Evaluation and results for an integrated curriculum in chemical engineering

Abstract

Increasing knowledge integration has gained wide-spread support as an important goal in engineering education. The Chemical Engineering Pillars curriculum is one of the first fully integrated curricula in engineering, and is specifically designed to facilitate knowledge integration. This curriculum, in use for just over 5 years, is unique for its use of block scheduling. Block scheduling, in its simplest form, is transforming multi-semester courses into a singlesemester course via extended, concentrated contact time. Among other things, the flexibility afforded by extended and more frequent contact time allows (and encourages) greater opportunity for active and collaborative learning. The specific adaption of this technique to chemical engineering has resulted in a curriculum comprised of 6 "Pillar" courses which are taken individually in 6 consecutive undergraduate semesters and are accompanied by vertically integrated laboratory experiences. © 2011 American Society for Engineering Education.