Changes in the IE Curriculum
Over the years, the IE curriculum has changed in a number of important ways. Early on, the program had a heavy emphasis on mechanical engineering with courses in Mechanical Drawing, Statics, Dynamics, Strengths of Materials, Fluid Dynamics, and Thermodynamics. In addition, students took Tool Design and Manufacturing Processes in Industrial Engineering. The curriculum was focused almost exclusively on Manufacturing. Industrial Engineering courses included Fundamentals of Industrial Engineering, Motion and Time Study, Engineering Economy, Engineering Accounting, Engineering Statistics (I,II), Quality Control, Production Planning and Control, and Wage and Salary Administration. In the mid 1960’s, the IE program started requiring computer programming (Fortran) and other courses started using computers. It was also at this time that Operations Research became a required course. In the late 1960’s, Human Factors also became a required course. In the late 1970’s, the IE curriculum underwent a major change in response to accreditation concerns that engineering programs across the country were requiring too many course hours. The IE program required 150 hours to graduate at this time. As a result of these accreditation concerns, the WVU IE program made a number of changes. Engineering Accounting was dropped with some content added to Engineering Economy. Quality Control was dropped with content added to the statistics courses. Other required engineering science courses were dropped (Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, and Dynamics) were replaced with a Mechanical Engineering elective. The total credit hours to graduate were reduced to 135. Perhaps the most important change was that the IE program started offering a capstone course which places every student in a year long internship in an actual business setting. This course focuses on the skills that our graduates will need when they begin their careers. In the 1990’s and more recently, there have been fewer changes in course requirements. Simulation is now a required course. The content of courses has changed significantly over the years. With personal computers now widely available, most courses now have more practical projects. The communications emphasis in our program has grown considerably. Students have frequent opportunities to give presentations and prepare professional reports. The focus of courses has also shifted from the pure manufacturing emphasis in the 50’s to a mix of manufacturing and service sector emphasis. This change in emphasis reflects the changing employment market for our graduates. While our curriculum has undergone considerable change in 50 years, these revisions mirror the changes in our profession. We are proud of the fact that we have consistently maintained the highest level of accreditation.
     
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