Get Herald RSSThis spring, for the first time, sophomores will be able to concentrate in commerce, organizations and entrepreneurship, a new concentration that will replace business economics, engineering and economics and public and private sector organizations.
The concentration is unique in that it offers complementary courses drawn from three departments: economics, engineering and sociology.
"We're attempting to give students a comprehensive and integrated view of these fields," said Maria Carkovic, administrative director of the COE concentration. "(This) is the reality of the business world today. They're all combined."
The extent of the concentration's popularity remains to be seen, though a good initial indicator will be the number of sophomores who file for the concentration during this semester's pre-registration period. Informal polling suggests there is interest in the program, said Professor of Engineering Eric Suuberg. Carkovic also pointed out that enrollment is up in new courses offered by the concentration. "It's a good omen," she said.
A number of new courses in all three departments were offered for the first time this spring or last fall to accommodate the COE program. Some existing courses, such as EN 3: "Introduction to Engineering," will change to meet the needs of students taking it as one of the concentration's foundation courses. Suuberg said though changes are still under discussion, "We recognize there is a new constituency coming in with new needs … and we'll respond to it."
Professor of Economics Ivo Welch, who was involved in the creation of the concentration, said the courses offered through COE will become less about bridge-building and be more engaging in their own right.
Some of the courses in the engineering and sociology departments are taught by visiting professors because the departments have not yet increased the sizes of their faculties, Carkovic said. The Department of Economics recently hired a number of new professors who teach courses that count toward the COE concentration, according to Welch. Suuberg said the engineering department is in the process of searching for new professors.
Carkovic said though not all of the funds for the program have been raised, the University has done a good job of moving the program forward with the anticipation of funding. Welch said alums have begun to donate money for the new program.
One concern voiced when the College Curriculum Council reviewed COE's proposal in October 2004 was that the list of 14 to 16 required courses was too long. However, Freya Zaheer '06, a member of the CCC who voted against the proposal at that time, was encouraged by higher enrollment in COE courses this semester. "I still think it's a high number of required courses," Zaheer said, "but it looks like (the program) is being managed extraordinarily well and attracting students as well."
When asked whether the number of courses required for the concentration might deter students, Carkovic said students were taking COE requirements even before the concentration was created because they understood that the courses complemented each other. Carkovic said "with the three departments working together … there will be a lot more synergies between (courses)."
Carkovic said the concentration will also offer co-curricular activities, including internships and a lecture series.
"The benefit (to the concentration) is a very integrated, well-rounded view of business … and hands-on experience through co-curricular activities," Carkovic said.
Robert Klaber '07, vice director of the Brown Entrepreneurship Program, a group that uses competitions and lectures to teach students how to start businesses, was also excited about the COE concentration. "I think it's a great program because there are so many different aspects to it. The fact that all those three divisions are coming together under COE provides students with a great learning opportunity to really branch out," he said.
One business economics concentrator, Sara Cunningham '06, said, "I feel that COE does improve upon (business economics) a bit. Hopefully the focus on a new program will allow for greater funding and more professorships to be offered and thus more classes to be offered in this field."
