Engineering Physics Uiuc
Leontina Heidgerken
Accreditation is important to show that programs meet requirements for quality and content according to their discipline. ABET is a nonprofit, ISO 9001 certified organization that accredits college and university programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering and engineering technology. ABET is a federation of 36 professional societies and has four commissions: Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission (ANSAC), Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC), Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC), and Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC). Professional licensure for engineers typically requires graduating from a program accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET.
To accomplish the educational objectives and to fulfill current engineering accreditation criteria, all engineering programs provide the knowledge, experience, and opportunities necessary for students to demonstrate their attainment of the following outcomes.All Grainger College ABET accredited programs have adopted the ABET Student Learning Outcomes from their respective commissions. Links to the most recent criteria and outcomes are available via the ABET website.
Similarly, to accomplish the educational objectives and to fulfill current computing accreditation criteria, the computer science program provides the knowledge, experience, and opportunities necessary for students to demonstrate their attainment of the following outcomes.
An assessment system for continuous measurement, evaluation, and improvement is in place in each academic department and within each program. In addition, the college collects college-wide data and provides coordination and assistance to the departments for the overall process.
The curriculum requirements specify subject areas appropriate to engineering but don't prescribe specific courses. Each engineering program curriculum must provide adequate content for each area, consistent with the student outcomes and program educational objectives, to ensure that students are prepared to enter the practice of engineering. The curriculum must include:
In the case of computing accreditation, the computer science program must include mathematics appropriate to the discipline and at least 30 hours of up-to-date coverage of fundamental and advanced computing topics that provide both breadth and depth. The computing topics must include:
The engineering degree programs offered at Illinois awarding Bachelor of Science degrees are listed in the table below. The programs accredited by an accreditation commission of ABET and the year in which first accredited are indicated. The Computer Science program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC); all others are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC).
2. The program in agricultural and biological engineering in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering is administered jointly by the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences and the College of Engineering with the degree granted by the College of Engineering. It succeeds a program named Agricultural Engineering until August 2008 that was first accredited in 1950.
3. The program in chemical engineering is administered by the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with the degree granted by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
4. The Department of Computer Science also sponsors degrees in 4 colleges outside of Grainger Engineering, including LAS, Media, FAA, and ACES. Within those programs, there are currently 12 degrees.Only the B.S. in Computer Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.
7. The Department of Physics also offers a B.S. degree program in Physics and a Physics Major in the Science and Letters Curriculum, both administered by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. None of the physics programs are accredited by a commission of ABET.
Engineering PhysicsThis is a five-year program shared with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) or Bradley University. Completion of the program leads to two bachelor's degrees. Students begin at Illinois State University and transfer to an engineering college after completing a minimum of 90 credit hours. After transferring 30 approved hours back to Illinois State, students receive the B. S. in physics. They receive a second B. S. in engineering from their engineering university after satisfying their engineering requirements.
Who May Be Interested?This program has many advantages over a traditional four to five year engineering program. From an educational perspective, it produces an engineer with a strong foundation in physics, mathematics, the social sciences and humanities. In addition, it offers the engineer in-depth experiences in two fields of study at two universities.
Illinois State's Engineering Physics program is ideally suited for ambitious students who desire a broader background than can be provided in a standard engineering curriculum. However, the program is also well suited for individuals who decided to become engineers late in high school. Such persons have the chance to correct possible mathematics and science deficiencies as part of a degree program. Others who have not yet decided between engineering and the sciences find the program attractive because it gives added time and substantially more information on which to base the choice. Students desiring a supportive, small department experience thrive in our program. All our double-degree majors will, with the combined engineering and physics background, be in a better position to participate in the rapidly-changing technologies of the future.
Why Illinois State?A special advantage which distinguishes the Illinois State University program from other public universities is the small size of the Department's classes. None of the physics courses in the course list below has more than 50 students and most have 25 or fewer students, allowing ample opportunity for individualized attention. All courses are taught by professors, not graduate students. We concentrate exclusively on undergraduates. Our 10:1 student faculty ratio in the Physics Department ensures that majors have all the faculty attention they need.
Another advantage of our undergraduate-only department is our ability to involve students in hands-on research and design experiences outside the classroom. From fundamental laser physics and space science, to applied nanotechnology and nonlinear systems, to our solar car race team, we offer a wide spectrum of choices for our majors to get involved. To download an updated Engineering Physics Major brochure, please click here.
The final segment of the program takes place at UIUC or Bradley University. After transferring back 30 approved credit hours fromthe engineering university, the requirements for the B.S. in physics from Illinois State University are completed. These 30 hours typically include 17 approved hours of engineering courses to complete the physics major, six general education hours to complete the General Education program, and sufficient upper division hours to meet the required total of 42 hours.
Students wishing to transfer after the sophomore year meet the minimum transfer requirements of the UIUC College of Engineering and most other engineering schools. PHY 152 Statics is highly recommended for students transferring to the aerospace, civil, industrial, mechanical, and general engineering programs.
Members of the Illinois State physics faculty hold Ph.D.'s from many of the nation's leading universities. Each is a dedicated teacher and and an active researcher. Our faculty have a strong record of research, including funding from NASA, the National Science Foundatin, the U.S. Department of Energy, and The Research Corporation. Professors and their undergraduate research students publish their research in the nation's top scientific journals.
The Department serves nearly 120 majors in its physics, computer physics, physics teaching, and engineering physics programs. More than half are from the top quarter of their high school class. The mean ACT composite score is above 27. Many majors also participate in the nationally recognized Illinois State University Honors program and the Physics Departmental Honors program.
Facilities at Illinois StateMajors have the benefit of excellent computational facilities in the Physics Department. Students make extensive use of the system from three computer labs reserved exclusively for physics majors. Our scientific visualization lab allows state-of-the-art three-dimensional stereo visualization of large data sets and supports our undergraduate research students working on projects ranging from large-scale computer simulations, to spacecraft and laboratory data analysis. A cluster of unix-based workstations from Silicon Graphics, IBM, HP, and Apple give physics students access to all the computer power they need for courses and projects.
The Department is also proud of its experimental facilities. Well-equipped laboratories and a high degree of individualized instruction make the electronics and experimental physics courses an exciting component of the degree program. Advance lab (PHY 270) students regularly design and build their own experiments with assistance from the physics department shop. We also have five experimental research labs which involve students in projects in materials science and nanotechnology, fundamental atomic measurements, bio-optical engineering, and studies of nonlinear chaotic systems.
The UniversityIllinois State University was founded in 1857 as the first public institution of higher learning in Illinois. The University has a proud heritage; the documents establishing the pioneer educational undertaking were drafted by Abraham Lincoln. Illinois State occupies an attractive 850 acre campus in Normal/Bloomington-- twin cities with a population of 100,000. The University has an enrollment of 18,000 among its Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Applied Science and Technology, Business, Fine Arts, and Education. Milner Library's research facilities include on-line data search capabilities and over 3 million books, journals, and special collections. Along with its academic achievements, the University takes pride in its cultural and athletic programs. Weekly music recitals, theater productions and art shows are but a few of the activities which join men's and women's sports in creating an exciting college atmosphere.
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