Curriculum Design Process for a Systems Engineering Program

This paper describes the activities developed in a curriculum reflection process and the preliminary results obtained so far. The process is based on the CDIO integrated curriculum design approach but involves other elements such us ABET accreditation guidelines, disciplinary referents and the Quality model for the program, already in place.The process to define the Program Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes, as described by ABET, is explained. Student outcomes encompasses both: disciplinary and personal and interpersonal skills, and product, process, and system building skills. Learning expected levels are established for each outcome.A proposal is presented on how to manage the relation between the new ABET student outcomes (labeled 1–7) and the new general student outcomes defined by the program.Preliminary decisions about the curricular structure are also discussed. The process of defining the sequence of content and learning outcomes using backward design, is presented.