This interdisciplinary major sounds like a nice option for students who are interested in cross-disciplinary pursuits like design. But, can anybody tell me whether the students in this department are really there because they are serious about interdisciplinary pursuits? I’m concerned that it could end up as a receptacle for students who “wash out” of traditional engineering majors and are retreating to something more watered-down, rather than being really serious about combining engineering with liberal arts. Can anyone tell me what this department is really like? Thanks!
Students who choose this route have to want something other than a classic technical engineering degree. It is not, nor will it ever be, by design, an ABET accredited degree (this is the hurdle set by most as the minimum standard for “real” engineering). There are plenty of interesting things students can do with the degree (or a similar degree from other institutions. Dartmouth has a non-ABET engineering degree) and it’s still challenging. They won’t however be sitting next to a Poly ME or EE doing the same job. The curriculum just doesn’t have the engineering depth and breadth to produce engineers with the same skill set. It can’t while still allowing more LA classes in less curriculum hours (it’s 20 hours shorter than ME). I could be wrong, but my impression is that most students who are in the program start there. The engineers that “wash out” (and they do…CENG is the largest major EXPORTER on campus) move primarily into the business school. In the long run, you’re probably better asking the program these questions. It’s a very small major at Poly. In quite a few years on this board, it’s the first time I’ve seen it come up.
Thank you - I appreciate your taking the time to respond!
If anybody else is checking this thread for further info, I have learned more. The LAES major is not an option on the freshman application - students have to enter through another major and then enter the LAES program in their second or third year at Cal Poly. The person I spoke to in the admissions office didn’t know anything about it, but he looked up who runs the program and rang me through to Prof. David Gillette, who was extremely helpful. He stated that it is typically best to apply to an engineering major, because that makes it easier to get started on the necessary core courses; but students can enter the LAES program from majors outside of engineering as well. Students are individually vetted to make sure that their goals are aligned with the program philosophy. Making sure that LAES would not become a backup plan for struggling engineering students was a conscious priority of the faculty who developed the program. They may introduce direct freshman admissions to LAES soon, but not this year. They will also probably change the degree from a BA to a BS by the time the class of 2021 graduates.
Hope this is helpful to anyone who checks this thread hoping for more info!
Ahhh, that explains something I previously just blew past. There are no numbers in the projections for First Time Freshmen (FTF) in the CP institutional research.