Academics

Objectives


Program Educational Objectives


The educational objective of the Electrical Engineering program, in support of the mission of the school, is to have graduates achieve the following within a few years after graduation:

  1. The ability to identify and solve engineering problems, drawing on a strong foundation in the basic sciences and mathematics.
  2. Possession of a solid foundation in electrical engineering sufficient to enable careers and professional growth in electrical engineering or related fields.
  3. The ability to communicate effectively and contribute as members of multidisciplinary teams.
  4. Appreciation of a diversity of opinion, consideration of ethical issues, and understanding of the context of one's profession.
  5. Understanding of the relationship between theory and practice based on significant engineering design experience.

Our department periodically reviews these objectives and as part of this review process, encourages comments from all interested parties: current students, alumni, prospective students, faculty, teaching assistants, those who hire or admit our graduates to other programs, members of related professional organizations, and colleagues from other educational institutions. Please send comments to our ABET coordinator, Charles Zukowski (caz at columbia.edu).

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Program Educational Outcomes


An accredited engineering program must define a set of specific program outcomes that relate to its educational objectives, including at least the items a-k listed below. We regularly review the courses in our curriculum to make sure that all these items are covered, and try to measure whether our students are successfully attaining the following goals:

  1. An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
  2. An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
  3. 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
  4. An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
  5. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
  6. An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
  7. An ability to communicate effectively
  8. the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
  9. A recognition of the need and ability to engage in lifelong learning
  10. A knowledge of contemporary issues
  11. An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice

Our department periodically reviews these outcomes and as part of this review process, encourages comments from all interested parties: current students, alumni, prospective students, faculty, teaching assistants, those who hire or admit our graduates to other programs, members of related professional organizations, and colleagues from other educational institutions. In particular, we are currently evaluating whether we should add any additional outcomes. Please send comments to our ABET coordinator, Charles Zukowski (caz at columbia.edu).

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Program Upgrades


As part of our accreditation process, we constantly measure the success of many aspects of our Electrical Engineering program, e.g., by monitoring:

  • Student progress, including courses, and grades
  • Opinions of students, faculty, alumni, and external reviewers
  • Success of graduates

Every year we review this input and target aspects of our program for modification and improvement. This process was initially proposed as shown on our ABET 2000 page, and has expanded somewhat in recent years with respect to measurements. These are examples of some of our most important recent initiatives:

  • Upgrade capstone lab requirement (2000–2001)
  • Improve T.A. recruitment and oversight (2001–2002)
  • Implement new advising system (2002–2003)
  • Phase in new curriculum (2003–2004)
  • Open student lounge, plan alumni survey (2004–2005)
  • Improve capstone labs, plan recruiter survey (2005–2006)
  • Introduce new required course ELEN E3999 (2009-2010)
  • Update program educational objectives (2010-2011)
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