Degree/Program Title: Physics Major - Engineering Emphasis
 
 
Sponsor(s): Ken Menningen
 
Department(s): Physics
 
College(s): College of Letters & Sciences
 
 
Effective Term: Fall, 2001
 

Check if:

______		New Degree: Intent to Plan
______		New Degree: Final Proposal
______		New Major: Intent to Plan
______		New Major: Final Proposal
______		New Submajor: Minor
__X___	New Submajor: Emphasis/Track
______	New Submajor: Certificate Program
______	Module: Intent to Plan
______	Module: Final Proposal
______	Other ___________________

 

A.  Description of the Program:

The proposed Engineering Emphasis of the Physics major would be aimed at preparing students for engineering school while simultaneously earning a physics degree at UW-Whitewater.  The emphasis is intended to completely replace the existing pre-engineering program at UWW. While some students may elect to transfer to an engineering school after 2 or 3 years, many would find the prospect of earning a physics degree at a smaller, teaching-oriented school such as UWW to be very attractive.  The emphasis is crafted to satisfy the typical requirements for entry into engineering school as well as all the requirements for a Bachelor’s degree in physics.  It is very similar to the Industry Emphasis except it requires the Engineering Mechanics: Statics and Dynamics courses (800-280 and 800-282) and does not require the economics and accounting courses in the unique requirements of the Industry Emphasis.

Tentative Catalog Description of the Program:

This emphasis serves two purposes.  First, it will provide the necessary preparatory coursework for those who wish to begin their undergraduate work at UWW and finish it at an engineering school.  Second, it will ensure that all necessary coursework is completed for those who wish to earn a physics bachelor’s degree at UWW and go on to employment or graduate work in engineering.
 

PHYSICS ENGINEERING EMPHASIS (BA/BS)
(Recommended for students intending to attend engineering school)
MAJOR – 34 CREDITS

1. PHYS 800-170, 800-172, 800-173, 800-174, 800-175, 800-280, 800-282, AND 800-489
2. SELECT REMAINING CREDITS FROM PHYS 800-221, 800-320, 800-322, 800-330, 800-331, 800-354, 800-355, 800-364, 800-410, 800-411, 800-412, 800-413, AND NO MORE THAN 3 CREDITS FROM 490-499 COURSES

1. MATH 760-255, 760-355, 760-361, AND CPSC 765-173 RLS

1. ENGL 680-370 OR 680-372 RLS

B.  Relation of the Program to Institutional Goals
The objective of creating the Engineering Emphasis is to offer students an incentive to stay at UW-Whitewater and complete a degree before going into enginneering, to give students more education and career options, and to make the physics department the “home” department for engineering students.  In this manner the Engineering Emphasis will hopefully have a positive impact on student retention and advising.

C.  Relation of the program to other programs on campus
The Engineering Emphasis is unique in its specificity to students interested in a career in engineering.  Academically it is very similar to the Industry Emphasis as described above.

D.  Projected source(s) of resources to support the program
Unless large numbers of students enroll in the program right away, no additional resources are required.

E. Student need for the program
The students most interested in the Engineering Emphasis would be the 30 to 40 students normally enrolled in the pre-engineering program.  The Engineering Emphasis offers them more educational options in that they can stay and earn a degree here or they can still take the courses required for engineering school and transfer after two or three years.  We feel students will find the degree option an attractive one, as we have noticed that 10% to 20% of pre-enginneering students at UWW change to physics majors.

F. Student learning objectives
The first learning objective is to prepare students for enrollment into engineering school by the end of their second year.  To this end, the program encourages the students to finish at least calculus, the calculus-based introductory physics courses, and the Engineering Mechanics: Statics and Dynamics courses by that time.  These courses, together with the general education courses required by engineering schools, would adequately prepare them for engineering school.  The second objective is to train the students that remain in the program to be competent physics graduates, able to continue in graduate work in engineering or to work in industry.  To this end the students would be required to complete all the upper-level physics courses normally required for a physics degree as well as any remaining general education courses required for graduation at UWW in the second two years.

G. Assessment plan
The program assessment will be integrated into the existing assessment plan for the physics department.