Assessment Progress Report. Assessment of UALR Core Competencies in the Systems Engineering Department

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1 UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK Plan No. Degree Program: Systems Engineering Department and College: Systems Engineering, DCISSE Circle one: AA AS BA BS BBA BSE BSW Master's EdS JD EdD PhD Certificate Prepared by: Radu Babiceanu Assessment Progress Report Assessment of UALR Core Competencies in the Systems Engineering Department

2 1. Introduction The purpose of the Spring 2007 Assessment Report is to identify the contribution of the Systems Engineering Degree Program to the UALR Core Competencies. Considering the eleven (a k) ABET Program Outcomes assessed in the SYEN Curriculum, the report is presenting those POs that address one or more university-wide core competencies. The metric goals for measuring the achievement of POs are already established within the department, thus, the instrument to assess the core competencies achievement is obtained by linking Program Outcomes to the particular core competencies appropriate to the specific of the Systems Engineering degree program. 2. Program Outcomes and Assessment in the Systems Engineering Department The 2003 ABET Self-Study Report provided a course-by-course matrix for mapping courselearning objectives to Program Outcomes and proposed a survey-based assessment of course learning objectives and, with the use of the matrix mapping, derived a measure of the achievement of Program Outcomes. Beginning with the Fall 2005 semester, the Department has instituted an objective evaluation of course learning objectives at the end of each semester for each course taught that semester. A similar matrix to that reported in the 2003 Self-Study Report has been developed by the faculty to map course-learning objectives to Program Outcomes. With the use of this matrix, each instructor maps the objective scores for course-learning objectives to Program Outcomes to derive a measure of the achievement of Program Outcomes influenced by the course that instructor teaches. The objective measures of Program Outcomes are then averaged over all courses to derive an overall average of the achievement of Program Outcomes for the entire Systems Engineering Program. The program outcomes measured by the Systems Engineering program documented in ABET Self-Study Report, Fall 2005, are reproduced below, and the relationship between courses and Program Outcomes is presented in Table 1. a. an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering to real-world engineering problems b. an ability to design and conduct experiments, and to analyze and interpret data c. an ability to design and test systems in response to user requirements d. an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams that synthesize engineering solutions from diverse components e. an ability to identify and formulate systems engineering problems, and to develop and implement solutions to these problems f. an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility g. an ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing h. broad and well-rounded education necessary to comprehend the impact of engineering designs and solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts i. a commitment to life-long learning and a desire to keep abreast of latest developments in the engineering field j. a knowledge of contemporary issues and an understanding of the role of the systems engineer in contemporary society k. an ability to use the techniques, skills, and state-of-the-art engineering tools necessary for professional practice

3 Table 1. Mapping SYEN Courses to ABET Program Outcomes Courses Program Outcomes SYEN Curriculum a b c d e f g h i j k SYEN 1301 Introduction to Computing Systems SYEN 1302 C/C++ Programming for Engineers SYEN 1303 Introduction to Telecommunications Systems SYEN 1304 Introduction to Electrical Systems SYEN 1305 Introduction to Mechanical Systems SYEN 2310 Systems Modeling Discrete SYEN 2315 Circuits and Systems SYEN 2115 Circuits and Systems Laboratory SYEN 3314 Probability and Random Signals SYEN 3310 Dynamic Systems Modeling and Simulation SYEN 3110 Dynamic Systems and Simulation Modeling Laboratory SYEN 3312 Optimization Methods in Systems Eng SYEN 3316 Discrete Events Systems Modeling Simulation SYEN 3318 Decision and Risk Analysis SYEN 3332 Communication Networks SYEN 3150 Signals and Systems SYEN 3350 Signals and Systems SYEN 3334 Advanced Microprocessors SYEN 3134 Advanced Microprocessors Lab SYEN 3354 Communication Systems I SYEN 3154 Communication Systems I Laboratory SYEN 4330 Computer Architecture SYEN 4332 Applied Operating Systems SYEN 4334 Software System Engineering SYEN 4356 Electromagnetic Waves and Antennas SYEN 4358 Cellular and Wireless Communications SYEN 4385 Systems Engineering Capstone Design I SYEN 4386 Systems Engineering Capstone Design II

4 The Program Educational Objectives of the undergraduate Systems Engineering program are to produce graduates who are: 1. Employable as engineers or managers in any of the following fields: computer, telecom, mechanical and electrical engineering fields 2. Prepared to conduct scientific or engineering research and to pursue graduate degrees in engineering or applied sciences 3. Able to gain admission to professional programs such as business, medicine, and law, in recognition of the growing importance of science and engineering in these fields Table 2 below presents the mapping between the Program Educational Objectives and SYEN Program Outcomes. Table 2. Mapping Program Educational Objectives to SYEN Program Outcomes Program Educational Objective SYEN Program Outcomes a b c d e f g h i j k Employable as engineers Prepared to conduct Able to gain admission The Systems Engineering Department uses the following processes and tools for the assessment of its Program Outcomes. Most of them are measured once per semester. 1. Course Grades 2. Lab/Teamwork 3. Capstone Design 4. Student Portfolios and Exhibits 5. Academic Advisement 6. Prerequisite Testing 7. Faculty Meetings and Retreats 8. Advisory Council Meetings 9. Teaching Evaluations 10. End-of-Course Surveys 11. Freshman Entry and Senior Exit Surveys 12. Alumni and Employer Surveys 3. UALR Core Competencies and Systems Engineering Program Outcomes

5 By the end of their degree program, the students graduating from the Systems Engineering Department will have developed a well-rounded education and achieved a stated level of knowledge that can be identified within several university core competencies. Table 3 below presents the mapping between UALR Core Competencies and Systems Engineering Program Outcomes as defined in the 2005 ABET Self-Study Report. Table 3. Mapping UALR Core Competencies to SYEN Program Outcomes UALR Core Competencies Aesthetic Experience SYEN Program Outcomes a b c d e f g h i j k Critical Thinking Ethical and Moral Consciousness Historical Consciousness Information Technology International Awareness Mathematics Philosophy and Methods of Science Social and Cultural Awareness Verbal Literacy By mapping the Program Outcomes to the Core Competencies for each course offered in the Systems Engineering department and providing the assessment tools for each of the Program Outcomes a comprehensive matrix can be obtained. A sample of this matrix is presented in Table 4, below. The program outcomes considered are the ones that are measured this year in the Systems Engineering Department.

6 Table 4. UALR Core Competencies Assessment Tools in the Systems Engineering Department Program Outcome b Program Outcome Program Outcome e h UALR Core Competencies Program Outcome j Sample Courses - Critical Thinking - Information Technology - Critical Thinking - Mathematics Assessment Tools - Philosophy and Methods of Science - Social and Cultural Awareness SYEN 3316 Discrete Event Systems Modeling and Simulation SYEN 4385 Systems Engineering Capstone Design I SYEN 4386 Systems Engineering Capstone Design II -Student Portfolio Not assessed Not assessed Not assessed Not assessed Not assessed -Student Portfolio -Student Portfolio