The Role of Project Work in the EE Curriculum: Experience at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

The relation of the undergraduate project program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute to some common problems of curriculum development is described. In particular, the ways in which project work addresses the difficulties of teaching design, the provision of helpful laboratory experience, and the introduction of new technical knowledge, are discussed. Further, it is argued that the process of engineering, as exemplified in a well-thought-out and completed project, is a vital part of engineering education. Details of the implementation, conduct, and results of a project-oriented curriculum are presented, based on eight years of experience in the Electrical Engineering Department at WPI.