Development of a proposed aerospace engineering curriculum for the twenty-first century

The paper deseribes recent steps in the development of a new undergraduate curriculum in aerospace engineering for the University of Cincinnati, which will be implemented starting in the 1997-1998 academic year pending university approval. The new curriculum places a strong emphasis on instruction and experience in collaborative and individual design exercises beginning in the sophomore year by mandating an 'integrated engineering' sequence for all aerospace engineering majors from sophomore through junior years, culminating in the 'capstone' design experience of the senior year. The integrated engineering sequence, which is described briefly here, combines formal instructional modules in design-related material and in nontechnical skill areas including technical writing and presentation with design experience related to corequisite prerequisite technical courses, and is intended to be team-taught. The paper also describes the procedure by which the new curriculum and the integrated engineering sequence was developed and approved by the department faculty, which provides some lessons in the overhaul of undergraduate engineering curricula. (Author)