Integrated curriculum as the today need of engineering education (Creating the KNOW/DO/BE bridge)

Abstract

In fact, there is universal agreement that an engineer must have a broad range of knowledge and skills beyond the technical expertise of its study field. Integrated curriculum provides a framework to enable students toward linking knowledge and skills of multiple disciplines. Hence, they can use this knowledge and skills to solve real world problems. Given the importance of this issue, in this paper, the necessity for integrated/interdisciplinary curriculum in engineering education in the twenty-first century will be emphasized and the results of two empirical studies of engineering education curricula in Iran are offered, including 1) curriculum from viewpoint of lecturers and students of engineering and 2) analyzing courses syllabus of engineering. Finally, addressing the question “What do we want engineering students to know, do, and be?” an approach to design of integrated curriculum in engineering education is proposed. This approach can be used to develop new curricula or revise the current curricula.

Keywords

• curriculum engineering education integrated approach know/do/be bridge