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	CoE Links CoE Home CoE Alumni CoE Directory CoE Online Giving CoE Study Abroad CoE Student Services Contact CoE 2010 Engineers Week Drexel Engineering Video		The Drexel Difference: An Introduction to Drexel's Integrated Curriculum Back to Prospective: Undergraduate: Questions and Answers The goals of the Drexel Engineering Curriculum (tDEC) are to introduce the practice of engineering to students early in their program of study, to enable students to focus on solving open ended problems, to become well versed in the use of the tools of engineering - laboratory measurements, electronic computation and information processing and oral, written and graphical communications skills, and study a series of integrated courses that enlarge the student's body of knowledge and at the same time show the relationship of the basic sciences and liberal arts to the practice of engineering. Except for two major courses in the sophomore year, all engineering students follow the same program of study during the first two years. During the middle years, students continue their study of mathematics and science while taking advanced courses in the basic areas of their major. In the senior year, students work in teams on a comprehensive design project and primary electives that enable them to concentrate in one or two areas of interest. All students are required to take one liberal studies course each term. During the first two years of study, the liberal studies courses concentrate on the humanities, history of engineering and ethics. The remaining liberal studies courses are selected by each student from a broad array of liberal arts courses. Co-operative education is fully integrated within Drexel University's five full-time undergraduate colleges. All engineering undergraduate curricula are built around the cooperative education philosophy of traditional classroom instruction combined with periods of full-time work experience in settings associated with the student's curriculum and career objectives. Students receive 36 months (12 terms) of resident instruction and three 6-month periods of practical engineering experience dispersed throughout the sophomore, pre-junior and junior years. Job selection is provided by the department of Co-operative Education and Career Services. Preparation for the first co-op period will be provided during the freshman year.