M.S. in Engineering Education Degree

Program Overview

The University of Cincinnati's Master's degree in Engineering Education prepares students to analyze and implement findings in engineering education while advancing their technical expertise in a chosen area. The program offers three focus areas: higher education, PreK-12, and engineering industry and workforce development. Graduates are equipped for careers in academia, industry, or government, utilizing theories and methods from various disciplines, including education, neuroscience, and sociology.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The University of Cincinnati's Master's degree in Engineering Education prepares students to analyze, interpret, and implement findings from the literature in engineering education into practice, while in parallel advancing their expertise within a technical field in support of their career aspirations. Students will specialize in one of three focus areas: higher education in engineering, engineering education in PreK-12 levels (formal and informal environments, for- or non-profit), or engineering industry and workforce development. A master's degree in engineering education can lead to a career in academia, informal educational environments, industry, or government.

Careers:

The M.S. ENED program will prepare graduates for careers: at universities (as staff in academic or research support program, centers for teaching excellence, institutional research offices, diversity programs, or outreach programs); at community colleges; in PreK-12 schools; in for-profit and non-profit organizations (e.g., testing organizations, foundations, governmental agencies); and as corporate trainers and other workforce development positions.

Other:

Engineering education research, as a discipline, utilizes theories, methods of inquiry, and ways of knowing associated with a variety of related disciplines - including anthropology, diversity, equity, and inclusion studies, economics, education, neuroscience, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology, along with education research in science, technology, and mathematics – interpreted through the lens of engineering. Students will be introduced to theories related to the teaching and learning of engineering and the applications of pedagogy and assessment. Additionally, they will develop knowledge of research methods inherent to the field with an emphasis on interpreting and assessing the quality of findings and translating those results to practice. The M.S. ENED program at UC is differentiated from other similar programs in four ways:

• The program was intentionally designed as a stand-alone program rather than as an exit strategy from a doctoral program.
• The program requires students to advance their level of expertise within educational theory, engineering education research methodology, and a technical field in support of their career aspirations.
• The program allows students to choose one of three focus areas depending on their background and goals: higher education in engineering, engineering education in PreK-12 levels (formal and informal environments, for- or non-profit), or engineering industry and workforce development (to the best of our knowledge, workforce development is not an explicit emphasis in any of the existing M.S.
or Ph.D. programs at other institutions).
• The program leverages the strong foundation of experiential learning within the College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) by requiring students to complete a reflective experiential activity within their chosen focus area.