A Cooperative Doctoral Program In Engineering
Authors: Hagerty W.W. , Gatlin Carl 
Published: December 2007

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Introduction

Drexel Institute of Technology has recently been charged by its Trustees with entering into doctoral level education. To do so will require that the resources of Drexel be spread to include additions of new faculty, provide additional teaching and laboratory space, and the appropriate research equipment. This increase of research activity will also require the acquisition of additional funds to support graduate students and other associated staff personnel. Since in its current stage of planning and development Drexel is not greatly unlike many southwestern universities, it is hoped that this brief case history of our recent planning will be of some interest to this audience. It is perhaps pertinent to begin with some brief philosophical remarks, followed by a bit of background on our Institution.

In recent years there has been increasing discussion concerning the special nature, if any, of engineering doctoral research as contrasted with research in the other areas of physical science. In general, the graduate research programs of academic institutions are under the administration, at least for policy guidance, of a graduate dean. He supervises all programs in which M. S., Ph. D. and other broad degrees are granted, but does not oversee professional degrees such as Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Business Administration. This classical structure is not always in the best interests of engineering students, since the general degree requirements may not allow the inclusion of certain desirable features of modern engineering education.

Drexel Institute of Technology awards baccalaureate and master's degrees in business administration: engineering; home economics; and the physical sciences, including chemistry, mathematics, and physics. It also grants the master of science degree in library science. All programs have students in a cooperative work-study program, with engineering and science being exclusively so. Drexel is a large engineering school, usually ranking about fifth or sixth in B. S. degree production. Furthermore, its engineering enrollment has been relatively stable during the recent period of national decline. Drexel also has a large Master's program (currently over 300 M.S. degrees per year) conducted largely as a part-time, night operation, although full time programs are available. In addition Drexel operates a sizeable (2,700 students) and highly successful evening college, administered by a separate Dean, which afterwards baccalaureate degrees in engineering, business and the sciences.

DOCTORAL PROGRAM PLANNING

Like many similar urban universities, Drexel's physical plant is already strained and expansion is costly and difficult.