S-STEM at UC (BCEE)
S-STEM @ UC (BCEE)



S-STEM: BRIDGING OUR STUDENTS TO THEIR FUTURE


Freshman S-STEM Scholars Program
For
2014 Fall Semester Incoming Freshman Underrepresented Students
(Academic Year 2014-2015)


MS-ACCEND ReadMore

A MS-ACCEND degree program, is a degree program in which students earn both BS and MS degrees in Engineering.

The curriculum for S-STEM students in the MS-ACCEND integrates a rich, focused research component with the standard curricula. It includes a course in research methods; 2 semesters of research through an Academic Year (AY) REU Program; and a 10-week summer Research Co-Op semester. MS-ACCEND students will complete a Master's Thesis on a topic related to their previous research experience. They may opt to complete either a research capstone or a traditional capstone project. At graduation, students participating in the MS-ACCEND will have a rich research portfolio that will dramatically increase their attractiveness to Tier 1 graduate schools.

The research foundation for this track is laid in the sophomore year, when these students take BME 2010, Research Methods I. This course, targeted to 2nd-year students, addresses planning experiments, collecting and analyzing data, writing reports, and drawing conclusions. The course also includes lectures from invited speakers who detail how they plan and execute their research. BME 2010 can be used as one of the technical electives required by all UG degree programs in BCEE; the only curriculum adjustment needed is swapping the Breadth of Knowledge (BoK) elective normally taken in the 3rd semester with a technical elective later in the student's degree program.

After completing BME 2010, students in this track complete two semester-long team-driven AY REU Programs in the 4th through 6th academic semesters and receive academic credit through the course ENFD 4003; these projects will be completed by the end of the 6th academic semester. Students will present the results in the UC UG Poster Forum held in April.

There is a required co-op semester between academic semesters 6 and 7 (between Jr and Sr years). MS-ACCEND students will satisfy this requirement by a research co-op working one-on-one with their MS-Thesis Advisor; this is a full-time, paid position in which the students will identify a MS thesis topic, write a MS thesis proposal, and defend the proposal. During the Senior year, the MS-ACCEND students will complete the research for their MS degree, write their MS thesis, and defend it. These students will also present their work in the UC Graduate Poster Forum during their 8th semester and at a national conference.


Graduate School Preparation Track ReadMore

Graduate School Preparation track will prepare students earning a BS degree to enter MS and PhD programs.

The curriculum for GSPT integrates a rich, focused research component with the standard curricula. It includes a course in research methods; 2 semesters of research through an Academic Year (AY) REU Program; and a 10-week Summer REU Immersion. At graduation, students participating in the GSPT will have a rich research portfolio that will dramatically increase their attractiveness to Tier 1 graduate schools.

The research foundation for this track is laid in the sophomore year, when the students take BME 2010, Research Methods I. This course,targeted to 2nd-year students, addresses planning experiments, collecting and analyzing data, writing reports, and drawing conclusions. The course also includes lectures from invited speakers who detail how they plan and execute their research. BME 2010 can be used as one of the technical electives required by all UG degree programs in BCEE; the only curriculum adjustment needed is swapping the Breadth of Knowledge (BoK) elective normally taken in the 3rd semester with a technical elective later in the student's degree program.

After completing BME 2010, students in this track complete two semester-long team-driven AY REU Programs in the 4th through 6th academic semesters and receive academic credit through the course ENFD 4003; these projects will be completed by the end of the 6th academic semester. Students will present the results in the UC UG Poster Forum held in April.GSPT students will complete a research capstone project. All BCEE students must complete a team-based capstone project that meets program-specific standards for integration of technical knowledge; safety, environmental, and health compliance; economics and business considerations; teamwork; and project management.


MBA-ACCEND ReadMore


In this MBA-ACCEND program students earn both BS and MBA degrees as well as a Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship.

The education of entrepreneurs is largely missing in current engineering curricula; the S-STEM program addresses this need through the MBA-ACCEND and Professional Preparation tracks; these tracks complement the MS-ACCEND track and the GSPT. Entrepreneurship is about venture creation (individual, corporate, and social), the attempt to create value through the recognition of a business opportunity, the management of the risk appropriate to the opportunity, and the management of the resources (people, money, and materials) needed to realize the opportunity. The goals and learning outcomes for these tracks are to:
  • Explore, analyze, and discuss individual, corporate, and social entrepreneurship/venturing.
  • Better understand and apply the concept of venture philanthropy in non-profit settings.
  • Sharpen abilities needed to formulate a business plan for an existing venture and/or non-profit.
  • Write a comprehensive business report or business plan for an on-going individual, corporate, and/or social entrepreneurial venture.
  • Sharpen abilities needed to formulate a business plan for an original venture concept.
  • Evaluate new venture concepts and better understand the complexity of new venture initiation.
  • Write a comprehensive, solid, and executable new venture business plan.
  • Integrate knowledge and skills from previous coursework and business experience.
  • Think entrepreneurially!

The curriculum for S-STEM students in the MBA-ACCEND track integrates business classes with the standard curricula. MBA-ACCEND students, who will have graduate standing for their 7th and 8th semesters, will complete the coursework required to obtain a Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship. These classes, which satisfy the elective requirements for the MBA degree, include graduate courses in innovation and new venture creation, and an entrepreneurship capstone course (ENTR 7089). MBA-ACCEND students have completed this program quite successfully in the past; the additional support and mentoring provided through the S-STEM program will make this program attractive to a wider range of students.


Professional Preparation Track ReadMore

In this Professional Preparation Track students earn a BS degree and a Minor in Entrepreneurship to prepare them to participate in entrepreneurial activities after graduation.

The education of entrepreneurs is largely missing in current engineering curricula; the S-STEM program addresses this need through the MBA-ACCEND and Professional Preparation tracks; these tracks complement the MS-ACCEND track and the GSPT. Entrepreneurship is about venture creation (individual, corporate, and social), the attempt to create value through the recognition of a business opportunity, the management of the risk appropriate to the opportunity, and the management of the resources (people, money, and materials) needed to realize the opportunity. The goals and learning outcomes for these tracks are to:
  • Explore, analyze, and discuss individual, corporate, and social entrepreneurship/venturing.
  • Better understand and apply the concept of venture philanthropy in non-profit settings.
  • Sharpen abilities needed to formulate a business plan for an existing venture and/or non-profit.
  • Write a comprehensive business report or business plan for an on-going individual, corporate, and/or social entrepreneurial venture.
  • Sharpen abilities needed to formulate a business plan for an original venture concept.
  • Evaluate new venture concepts and better understand the complexity of new venture initiation.
  • Write a comprehensive, solid, and executable new venture business plan.
  • Integrate knowledge and skills from previous coursework and business experience.
  • Think entrepreneurially!

Students in the Professional Preparation track will not generally have graduate standing, and so may not take the courses required for the Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship. These students will instead obtain a Minor in Entrepreneurship from the LCB. Fundamental business classes are blended with classes specifically designed to educate students about issues surrounding the challenges of launching new ventures or spearheading ideas within an existing organization. This minor includes a capstone in entrepreneurship that parallels the capstone for the Graduate Certificate program. This minor requires 18 semester hours; one of the required classes also serves as required BoK content, leaving these students with five classes in addition to the standard curriculum for their major programs.


Important Documents:


Further Details:

Department of Biomedical, Chemical and Environmental Engineering

College of Engineering and Applied Science

University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH.

Project Director: Dr. Anant R. Kukreti. (Email: anant.kukreti@uc.edu)

Director for College of Engineering Outreach

Professor, Department of Biomedical, Chemical and Environmental Engineering

NSF Grant No.: 1356656

RET-UC

Department of Biomedical, Chemical, and Environmental Engineering
601 Engineering Research Center, Cincinnati OH 45221-0012 (Phone# 513-556-4171)

Program funded by National Science Foundation
Grant # 1356656


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