Introducing The Engineering Technology Programs To All Incoming Freshmen Engineering And Technology Students – The Result Is Better For All

The Department of Engineering Technology at Old Dominion University participates in a freshman engineering course sequence, along with four engineering departments in the Batten College of Engineering and Technology. The two course sequence, Exploring Engineering and Technology I and II, involve the five departments in teaching at least one five week module in each of the two courses. Each department generally involves the students in a basic design project related to its discipline. Since the Department of Engineering Technology has three main programs – Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical – it has elected to divide its five week segment into three parts to introduce the students to each of the three programs in the department. The short time available to each program has presented some unique challenges in giving the students a meaningful experience in each program. This paper presents these challenges and how the programs within the department addressed them. The freshman course sequence has provided an excellent opportunity for the Department of Engineering Technology to provide the undecided (and, at times, the previously decided) engineering students with a viable alternative to the engineering programs. It exposes all freshmen engineers to the attributes of engineering technology education and employment opportunities.