Offering A Bachelor Of Science In Engineering Technology Degree Program On Accelerated Eight Week Terms: Experiences, Challenges, And Advantages For Students

A recent exchange on the Engineering Technology listserv discussed the possible use of terms shorter than the traditional sixteen week semester. The responses indicated a strong preference for the standard semester, and very little interest in attempting to offer Engineering Technology courses in shorter terms. The fact that the question came up, however, indicates some interest in, or pressure on, programs to offer courses in terms shorter than sixteen weeks. Our department was moved to the university’s satellite campus, which is on a military base and where the standard operating schedule is based on eight week accelerated terms. With this change, we had to adapt our program to eight-week terms. This paper describes the author’s experience as the department chair with making this transition from sixteen-week semesters to eight-week terms. This paper will discuss the changes we were forced to make, advantages and disadvantages for students, and challenges as well as opportunities for faculty and department chairs in making this transition to shorter terms.