim Weller
g. Rob Barnett
h. DJ (Denrie Enrique)
III. Regular meeting approvals
• Approval of Agenda – Approved without changes.
• Approval of October 3, 2014 meeting minutes – This was tabled. Lance will be posting
the minutes from last meeting in the near future.
• Introduction / Approval of new Board members – no new members
IV. Ethical concerns / considerations
a. Brian he is doing project management work for Lance at the Muni.
b. Jazon may teach a UAA class on game design. Tentative at this time.
V. Reports
• Frank Moore: Departmental Updates
o Split BSE into three majors
 The plan has passed through the assessment committee and the
curriculum has also passed through committee as well. The Dean from
UAF is also on board. The feeling is that this is likely to be close to final
approval, which might be done as soon as February 2015. In this case,
there would only be two board of regents meetings prior to the Fall
semester.
• The Advisory Board unanimously supports this.
 The details have yet to be worked out as to whether existing students
with a focus would be automatically moved into one of the BSE major
programs, or if that would involve some sort of paper trail.
UAA Computer Systems Engineering BS Prospectus
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UAA College of Engineering Advisory Board
Resolution
WHEREAS the existing UAA Bachelor of Science in Engineering currently contains three distinct
concentrations in Computer Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering;
and
WHEREAS each of the Bachelor of Science in Engineering concentrations are designed as independent
Bachelor of Science degrees; and
WHEREAS each of the Bachelor of Science in Engineering concentrations is a separately accredited
baccalaureate program by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc.; and
WHEREAS the UAA transcripts and diplomas do not accurately represent the three concentrations as the
complete engineering degrees that they are; and
WHEREAS the UAA College of Engineering has embarked on the process of replacing the Bachelor of
Science in Engineering with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems Engineering, a Bachelor of
Science in Electrical Engineering, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering;
WHEREAS the proposed change from the Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree to three separate
Bachelor of Science degrees would be a change in name only and would not involve changes to program
curricula, faculty or staff workloads, student outcomes, or the level of resourcing needed within the
College of Engineering;
WHEREAS the proposed change would create administrative efficiencies within the affected programs
and bring the degree titles of the baccalaureate Computer Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering
and Mechanical Engineering programs into line with what is usual for other engineering programs
nationally, thus eliminating confusion among students and potential employers; therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the UAA College of Engineering Advisory Board fully endorses and supports these
changes.
This resolution passed by a 16-0 vote at the December 5, 2014 regular meeting of the UAA College of
Engineering Advisory Board.
Loren Leman, P.E, Chairman
UAA Computer Systems Engineering BS Prospectus
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Board of Regents Program Action Request
University of Alaska
Proposal to Add, Change, or Delete a Program of Study
UNIVERSITY
•f A LASKA
lc. Department or Program
Mechanical Engineering Department
lb. School or College
College of Engineering
la. UA University
(choose one) UAA
2. Complete Program Title Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
3. Type of Program
~ Baccalaureate
D Undergraduate Certificate
D Associate
D Master's
0Graduate Certificate
D Doctorate
5. Implementation date (semester, year)
4. Type of Action
0Add
D Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
~Change
~Fall
D Delete
D Spring
Osummer
Year 2015
6. Projected Reven ue and Exp ~ndi t u re Summary. Not Requi red If the requested action is deletion.
1
(Provi~e information for th e 5 year afte r program or program change approval if a baccalaureate or doctoral degree program; for
the 3' year after program approval if a master's or associ ate qegree program; and for the 2"d year after program approval if a
graduate or und ergraduat e ce rtificate. If inform ation is provided for another year, specify (1st) and explain in the program
summary attached). Note that Revenues and Expenditures are not always entirely new; some may be current (see 7d.)
Projected Annual Revenues in FY
Unrestricted
General Fund
Student Tuition & Fees
Indirect Cost Recovery
TVEP or Other (specify) :
Restricted
Federal Receipts
TVEP or Other (specify) :
TOTAL REVENUES
Projected Annual Expenditures in FY
Salaries & benefits (faculty and staff)
$
Other (commodities, services, etc.)
$
TOTAL EXPENDITURES
$
One-time Expehditures to Initiate Program (if >$250,000)
(These are costs in addition to the annual costs, above.)
Year 1
$
Year 2
$
Year 3
$
Year 4
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Page# of attached summary where the budget is discussed, including initial phase-in: 3. Name change, no new resources .
7. Budget Status. Items a., b., and c. indicate the source(s) of the General Fund revenue specified in item 6. If any grants or
contracts will supply revenue needed by the program, indicate amount anticipated and expiration date, if applicable.
Revenue source
a. In current legislative budget request
b. Additional appropriation required
c. Funded through new internal UA university redistribution
d. Funds already committed to the program by the UA university'
e. Funded all or in part by external funds, expiration date
f. Other funding source Specify Type :
8. Facilities: New or substantially (>$25,000 cost) renovated facilities will be required.
Continuing
One-time
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
DYes
~No
If yes, discuss the extent, probable cost, and anticipated funding source(s), in addition to those listed in sections 6 and 7 above.
;1 ·• ~~~ . .,._,, ·~ ..
..
.
9. Projected enrollments (headcount of majors). If this is a program deletion request, project the teach out enrollments.
I Year 1: 283
I Year 2: 286
I Year 3: 289
I Year 4: 292
I
Page number of attached summary where demand for this program is discussed: 2-3. Change will improve tracking, may be higher.
1
Sometimes the courses requ ired by a new degree or certificate program are already being taught by a UA university, e.g., as a minor requirement.
Similarly, other program needs like equipment may already be owned. 100% of the value is indicated even though the course or other resource
may be shared.
1 of 15
UAA Mechanical Engineering BS Prospectus
10. Number* of new TA or faculty hires
11. Number* of TAs or faculty to be reassigned :
anticipated (or number of positions eliminated if a
Graduate TA
0
program deletion):
Adjunct
0
Graduate TA
0
Term
0
Adjunct
0
Tenure track
0
Term
0
Former assignment of any reassigned faculty: N/A
Tenure track
0
For more information see page 5 of the attached summary.
12. Other programs affected by the proposed action, including those at other MAUs (please list):
Program Affected
N/A
Anticipated Effect
Changing the name of this existing program is not anticipated to impact any other program .
Page number of attached summary where effects on other programs are discussed: 3-4
13. Specialized accreditation or other external
program certification needed or anticipated. list
all that apply or 'none': ABET accreditation since
2009.
14. Aligns with University or campus mission, goals, core themes, and
objectives (list) :Teaching & Learning; Student Success.
Page in attached summary where alignment is discussed: 2
15. Aligns with Shaping Alaska's Future themes:
16. Aligns with Academic Master Plan goals:
Page in attached summary where alignment is discussed: 2. Student
Achievement and Attainment, Productive Partnerships with Public and Private
Entities.
Page in attached summary where alignment is
discussed: 2. Educate students to become
informed and responsible citizens, develop and
enhance programs to respond to state needs.
17. State needs met by this program (list): High demand job area program, with
state needs still not sufficiently being met.
18. Program is initially planned to be: (check all
that apply)
Page in the attached summary where the state needs to be met are discussed:
2
~ Available to students attending classes at
D
UAA campus(es).
Availabl e to students viae-learning.
D
Partially available students viae-learning.
Page# in attached summary where e-learning is
discussed: 5
Submltteo
the Uo ;,e,lty of Al"k' Aooho,.ge
( ch~e
one above)
\
J( ~ . ;jj
Provost
D Recommend Approval
D Recommend Disapproval
Cl ll, u( r
Date
'
i4-
.....
/U~ ~DI,S
Chancellor
UA Vice President for Academic Affairs with the
concurrence of the Statewide Academic Council
Date
Date
*Net FTE (full-ttme equtvalents). For example, If a faculty member will be reassigned from another program, but his/her orlgtnal program wtll htre a replacement,
there is one net new faculty member. Use fractions if appropriate. Graduate TAs are normally 0.5 FTE. The numbers should be consistent with the
revenue/expenditure information provided.
Attachments:
Revised :
0
Summary of Degree or Certificate Program Proposal
0
Other (optional)
09/12/2014
UAA Mechanical Engineering BS Prospectus
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New Program Proposal
Prospectus
1. Program Overview: The Mechanical Engineering (ME) Department is proposing that the current
undergraduate degree offering, the Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a concentration in
Mechanical Engineering (BSE/ME) degree, be replaced with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical
Engineering (BSME) degree. This proposal represents a change in name only, and would not require
any changes in the undergraduate ME curriculum, student learning outcomes, ME faculty workloads,
or department or college resourcing.
The bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering offered at UAA began in 2005 as the Bachelor of
Science in Engineering (BSE), Concentration in Mechanical Engineering (BSE/ME). Two other
concentrations are offered, one in Electrical Engineering and one in Computer Systems Engineering.
The BSE program was developed in collaboration with industry advisors. Despite their technical
designations as concentrations within the same BSE program, the ME, EE and CSE concentrations
offer separate curricula with few common courses, are administered by faculty in three separate
departments and are separately accredited by ABET (the external accrediting body, the Accreditation
Board for Engineering and Technology). ABET accreditation utilizes a rigorous peer-review process
to ensure that the engineering program meets the standards of the profession, regularly assesses
student attainment of learning outcomes, takes action to improve the program, and engages with
internal and external stakeholders.
The BSE Program with its three separate concentrations was approved by the UA Board of Regents
on February 17, 2005. The first BSE/ME graduates received their degrees in December of 2007. All
three concentrations have been ABET accredited since 2009 (retroactive). The bachelor’s degree
offered by the UAA ME Department is described on ABET’s website as accredited according to the
criteria for bachelor’s (4-year) degrees in Mechanical Engineering.
The three concentrations of the BSE degree were administered by the BSE Department until
AY2011-12, when the BSE Department separated and the ME Department as it now exists was
created. This has allowed the ME faculty greater control over BSE/ME curriculum, accreditation
activities, student advising and other department-level matters. However, the BSE degree designation
still causes some administrative difficulties. For example, since the ME Department does not have its
own bachelor’s degree program, its students are difficult to track on Banner. Also, the BSE/ME
distinction causes confusion among students and employers, who wonder what the difference is
between this degree and degrees at other institutions with the more common title of Bachelor of
Science in Mechanical Engineering. This proposal will resolve this confusion, because the BSE/ME
degree is a fully-accredited bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
The catalog copy for the proposed program are included as Appendix A.
2. Mission and Strategic Alignment: This proposal is not a program that will be new to UA, nor will it
involve making substantive changes to anything other than the title of the degree conferred to students
at the completion of an established course of study. Changes are not being proposed to the
curriculum, student learning outcomes, faculty or staff workloads, or the level of resourcing currently
provided to the ME Department.
The BSE/ME program itself is well-established and successful. As evidence of this, all academic
programs at UAA submitted to a process of program prioritization in the 2013-14 academic year. A
panel of faculty from various programs around UAA determined that the BSE/ME program was
worthy to be considered for enhancement based on “evidence of quality in terms of inputs and
UAA Mechanical Engineering BS Prospectus
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outputs, and efforts to stay up-to-date. . . program enrollments [that are] substantial (source: UAA
Program Prioritization 2013-14, Final Report of the Academic Task Force, June 2014).” The
following are summaries of how the proposed change in the title of UAA’s baccalaureate mechanical
engineering degree from BSE/ME to BSME is aligned with the mission and strategic planning of
UAA and UA.
a. UAA 2017 Strategic Plan: This proposed change supports Priority A: Strengthen the total UAA
instruction program and Priority C: Expand educational opportunity and increase student success.
The BSE/ME title gives some students, parents, and employers the impression that the degree is
not as “high quality” as other ABET-accredited BSME degrees. The perception is false, but may
negatively impact the department’s ability to recruit top high school graduates to the program,
including top students from the Anchorage School District. The lack of separate degrees for the
CSE, EE, and ME programs leads to administrative inefficiencies because students are more
difficult to track. The proposed change will allow faculty and staff to increase the efficiency of
student advising and collection of data to assess the ME program.
b. UA Academic Master Plan : As noted above, this program change is closely aligned with goals to
educate students, improve pathways to efficient degree completion, and meet state needs with
academic programs. The fact that the UAF mechanical engineering degree at UAF is its own
degree while the ME degree at UAA is a concentration with two other dissimilar disciplines adds
a needless layer of confusion when students compare the two degrees or transfer between MAUs.
Both programs are needed to reach the goal of training 200 engineers each year. This change will
improve clarity for prospective students, which may affect some of the top Anchorage high
school students’ decisions as to whether to remain in state for college. High performing students
have opportunities to collaborate with faculty on research projects.
c. UA Shaping Alaska’s Future: As noted above, this program change will reduce confusion for
prospective students, advisory board members, and local employers. It will also improve the
program’s ability to track students and gather data for program assessment and accreditation.
3. Student Demand and State Needs: Mechanical engineering is listed as a high demand job area
program. State needs for ME graduates are still not being fully met, and a great majority of the
program’s graduates are currently employed in the field. Graduates from both UAF and UAA’s
programs are essential to responding to this demand and meeting the UA goal of graduating 200
engineers per year for the state of Alaska.
Constituent surveys of employers, alumni, and current students overwhelmingly support the proposed
change. Respondents noted the change would bring the program more familiar to employers, decrease
confusion, and bring it in line with national norms. Both the ME Curriculum Advisory Board and the
College of Engineering Advisory Board are in full support of the proposed change. Resolutions from
both boards expressing this support are included in Appendix B.
Enrollment Projections Table
FTE Enrollment
Enrollment Headcount
Graduates
AY14
211.1
252
31
AY15
237.3
283
31
AY16
239.6
286
32
AY17
242.1
289
32
AY18
244.6
292
32
Over the past five years, enrollments and awarded degrees in the UAA baccalaureate ME program
have grown considerably. Enrollments and degree awards are no longer growing as quickly as they
did in the first years of the program, when exponential growth indicated a truly unmet state need.
UAA Mechanical Engineering BS Prospectus
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Enrollments and degree awards in the ME Department continue to increase slowly, and there is still
potential for additional recruitment among top students from Anchorage School District, many of
whom still choose to go out of state for their education. The enrollment and degree award projections
here represent an estimated 1% growth per year over the next five years.
The headcounts in the table above reflect the concentration’s majors and pre-majors as indicated in
Banner. Actual enrollments may be higher after this change. With the division of the BSE
concentrations into separate BS degrees, it will be easier to accurately track program enrollments.
4. Student Opportunities and Student Success: The BSE/ME program already has a well-established
record of supporting student success. The College of Engineering Advising Center provides advising
for all freshman and the College is in the process of forming a permanent Tutoring Center. All ME
faculty participate in academic advising and teach courses at all levels of the program, from
introductory courses through advanced electives and graduate courses. Faculty have published peerreviewed papers and conference proceedings with 11 undergraduate student co-authors, and students
have received numerous undergraduate research grants.
The proposed change will enhance the ME Department’s ability to advise its students. Currently,
because the ME Department shares a degree program with two other departments, it is difficult to
track students in Banner, and therefore difficult to use internal data to assess the impact of things such
as changes in advising practice or curriculum. Anecdotally, BSE/ME students report confusion with
potential employers over the official name of the degree. The proposed change will bring the title of
UAA’s baccalaureate mechanical engineering degree into line with what is normal nationwide for
similar curricula. This will allow UAA’s ME students to stand out with potential employers for their
accomplishments rather than for the unusual title of their degree program.
5. Current Capacity and Quality: Student services such as Student Affairs, Bookstore, Library,
College of Engineering Dean’s Office and Advising Center, are already set up and provide quality
support to CoEng undergraduate programs.
The ME Department has the following lab facilities which are capable of supporting both teaching
and research activities: an HVAC/Thermal System Design Laboratory, a Heat and Mass Transfer
Laboratory, a Materials Testing Laboratory, the BP Asset Integrity and Corrosion Laboratory, and a
Rapid Prototype Modeling Laboratory. These facilities demonstrate many unique and wellestablished engineering activities available to students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mechanical
engineering on the UAA campus. The facilities also attract collaborators from the community and
with other UAA programs.
6. Resource Implications: The elements needed to implement the BSME program are in place,
including the current faculty, administrative support and lab space of the ME Department. Additional
faculty hires and construction of additional lab space are not required for the change of degree title
proposed.
7. Affected Programs: The BSE/ME curriculum shares some courses with the Bachelor of Science in
Civil Engineering (BSCE) degree at UAA, and the faculty of the two departments share teaching
responsibility for those courses. The proposed change of the mechanical engineering degree title
would not affect this relationship, nor would it have any effect on faculty workloads in either
department. UAA ME Department faculty teach one service course for the BSE/EE Degree (ES
A208 Engineering Statics and Dynamics) and would continue to do so as before under the proposed
change.
UAA Mechanical Engineering BS Prospectus
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UAF also offers an ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, but the
addition of the BSE/ME program to UA’s offerings has not lead to a decrease in baccalaureate
degrees in mechanical engineering awarded at UAF. It seems reasonable to expect that both
programs will continue to produce graduates at similar rates in the future.
UAA’s College of Engineering has coordinated with UAF’s College of Engineering about this
proposed administrative change and received support for the action. The UAF Dean was present when
the UAA Advisory Board passed a resolution for this change in December 2014, and heard an update
on the proposal during a Joint Advisory Board meeting in January 2014. UAA has notified the UAS
engineering faculty of the proposed change, but have not worked as closely with them because the
UAS pre-engineering program is suspended, with courses being taught out this academic year.
8. Program accreditation and special certifications: The BSE/ME program is accredited by ABET
(formerly the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). A change in the title of the
degree offered for completion of this program would not be considered a major change by ABET, and
an off-cycle report would not be required.
9. Program student learning outcomes and plan for assessment: The Mechanical Engineering
faculty have adopted the eleven ABET student outcomes as the student outcomes of the Mechanical
Engineering Program, otherwise known as ABET a-k. The following table shows these student
outcomes and the methods which are used to assess student learning.
Program Student Learning Outcomes and Plan for Assessment
Outcome
(a) an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science
and engineering
Plan for Assessment
Direct Course Level Assessment (CLA),
ME A438 capstone design, senior exit
survey, FE exam
Direct CLA, ME A438 capstone design,
senior exit survey
(b) an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well
as analyze and interpret data
(c) an ability to design a system, component, or process
to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as
Direct CLA, ME A438 capstone design,
economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health, senior exit survey
and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
Direct CLA, indirect CLA, ME A438
(d) an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams
capstone design, senior exit survey
Direct CLA, ME A438 capstone design,
(e) an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams
senior exit survey, FE exam
(f) an understanding of professional and ethical
Direct CLA, indirect CLA, senior exit
responsibilities
survey, FE exam
Direct CLA, ME A438 capstone design,
(g) an ability to communicate effectively
senior exit survey
(h) the broad education necessary to understand the
impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic,
Direct CLA, senior exit survey
environmental and societal context
(i) a recognition of the need for, and the ability to engage Direct CLA, indirect CLA, senior exit
in, life-long learning
survey
(j) a knowledge of contemporary issues
UAA Mechanical Engineering BS Prospectus
Direct CLA, senior exit survey
6 of 15
Outcome
(k) an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern
engineering tools necessary for engineering practice
Plan for Assessment
Direct CLA, ME A438 capstone design,
senior exit survey
10. Outline of schedule for implementation of the program: This proposal is not a program that will
be new to UA, nor will it involve making substantive changes to anything other than the title of the
degree conferred to students at the completion of an established course of study. Changes are not
being proposed to the curriculum, student learning outcomes, faculty or staff workloads, number of
faculty and staff, or the level of resourcing currently provided to the ME Department. Currently
admitted BSE/ME students would become BSME students when the change is implemented. The
first degree awards would take place at the first commencement ceremony after the change is
implemented.
Implementation Schedule*
Critical Milestone
Date
1. Program change approval
Spring/Summer 2015
2. Implementation of program changes in Banner
Spring/Summer 2015
3. Award first BSME degrees
Fall 2015
*Dates are contingent upon approval by the BOR and NWCCU
11. E-learning Availability: The program is not currently available via e-learning. Many courses require
a hands-on laboratory activity with specialized equipment that does not currently map to an e-learning
environment. Learning to perform these activities as a team to solve engineering problems is also one
of the program’s student learning outcomes.
12. Faculty and Staff: The UAA Mechanical Engineering Department currently has eight full-time
tenured and tenure-track tripartite faculty members. Each of the tenured and tenure-track ME faculty
hold a terminal degree of PhD in mechanical engineering or a closely-related field. All full-time ME
faculty are involved in teaching both required undergraduate courses and advanced 400/600-level
electives, as well as advising ME students. This includes both academic advising and mentoring
student project teams and/or undergraduate research projects. Mechanical engineering faculty will
continue to provide academic advising to undergraduate students. Because the proposed BSME
degree constitutes the same courses as the BSE/ME degree, significant workload adjustment will not
be necessary.
The following appendices are included:
• Appendix A: Catalog Copy
• Appendix B: Resolutions of support from the ME Curriculum Advisory Board and the CoEng
Advisory Board
UAA Mechanical Engineering BS Prospectus
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Appendix A: Catalog Copy
Mechanical Engineering
The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
(BSME), and minors in General Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. The program is a fully
accredited Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree program. Students are introduced to
principles of mathematics, chemistry and physics during the first two years of study. The third year of
study largely focuses on courses that apply these basic sciences in an engineering context. During the
fourth year students take more advanced courses including technical electives that are more focused on
mechanical engineering analysis and design. The program focuses on the design of systems related to
transfer of thermal and mechanical energies where topics such as machine design and thermal systems,
including heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R), are covered in detail.
Students have the opportunity for hands-on experience in a state-of-the-art manufacturing lab with rapid
prototyping through three dimensional printers and computer numerical control (CNC) machining.
Students also take courses on written and oral communication, humanities, social sciences and fine arts to
improve their communication skills and to put their profession into a broader societal context.
Accreditation
The Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering
Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Program Objectives
1. To produce graduates who are able to practice mechanical engineering through design and
analysis of mechanical systems in industry, government, and academic settings.
2. To produce graduates who are prepared for graduate-level education, research and development,
and other creative endeavors in science and technology.
3. To produce graduates who are able to conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner.
4. To produce graduates who are able to become contributors and leaders in the economic
development and improving the quality of life in the State of Alaska, the nation and the world.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
It is expected that graduates from the program will have:
• An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering.
• An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as analyze and interpret data.
• An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic
constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety,
manufacturability, and sustainability.
• An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams.
• An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.
• An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
• An ability to communicate effectively.
• The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global,
economic, environmental, and societal context.
• A recognition of the need for, and the ability to engage in, lifelong learning.
• A knowledge of contemporary issues.
• An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering
practice.
UAA Mechanical Engineering BS Prospectus
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Appendix A: Catalog Copy
Preparation
While in high school, students can prepare for entering and succeeding in the university engineering
program. In order to be the best prepared, students should complete the following high school courses
with grades of C or better:
Algebra
2 years
Chemistry
1 year
English
3 years
Physics
1 year
Trigonometry
1/2 year
Students successfully completing the above courses should be prepared to enroll in the first year of
courses that count toward the engineering degree. Students without the above preparatory courses will
need to take equivalent university courses before taking some of the first year of courses that count
toward the engineering degree.
Admission Requirements
Satisfy the Application and Admission Requirements for Baccalaureate Programs.
Pre-Mechanical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering Levels
Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering program is to one of two levels: premechanical engineering or mechanical engineering. Students admitted to either of the two levels are
considered to be degree-seeking mechanical engineering students.
Applicants for admission who have completed only the Application and Admission Requirements for
Baccalaureate Programs are admitted to the program at the pre-mechanical engineering level.
Applicants for admission who, in addition to the Application and Admission Requirements for
Baccalaureate Programs, have completed the high school preparation courses listed above (or their
university equivalents) with grades of C or better will be admitted to the program at the mechanical
engineering level.
Advancement
To advance from the pre-mechanical engineering level to the mechanical engineering level, students must
meet the admission requirements to the engineering level and complete and submit a Change of Major
form.
Academic Progress Requirements
All prerequisites for engineering courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher, and all courses
listed in the major requirements must be completed with a grade of C or higher. A student who is unable
to earn a grade of C or higher in a program course offered by the College of Engineering will be required
to meet with a department faculty advisor to develop a plan for improvement of academic performance
before continuing in the program. A student who fails to earn a grade of C or higher on the second
attempt will be required to meet with an academic advisor and a member of the College of Engineering
professional advising staff to develop a plan for improvement of academic performance before continuing
in the program. A student who fails to earn a grade of C or higher on the third attempt will be removed
from the program. Re-admittance requires a letter of appeal from the student requesting re-admittance
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Appendix A: Catalog Copy
with an explanation of any mitigating factors and how these factors have been addressed. Re-admittance
is subject to approval by the faculty of the program and is communicated by the department chair.
Academic Integrity
The program requires its students to abide by the principles of academic integrity described in the Student
Code of Conduct. Should suspected cases of academic misconduct occur, these cases may be submitted to
the UAA Dean of Students Office, where the assistant director of student conduct reviews all allegations
of academic misconduct. At the conclusion of the review, the assistant director of student conduct issues a
notification of the findings and conclusions to the reporting faculty member, department chair and dean.
Should a student from the program be found responsible for a case of academic misconduct by the UAA
Dean of Students Office on two separate occasions, that student will be removed from the program. Readmittance requires a letter of appeal from the student requesting re-admittance with an explanation of
any mitigating factors and how these factors have been addressed. Re-admittance is subject to approval by
the faculty of the program and is communicated by the department chair.
Graduation Requirements
•
•
•
Satisfy the General University Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
Complete the General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
Complete the Major Requirements below with a grade of C or higher.
Major Requirements
Core Courses
CHEM A105
& A105L
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory
4
CHEM A106
& A106L
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Laboratory
4
ENGL A212
Technical Writing
3
ENGR A105A Engineering Computer-Aided Design I
1
ENGR A105B Engineering Computer-Aided Design II
1
ENGR A105C Engineering Computer-Aided Design III
1
ENGR A151
Introduction to Engineering
1
ENGR A161
Engineering Practices II
3
ES A209
Engineering Statics
3
ES A210
Engineering Dynamics
3
ES A302
Engineering Data Analysis
3
ES A309
Elements of Electrical Engineering
3
ES A331
Mechanics of Materials
3
ES A341
& A341L
Fluid Mechanics
and Fluid Mechanics Laboratory
4
ES A346
Introduction to Thermodynamics
3
ESM A450
Economic Analysis and Operations
3
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Appendix A: Catalog Copy
MATH A200 Calculus I
4
MATH A201 Calculus II
4
MATH A202 Calculus III
4
MATH A302 Ordinary Differential Equations
3
ME A280
3
Solid Modeling for Engineers
ME/EE A306 Dynamics of Systems
3
ME/EE A308 Instrumentation and Measurement
3
ME A313
Mechanical Engineering Thermodynamics
3
ME A334
& A334L
Materials Science
and Materials Science Laboratory
4
ME A403
Machine Design
3
ME A414
& A414L
Thermal System Design
and Thermal System Design Lab
4
ME A438
Design of Mechanical Engineering Systems
3
ME A441
& A441L
Heat and Mass Transfer
and Heat and Mass Transfer Lab
4
PHYS A211
& A211L
General Physics I
and General Physics I Laboratory
4
PHYS A212
& A212L
General Physics II
and General Physics II Laboratory
4
Advanced Mathematics Electives
Select one of the following:
3
MATH A314 Linear Algebra
MATH A321 Analysis of Several Variables
MATH A371 Stochastic Processes
MATH A407 Mathematical Statistics I
MATH A410 Introduction to Complex Analysis
MATH A422 Partial Differential Equations
MATH A423 Advanced Engineering Mathematics
MATH A426 Numerical Methods
Advanced Engineering Electives
Complete 12 credits, including at least 6 credits of ME courses, from the following:
AEST A608
Fundamentals of Air Pollution
CE A403
Arctic Engineering
or CE A603
Arctic Engineering
or ES A411
Northern Design
CE A441
Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering and Applied Environmental Science
CE A442
Environmental Systems Design
ME A408
Mechanical Vibrations
12
**
***
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Appendix A: Catalog Copy
or ME A608
Mechanical Vibrations
ME A415
Composite Materials
or ME A615
Composite Materials
ME A442
Advanced Fluid Mechanics
or ME A642
Advanced Fluid Mechanics
ME A450
Manufacturing Design
ME A453
Renewable Energy Systems Engineering
or ME A653
Renewable Energy Systems Engineering
ME A455
HVAC Systems Optimization
or ME A655
HVAC Systems Optimization
ME A459
Fracture Mechanics
or ME A659
Fracture Mechanics
***
***
***
***
***
ME/EE A471 Automatic Control
ME A664
Corrosion Processes and Engineering
ME A685
Arctic Heat and Mass Transfer
**
Only one of CE A403 or CE A603 or ES A411 can apply to the degree.
***
Only one course can apply to the degree.
A total of 132 credits is required for the degree, of which 42 credits must be upper division.
Honors in Mechanical Engineering
Undergraduate students in the program may be recognized for exceptional performance by earning
departmental honors. The award will be noted on their permanent university transcript. In order to receive
departmental honors, a student must meet each of the following requirements.
1.
2.
3.
Complete all program requirements.
Earn a GPA of 3.50 or above in the courses required for the major.
Gain approval for, complete and present a design/research project prior to applying for graduation. The
project proposal, presentation, and final written report must be approved by the program faculty.
Faculty
Jennifer Brock, Associate Professor/Chair, [email protected]
Matt Cullin, Associate Professor, [email protected]
Getu Hailu, Assistant Professor, [email protected]
Jeff Hoffman, Associate Professor, [email protected]
Nicolae Lobontiu, Professor, [email protected]
Ganhua Lu, Assistant Professor, [email protected]
Anthony Paris, Associate Professor, [email protected]
Jifeng Peng, Assistant Professor, [email protected]
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Appendix B: Advisory Board Resolutions
ME Curriculum Advisory Board Resolution
Support for Title Change from BSE, concentration ME to BSME Degree
WHEREAS Anchorage employers benefit from a strong local university:
•
More than 100 engineering, energy, utilities, and construction employers operate within a five-mile
radius of the UAA main campus;
•
Employers need more highly qualified engineers, scientists, and technically skilled managers who
possess mastery and autonomy gained through graduate education;
•
Anchorage employs the largest number of Alaska’s mechanical engineers; and
•
Replacement and growth are expected to continue to drive a need for mechanical engineers locally.
WHEREAS UAA Mechanical Engineering faculty and students have a proven record of excellence:
•
UAA College of Engineering’s Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Concentration Mechanical
Engineering (BSE/ME) is producing quality, well-prepared graduates. The ME undergraduate
program was established in 2005, has a strong curriculum, is fully accredited by the Engineering
Accreditation Commission of ABET, and currently has approximately 300 students enrolled and 100
alumni;
•
UAA Mechanical Engineering graduates are well received in the marketplace and are increasingly
filling engineering positions in Alaska;
•
Research and projects involving Department of Mechanical Engineering faculty are collaborative
with faculty and students in other departments both within the College of Engineering (CoEng) and
throughout UAA, including the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Health;
•
Research and projects involving UAA ME faculty and undergraduate students are of high quality and
have resulted in numerous conference proceedings, peer-reviewed journal publications, and funding
through internal and external grants and donations; and
•
During the UAA prioritization process in AY2014, a panel of faculty from various programs around
UAA determined that the BSE/ME program was worthy to be considered for enhancement based on
“evidence of quality in terms of inputs and outputs, and efforts to stay up-to-date. . . program
enrollments [that are] substantial.”
WHEREAS the BSE/ME degree currently has the characteristics of other Bachelors of Science in
Mechanical Engineering degrees offered nationally:
•
The UAA BSE/ME program is fully accredited by ABET according to the criteria for bachelor’s (4-year)
degrees in mechanical engineering; and
•
The BSE/ME program is housed in the UAA Mechanical Engineering Department, created in 2011 to
allow the ME faculty greater control over the BSE/ME curriculum, accreditation activities, student
advising and other department-level matters.
WHEREAS the proposed change from a degree designation of BSE/ME to one of BSME would is a change
in name only:
•
Changes are not being proposed to the baccalaureate mechanical engineering curriculum or student
learning outcomes; and
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Appendix B: Advisory Board Resolutions
•
Changes are not being proposed to faculty or staff workloads, the number of faculty or staff
assigned to the UAA ME Department, or to the level of resourcing currently provided to the UAA ME
Department.
WHEREAS the proposed change from a degree designation of BSE/ME to one of BSME would encourage
administrative efficiencies within the program and UAA:
•
The mechanical engineering baccalaureate degree at UAA is a shared degree with two other
dissimilar disciplines adds a needless layer of confusion;
•
The lack of separate degrees for the ME, EE and CSE programs leads to administrative inefficiencies
because students are harder to track, so the proposed change will allow faculty and staff to increase
the efficiency of student advising and collection of data to assess program performance; and
•
The proposed change from BSE/ME to BSME will eliminate needless confusion among students and
employers regarding differences between the UAA baccalaureate mechanical engineering degree
and other baccalaureate mechanical engineering degrees offered nationally, generally with the title
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.
WHEREAS the proposed change from a degree designation of BSE/ME to one of BSME would encourage
recruiting locally:
•
The BSE/ME title gives some potential students the false impression that the UAA baccalaureate
mechanical engineering degree is not the same degree as other Bachelor of Science in Mechanical
Engineering degrees offered nationally;
•
The proposed change would bring the title of the UAA baccalaureate mechanical engineering degree
in line with that of other ABET-accredited mechanical engineering bachelor’s degrees and is
expected to encourage some of the top Anchorage high school students’ decisions as to whether to
remain in state for college.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the ME Curriculum Advisory Board enthusiastically supports changing
the degree designation for the baccalaureate mechanical engineering program at the University of
Alaska Anchorage from Bachelor of Science in Engineering, concentration Mechanical (BSE/ME) to
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME).
Approved by the UAA School of Engineering Advisory Board on November 7, 2014.
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UAA College of Engineering Advisory Board
Resolution
WHEREAS the existing UAA Bachelor of Science in Engineering currently contains three distinct
concentrations in Computer Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering;
and
WHEREAS each of the Bachelor of Science in Engineering concentrations are designed as independent
Bachelor of Science degrees; and
WHEREAS each of the Bachelor of Science in Engineering concentrations is a separately accredited
baccalaureate program by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc.; and
WHEREAS the UAA transcripts and diplomas do not accurately represent the three concentrations as the
complete engineering degrees that they are; and
WHEREAS the UAA College of Engineering has embarked on the process of replacing the Bachelor of
Science in Engineering with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems Engineering, a Bachelor of
Science in Electrical Engineering, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering;
WHEREAS the proposed change from the Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree to three separate
Bachelor of Science degrees would be a change in name only and would not involve changes to program
curricula, faculty or staff workloads, student outcomes, or the level of resourcing needed within the
College of Engineering;
WHEREAS the proposed change would create administrative efficiencies within the affected programs
and bring the degree titles of the baccalaureate Computer Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering
and Mechanical Engineering programs into line with what is usual for other engineering programs
nationally, thus eliminating confusion among students and potential employers; therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the UAA College of Engineering Advisory Board fully endorses and supports these
changes.
This resolution passed by a 16-0 vote at the December 5, 2014 regular meeting of the UAA College of
Engineering Advisory Board.
Loren Leman, P.E, Chairman
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