Microelectronics Photonics Interdisciplinary Science/Engineering Graduate Program Startup Lessons Learned At The Five Year Point

Abstract

Background: The University of Arkansas defined in 1998 an experimental interdisciplinary technology graduate program in Microelectronics-Photonics (microEP). While the microEP Graduate Program is an interdisciplinary degree-granting entity reporting directly to the Graduate School, its academic program elements are reviewed and approved through the normal academic processes of both the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering. Faculty and students enter the program primarily with Physics, Chemistry, and Electrical, Chemical, and Mechanical Engineering backgrounds, but may enter from any rigorous science or engineering degree program. The first students entered the program in the fall 1998 semester, with the MS and PhD microEP degrees fully approved in July 1999 and July 2000 respectively.

Embedding Theory And Practice Of Technology Group Management In An Interdisciplinary Science/Engineering Graduate Program

“…Methods will be discussed that have been used to address this aspect of the microEP educational goals, including both the early activities that were significant failures and some recent approaches that are being significant successes. A complete overview of the microEP Graduate Program after five years may be found in a prior ASEE annual meeting publication 1 .…”