Engineering Education in the United States: Past, Present, and Future.

Abstract

education in the United States has undergone a profound transformation, from a strong focus on engineering practice and design before World War II to the current emphasis on scientific fundamentals and mathematical analysis. This change was driven by the Cold War and the accompanying major federal investment in university research, which also produced a major shift in engineering faculty culture away from its traditional roots in professional practice toward an academic science perspective, with rewards based primarily on research achievement. Beginning in the 1980's, the emergence of global competition as the major driver for engineering employment, along with the rapid growth of information technologies, have focused increasing