Should There Be a Design Requirement for the Ph.D. Degree?

Abstract

It is presently possible to attain a doctoral degree from most engineering schools in this country without any advanced training in engineering design. Many of these doctorate holders will become new faculty members, training the new generation of engineers. If these new faculty members do not possess some advanced knowledge of practical engineering design, it is difficult to envision the next generation of engineers being well trained in the process of engineering design. Two possible solutions to this dilemma are proposed. One would require completion of a number of comprehensive design projects, while the other would consist of the accumulation of a number of credit hours of design‐related study at the graduate level. Either of these solutions would provide the new faculty member with the required knowledge base on which to continue to build a reasonable level of expertise in engineering design. He or she can use this knowledge and expertise to instruct students in the practical aspects of design.