Work in progress - A problem-based curriculum in support of structured learning experiences to prepare ph.d. candidates for independent research

Abstract

In engineering, the graduate school experience has focused on developing the research and technical skills of the graduate student. However, to successfully complete their graduate degree, students must also develop additional skills [1]. For example, students must make the critical transition from course-taker to independent scholar/researcher [2, 3]. Graduate education can be daunting to first year students and a stressful transition. The socialization experience into the research community plays a critical role in the overall experience. This socialization process includes the transition from a course taker to an independent researcher [4]. Developing broader skills for the transition can be inconsistent and challenging for an individual faculty working with individual students. To address this challenge at the department level, our Engineering Science and Mechanics (ESM) department is beginning to revolutionize the current graduate curriculum by introducing a required first-semester, problem-based course for all new graduate students to help them with the transition year.