Undergraduate Enrollments (Total Full-Time and First-Year) Provide Degree Trends in Engineering Disciplines Through AY2006-07

Full-time undergraduate enrollments through Fall 2002 were used to predict discipline degree trends through AY2004-05. First-year enrollments were used to extend these predictions through AY2006-07. Enrollment data for aerospace, biological (bioengineering plus biomedical), civil, chemical, electrical, environmental, geological/mining, industrial, management, manufacturing, marine/naval, mechanical, nuclear, petroleum and systems engineering, materials science and engineering and "computer" (engineering plus science in engineering colleges) were analyzed.

Based on both total full-time and first-year enrollments, the report projects the following undergraduate engineering degree trends through AY2006-07:

a. Aerospace, biological, civil, mechanical, nuclear and petroleum engineering degrees will increase slowly.

b. Electrical engineering degrees will increase slowly and then remain constant.

c. Systems engineering degrees will increase slowly and then decrease.

d. Industrial engineering degrees will not vary annually.

e. Chemical and geological/mining engineering degrees will decline and then remain constant.

f. Environmental, manufacturing and management engineering and materials science and engineering degrees will decline slowly.

US Citizen Enrollments and Degrees in Engineering Master’s and Doctoral Programs Over the Last Three Decades

We are directing our attention to the long-term trends in the interests of US citizens in graduate study in engineering. Comparisons, using appropriate "lag times", are being made between undergraduate degrees awarded in the US and the graduate enrollments and degrees of US citizens. Engineering Trends appreciates the inquiry on this topic by Ms. Patricia McDaniel, Director of Communications and Development at Tau Beta Pi Headquarters.

Undergraduate Engineering Student Retention - Extent of Success

Considerable effort has gone into improving undergraduate engineering retention, i.e., sustained progress of students toward graduation with a bachelor’s degree. Individual universities have established various measures of success in this matter. Engineering Trends is currently sorting through undergraduate enrollment data (first- through last-year) and comparing these to degrees awarded in the US. Our intent is to provide an overall assessment of retention for undergraduate engineering education in the US for the last three decades.

What Are the Recent Trend Variations in Foreign National Enrollments in US Engineering Programs?

While undergraduate enrollments of foreign nationals in engineering programs have remained constant (5.5 to 6.6% since Fall 1979), graduate enrollments have grown steadily and substantially. Some data indicate that this trend has ceased. Engineering Trends is awaiting Fall 2003 enrollment data (available in a few months) to confirm whether a new trend exists and, if so, evaluate its magnitude.

The new Editorials page on the Engineering Trends Web site has become a favorite of visitors. New guest editorials by leaders in engineering education are scheduled to appear monthly. Engineering Trends selects only the editorial writers; the topics are defined by the writers. Comments from site visitors as well as unsolicited guest editorials will be considered for inclusion on the site.

The following guest editorials have appeared in 2004:

January 2004 - "It’s Time to Change the Scorecard", Dr. George E. Dieter, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park

February 2004 - "The New Engineer?", Dr. Joseph I. Goldstein, Dean of Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

March 2004 - "Women Academic Leaders Are Key to Transforming Engineering Colleges", Dr. Nancy G. Love, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dr. Karen A. Thole, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Dr. Hassan Aref, Dean of Engineering and Reynolds Metals Professor, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

April 2004 - "The Need to Make Students Globally Aware", Dr. John L. Anderson, Provost and University Vice President, Case Western Reserve University

The response to the Engineering Trends annual membership program, announced in the Fall 2003 Quarterly Newsletter and put into effect in January 2004, continues to grow steadily. Of course, we are pleased with the results.

Questions have come to us as to whether "annual" refers to a specific year, e.g., 2004. Engineering Trends is using "annual" to refer to a membership that lasts for one year from the date of origination, not from the start of a new year.

Can We Be of Assistance?