Preparing Engineering Graduates for the Real World

Engineers of today must understand the social, political, cultural and environmental impacts of technology and innovation. Engineering graduates from traditional programs are lacking in skills required to be successful after graduation. The engineering dual degree program encompasses the liberal arts, experiential education, and cultural and international exposure producing engineers ready for the real-world work environment. Some research attention has been focused on traditional three-two programs or Bachelors/Masters programs; however little has been focused on dual degree programs where engineering and non-technical fields are paired together. These dual degree programs produce engineering graduates who are well rounded and can function in the society of today and the future. Through the incorporation of traditional engineering coursework and a strong background in the liberal arts, students become attractive candidates to employers. In addition, these graduates have the social understanding, human interaction and communication skills that the traditional engineering student does not possess. This research paper will address the benefits of the Engineering Dual Degree Program (EDDP) and show how its graduates are better prepared for work upon graduation. The EDDP is a unique partnership between Butler University and the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at Indiana-University Purdue-University Indianapolis (IUPUI). The data will be gathered from graduates from the EDDP and undergraduate engineering at IUPUI as far back as 2004, which is the first year the dual degree program graduated students. The results will be analyzed in comparison between the two groups in order to determine whether a disparity exists between job placement and opportunities for graduates of both programs. The researchers believe data will show that the EDDP graduates are more successful in their job search than their peers at IUPUI. In addition, responses to the open ended questions will provide feedback on the benefits of the program from graduate perspectives.