Giacini 1

Megan Giacini
Dr. Guenzel
ENC 1102 A003
June 10, 2014
Wanted: Students interested in Electrical Engineering
Why do we need more students pursuing an electrical engineering degree? Because there is a
shortage. According to Brian Yoder PhD, the total number of engineers that graduated with a
bachelors degree from 2010-2011 was 83,000. Of the 83-thousand, 2,153 were electrical
engineers. Brian Yoder PhD is director of assessment, evaluation, and institutional research for
the American Society for Engineering Education. Also, according to the United States Bureau
of Labor Statistics the employment change of electrical engineers is roughly 12,600. Taking
2,153, dividing it by two for one years worth of students, multiplying it by ten for the next ten
years, then subtracting the employment change given by the U.S. Bureau, 12,600 the number
computed would be the resulting open jobs in the next ten years. In result, if 21- hundred
graduates every two years, the United States will be short 1,840 electrical engineers. That is
more than a years graduating class. Xianglei Chen from the national center for education
statistics did a six year study on students who pursued a bachelors degree. 72% of the study
pursued non-STEM majors; 28% pursued STEM. However, over the course of the study 48%
of the STEM students dropped their major. STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics. One way to increase electrical engineers is to increase the
number of students who want to pursue the degree while at college. By increasing and
maintaining student interest in STEM majors, this will help to increase, by extension, students
pursuing electrical engineering majors.
Giacini 2
(To start, why is there a lack of interest? Why do students shy away from engineering
in general? )
How does one increase student interest then? Future college students have to take an
interest in engineering classes before they enter college.
(Science Olympiad)
High schools have to put an effort in essentially selling the idea of an engineering degree.
One opportunity high schools can implement is PLTW classes. PLTW stands for Project Lead
The Way. PLTW is a nonprofit organization and program, working alongside Lockheed
Martin, and offering technology and engineering based classes. During the classes the students
will have hands on experience with design and development with woodworking and making
working circuit boards; they will practice computer integrated manufacturing which includes
programming a robotic arm and a CNC-router (a small automated drill press); for seniors there
will be working on their senior design project which they will work on for the full school year.
These classes can be taken for college credit transferring to Rochester Institute of Technology,
California State Polytechnic University, and 150 others. According to the article "Partnership
Works To Develop Next Generation Of Engineers," most of the fully participating schools are
in California, Colorado, Maryland, New York, Minnesota, and Texas. They classes are fun,
give the impending engineers the opportunity to gain real experience, and get a peak at what
various types of engineers really do. By implementing PLTW classes, students interest in
engineering and electrical engineering will greatly raise, resulting in them taking up
engineering majors.
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However, once the students apply for an engineering college and start to attend their
motivation may start to slip. Before they can start in hands on classes they must complete their
core classes first: calculus, chemistry, and, of course physics. Because these classes are lecture
based the potential engineers loose enthusiasm from lack of not doing stuff. University of
Central Florida makes it mandatory to take two consecutive general engineering classes. The
classes have the students make pulley-powered cars, mini motorboats, and program basic
robots. Though these classes do entail some basic hands on projects, they are not and would
not be sufficient for all students across the country to stay interested in engineering majors
while they take core classes for two years of their college life. Christopher drew from The New
York Times reported on what one institute has done to keep their undergrads driven to continue
taking STEM classes. Worcester Polytechnic Institute, in Massachusetts, added optional first-
year freshmen extensive research, design and social service projects focusing on world
problems like hunger and disease. That kind of early engagement, and letting them see they
can work on something that is interesting and important, is a big deal, says Arthur C.
Heinricher, the dean of undergraduate studies. By having the students work on a large projects
they will feel more of an accomplishment than just a regurgitated curriculum would provide.
By implementing these ideas and programs, the number of undergraduate students who
want to pursue the degree while at college will increase resulting in more of them taking on
engineering, and electrical engineering jobs. The 28% of student STEM majors pursuing their
degrees will grow; the 48% dropped STEM degrees will decrease. The United States will then
no longer be short 1,840 electrical engineers.
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Work Cited

Chen, Xianglei. "STEM Attrition: College Students' Paths into and out of STEM Fields.
Statistical Analysis Report. NCES 2014-001." National Center for Education Statistics
(2013).
Drew, Christopher. "Why science majors change their minds (Its just so darn hard)." New
York Times (2011): 51-52.
"Partnership Works To Develop Next Generation Of Engineers." Career & Technical
Education Advisor 39.3 (2008): 2. Supplemental Index. Web. 28 May 2014.
"Summary." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 8 Jan. 2014.
Web. 30 May 2014. <http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/electrical-
and-electronics-engineers.htm>.
"Engineering." PLTW. Project Lead The Way, 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 7 June 2014.
<https://www.pltw.org/our-programs/engineering>.
Yoder, Brian L. "Engineering by the Numbers." American Society for Engineering Education,
Washington, DC http://www.asee.org/papers-and-publications/publications/college-
profiles/2011-profile-engineering-statistics.pdf.