FUTURE OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING EDUCATION IN THE U. S.

The upcoming changes in engineering, notably through the information revolution, are reviewed. To date, changes in U. S. undergraduate programs have been limited to the addition of elective courses without examining the overall educational philosophy. A recent conference on engineering education has tried to focus on many aspects of the changing demands, including the role of the computer, the use of laboratories and simulation, the demands on design education, electronics, materials, and business practices. Other topics dealt with manufacturing and factory automation, economics and management, and career counseling. This paper reviews the primary recommendations of that conference and intersperses the author's reactions as to their likely success.