Upgrading The First Professional Degree

At present, entry‐level engineering education loosely attempts to serve three groups, professional practitioners, research engineers, and other professionals or job holders who simply want technological literacy. A bachelor's degree in engineering now serves as the first degree for each group. Based on a model developed by C.E.G. Przirembel in 1991, the development of separate degree programs for the three groups is proposed, retaining a common core in the first three years of college education. Those seeking careers in engineering research would pursue a five‐ or six‐year ABET‐accredited MS in engineering. Those seeking only a technical job, or a technical foundation for a career a law, medicine, business, etc., could leave the engineering school with a nonaccredited four‐year bachelor's of engineering science degree. Preserving these two paths, which already exist, opens the door for the third group, which is not adequately served at present. Those seeking careers in professional practice would pursue a five‐ or six‐year ABET‐accredited master of engineering degree—at last, a true “first professional” degree.