Not sure, Wes, exactly what you mean here. OHIO has been moving away from the liberal arts focus for several decades. Look where the growth has been -- health sciences, various communication disciplines, engineering, etc.
Ohio does have good professional programs, but it still has a very strong liberal arts focus. Our degree requirements provide a broader education than those at the other state institutions, and that is a very good thing. I think the liberal arts nature of our education at Ohio creates thoughtful, caring, productive members of society.
Sorry,but if I'm hiring an engineer,I want someone with enough technical background to be able to do their job when they're hired.
To me,getting a job in your field makes you a productive member of society.
Thoughtful and caring sounds nice,unless other graduates,with the same degree, who could concentrate on classes their field,are able to get the best jobs.
If a student wants to take non technical classes,that's fine.
But I am against forcing science and engineering students to take a number of liberal arts classes,rather then courses related to their field.
That,is nothing more then a "liberal arts professors' full employment act".
Then go to DeVry because what you want is vocational training not a university education.
As far as I know,DeVry doesn't offer B.S. degrees in Engineering.
They also don't offer B.S. degrees in Civil,Construction or Mechanical Engineering Technology.
I also don't think that trying to belittle an engineering degree,absent an over abundance of Liberal Arts classes, by referring to it as wanting "vocational training" is appropriate.
From my perspective,the purpose of my getting a "University Education" was to prepare me to be able to get a job in my field of study.
Math and physics are part of College of Arts and Sciences. Engineering is applied science, math and physics classes tailored for a specific area. In some cases you'll take classes out right from the math and physics department. Engineering was a math and physics professors employment act if anything. Engineering schools prepare you for research. Technology degrees are quite different. They don't prepare you to research but qualify you more as a technical manager as a specialized business degree. It has nothing to do with the trades. Most engineers work as managers or consultants in their industries but if they are really good they work in design.
First off,engineering is math.
That's one thing that,at least at F.D.U.,is stressed from day one.
I'm a Civil/Environmental Engineer.
I use some form of higher level math every day.
The only math I've never had to use is Calculus.
Mechanical and Electrical engineers do.
Still,pretty much all engineering programs make you take 2 years of Calculus.
They're considered "weed out" classes.
A working knowledge of Physics is important,primarily mechanics and thermodynamics.
Engineering majors at F.D.U. take 1 year of "University" Physics.
That means they need to use Calculus.
F.D.U. also requires 1 semester of Chemistry.
A basic knowledge of Chemistry is needed for your classes on water and sewage treatment.
I don't know why,but Chemistry presents all kinds of problems to engineering students.
In fact,we've moved it from the second to seventh semester of the curriculum.
I can only speak to Civil/Environmental Engineers.In those disciplines,most engineers I know started out doing design.This is due in part to the fact that, to qualify to take the exams needed to get a Professional Engineer's License, you need a minimum (usually 5 years) of "acceptable" design experience.
"Acceptable" is the key.
I know people who had to work for 15 years to get 5 years of experience deemed "acceptable" by the state licensing board.
Over time,P.E.'s tend to move up to more supervisory roles.
Engineering technology grads tend to be more "hands on".They are more along the lines of Project Managers,Estimators,etc.,rather then designers.
In most states,you can pursue a P.E. with an Engineering Technology Degree.But you usually need at least 2 more years of "acceptable" experience then with an Engineering Degree.
The majority of Mechanical,Electrical and Industrial Engineers don't pursue a P.E. license so they tend to have a different career path.