Developing Tomorrow’s Technology Leaders: Issues Related To Master’s Level Technology Curriculum

Students at the Master of Science degree level in technology are preparing themselves for leadership or supervisory roles in the field. Students who will be assuming leadership roles in their professions need not only the technical and applied skills their jobs demand, but also knowledge of the business environment, leadership, ethics and laws, strategic planning, project management, quality, and supervisory skills. The School of Technology at this institution encompasses seven diverse programs, including organizational leadership and supervision. The Master of Science in technology is, by design and necessity, cross disciplinary, to serve the diverse needs of the students in the school and in the field. This paper will review important issues in developing a master’s level degree in technology, and will discuss the importance of considering the leadership and soft or conceptual skills areas for curriculum. Furthermore, review of the federal statistics on job outlook for some higher level positions in engineering technology fields will be presented in support of the curriculum which includes these types of courses to equip tomorrow’s leaders with an education appropriate for higher level positions. Institutions can also serve tomorrow’s technology leaders by considering graduate or post-baccalaureate certificates including these types of courses to aid in professional development of those currently in the field in these leadership positions. Background Purdue University Calumet (PUC) is a regional campus serving about 9,300 students, located in a highly urban environment in a large metropolitan area. The campus serves a diverse population of about half traditional students and half non-traditional students. Sixty percent of the student population is full-time. Seventy-four percent of its students are first generation college students (neither parent attended college). Minority students comprise about 30% of the total body and female students comprise 57% of the student body. Most of the students are commuters, with a small but increasing percentage of residential students. 1 In Lake County, where the campus is located, only about 16% of the population over age 25 has a four-year degree or higher, compared to a rate of 19.4% for the state overall, based on 2000 census data. The county ranks twenty-first in the state in post-secondary education, even though it is the second most populous county in Indiana. While the total enrollment is 9,300, graduate enrollment for the campus for 2007-08 is 1021, with 835 part time graduate students, and 186 full time students. This is reflective of the campus student population overall, where many of the students work near full-time or full-time. According to the 2000 census data, only 5.5% of adults 25 or older in the county have attained a graduate or professional degree. 2 Compared with a P ge 13400.2 7.2% rate for graduate and professional degrees in the state, and 8.9% for the nation, the region is well below both state and national averages. 3 Within the campus, the School of Technology (SOT) is comprised of seven very diverse Bachelor of Science degree programs, including Computer Graphics Technology, Computer Information Technology, Construction Management Engineering Technology, Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology, Industrial Engineering Technology, Manufacturing Engineering Technology, and Organizational Leadership and Supervision. The Master of Science (MS) in Technology degree is in its initial phase. A degree modeled after a MS degree from the main campus (Purdue University West Lafayette), the regional campus authority to offer this degree is pending final approval from the state. To build the graduate degree program while awaiting final degree approval, SOT is offering some courses under main campus authority to build a student base. The overall program structure is a directed projectbased degree and consists of 33 hours: three core courses (9 credit hours), Measurement and Evaluation in Industry & Technology, Quality and Productivity in Industry & Technology, and Analysis and Research in Industry and Technology; four primary area courses (12 credit hours) in the area of concentration, three courses in technical electives (9 credit hours), and a directed project course (3 credit hours).