Program Educational Objectives

The Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial Engineering offers an undergraduate BS program in Industrial Engineering. Four areas of educational focus are provided under this program: operations research, production systems, ergonomics and manufacturing. Additionally, a BSIE, Furniture Manufacturing degree track is offered as an accredited specialization within the standard BSIE. In a cooperative effort of faculty representing all focus areas, the following undergraduate educational objectives were developed.

The educational objectives of this department are:

1. To actively recruit and retain qualified students and to prepare those students for entry into successful employment as industrial engineers in industry, service, consulting, and/or government organizations or for advanced study at leading graduate schools in engineering, business, management, or other technical or non-technical fields.
   
   
2. To educate students in a broad range of areas related to effective and established engineering practice, including engineering design, physical as well as engineering sciences, mathematics, information technology and analytical problem solving.
   
   
3. To encourage students to pursue meaningful work experiences through cooperative education and internships and through course practicum/project experiences and to provide students the tools of systems and management engineering, preparing them for the professional and ethical management of people, processes, systems and products in a wide variety of settings.
   
   
4. To encourage teamwork skills, particularly the ability to work with people from other fields in integrated engineering teams and the leadership skills for maximizing the performance of those teams.
   
   
5. To offer a curriculum that encourages students to become broadly educated engineers and life-long learners, with an understanding and appreciation of the arts, humanities, and social sciences, an ability to communicate effectively with various audiences and purposes, and a desire to seek out further educational opportunities.
   
   
6. To expose students to advances in engineering practice and research as preparation for opportunities in graduate education.
   
   
7. To obtain resources necessary to recruit, develop, and retain faculty, laboratory, teaching and research assistants and other support staff who are committed to the educational mission of the department and to acquire, maintain, and operate facilities and laboratory equipment appropriate to our engineering program.

How Program Educational Objectives of the Department of Industrial Engineering Fit the Institutional Context

The mission statement of North Carolina State University states, among many things, that NC State "creates an innovative learning environment that stresses mastery of fundamentals, intellectual discipline, creativity, problem solving, and responsibility." All seven (7) of the Program Educational Objectives of the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial Engineering assist and enable the University to attain its mission.

The mission statement of the College of Engineering states, in part, that the College "is to provide students with a sound engineering education," a general statement which all seven (7) of the Department's Program Educational Objectives define in the particular. Other ways in which individual Objectives fit with the mission of the University and College are as follows:

Objective 1

From the Introduction of the “Strategic Plan for NC State College of Engineering”: “The NC State College of Engineering must provide an educational environment that prepares students for successful careers in the engineering profession. This must begin with the recruitment of qualified students….”

The College of Engineering long-range Goal A: “The College of Engineering will recruit and retain qualified students and provide an educational experience that prepares them for successful careers in engineering.”

The Department mission statement: “Graduates will be prepared for employment as industrial engineers….”

Objective 2

University mission statement: “Enhancing its historic strengths in agriculture, science, and engineering with a commitment to excellence in a comprehensive range of academic disciplines.”

The College of Engineering mission statement: “…. a sound engineering education, advance the understanding and application of scientific principles.”

The Department mission statement: “To educate students in a broad range of areas the include engineering design, physical as well as engineering sciences, mathematics and the analytical problem-solving skills…”

Objective 3

University mission statement: “Through the active integration of teaching, research, and extension, North Carolina State University creates an innovative learning environment….”

From the Introduction of the “Strategic Plan for NC State College of Engineering”: “The plan presents areas of specific focus for the College, including…. increased interaction with industry….”

Objective 4

The College of Engineering long-range Goal D: “The College of Engineering will establish an educational and research environment that emphasizes interdisciplinary programs and establishes a new paradigm for engineering education.”

The Department mission statement: “To educate students in a broad range of areas…necessary to the successful practice of industrial engineering.”

Objective 5

University mission statement: “Enhancing its historic strengths in agriculture, science, and engineering with a commitment to excellence in a comprehensive range of academic disciplines, North Carolina State University provides leadership for intellectual, cultural, social, economic, and technological development within the state, the nation, and the world.”

University long-range goal 4: “NC State will strengthen the competitive advantages of its unique blend of scientific, technological, and professional programs through their integration with humanistic and social science disciplines.”

The Department mission statement: “Graduates…will be effective at oral and written communication.”

Objective 6

From the Introduction of the “Strategic Plan for NC State College of Engineering”: “The objective (of the design of the Centennial Campus facility) is to establish an environment in which interdisciplinary activities in both teaching and research are emphasized and the synergism between the two is highlighted.”

The Department mission statement: “Graduates will be prepared for employment as industrial engineers…or for advanced study at leading graduate schools.”

Objective 7

From the Introduction of the “Strategic Plan for NC State College of Engineering”: “The NC State College of Engineering must provide an educational environment that prepares students for successful careers in the engineering profession.” (Paragraph 2). “Along with improved recruitment and retention of students, we also will set a goal of attracting the very best faculty.” (Paragraph 3). “A goal of the College, as it is waiting to move to Centennial Campus, is “to develop a plan for upgrading our teaching laboratories. …The strategy is to identify the laboratory facilities and equipment that must be in place by the year 2001 and to define a year-by-year plan to make that happen.” (Paragraph 5).

Revised: March 19, 2004
Draft: March 9, 2000
Final Approval: December 1, 2000