A hybrid and modular curriculum model in advanced manufacturing for liberal arts graduates

Abstract

This paper presents a new innovative curriculum model in advanced manufacturing to transform BA graduates to enable them to find good paying jobs in advanced manufacturing. The curriculum model is an accelerated one year certificate program with a total of 25 credits. The certificate program offers two tracks: technology and innovation. The certificate courses are hybrid (offered both online and face-to-face), modular (short duration courses with targeted topics) and stackable (modular courses build on each other). The design of the courses provides flexibility to students to select the modules that match their interest and abilities. An integral and important part of the program is a one-semester long industry internship that students must take to prepare them for the new career. These internships are provided by the program industry partners. The certificate program is offered at a community college to make it more affordable for the target audience. The main contribution of the paper is the design and delivery of a technical curriculum for non-technical majors: BA graduates. This poses many design and delivery challenges as discussed in the paper. The remainder of the paper presents the model in more details, its rationale, methodology, the challenges, and conclusions. © 2017 Tempus Publications.

Keywords

Author Keywords

curriculum design Internships advanced manufacturing Career transformation Industry partners Liberal arts graduates

Index Keywords

Employment Teaching Curricula Engineering education Students education Curricula design Internship Modulars Smart manufacturing Liberal arts Advanced manufacturing Curricula models Manufacture Curriculum designs Certificate programs Career transformation Internships Industry partner Liberal art graduate

Author Affiliations

Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States

Department of Engineering, MassBay Community College, Wellesley, MA, United States

STEM Center, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States

Funding & Acknowledgements

Northeastern University, NEU

Funding text 1: Acknowledgements\u2014This work is supported by the National Science Foundation under grant numbers DUE-1407160. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.; Funding text 2: The curriculum is part of a larger program targeting BA graduates. We call it the TRANSFORM program. Northeastern University (NU) and Mass-Bay Community College (MBCC) in Massachusetts have collaborated together to design and deliver the curriculum as part of federally funded grant. NU offers its expertise in co-op and internships and MBCC offers its expertise in curriculum design and delivery to nontraditional students. The curriculum is offered by MBCC. Being a state institution, the total tuition cost to BA graduates is around $4400 for Massachusetts residents. An internship total income is estimated at $9000, assuming a 15-weeks, 40-hours/week, at a rate of $15\u2013$20/hour. Thus, BA graduates get double benefits: industry experience to increase their chances of employment, and a positive cash flow to prevent extra student debt.; Funding text 3: This work is supported by the National Science Foundation under grant numbers DUE-1407160. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

National Science Foundation, NSF

Grant: DUE-1407160

Funding text 1: Acknowledgements\u2014This work is supported by the National Science Foundation under grant numbers DUE-1407160. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.; Funding text 2: The curriculum is part of a larger program targeting BA graduates. We call it the TRANSFORM program. Northeastern University (NU) and Mass-Bay Community College (MBCC) in Massachusetts have collaborated together to design and deliver the curriculum as part of federally funded grant. NU offers its expertise in co-op and internships and MBCC offers its expertise in curriculum design and delivery to nontraditional students. The curriculum is offered by MBCC. Being a state institution, the total tuition cost to BA graduates is around $4400 for Massachusetts residents. An internship total income is estimated at $9000, assuming a 15-weeks, 40-hours/week, at a rate of $15\u2013$20/hour. Thus, BA graduates get double benefits: industry experience to increase their chances of employment, and a positive cash flow to prevent extra student debt.; Funding text 3: This work is supported by the National Science Foundation under grant numbers DUE-1407160. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

References 10 References

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A hybrid and modular curriculum model in advanced manufacturing for liberal arts graduates

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