Integrated team design

The purpose of the United States Military Academy at West Point is to provide the nation with leaders of character who serve the common defense. In helping to prepare these future leaders for their service to the nation and to the US Army, the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science is chartered to provide a five-course electrical engineering sequence. The purpose of this sequence is to have cadets learn the engineering thought process that culminates with solving an engineering design problem. In addition, the department provides instruction for an ABET-accredited major in electrical engineering. As part of this program, cadets participate in a comprehensive capstone design project. This paper details a unique Military Academy program that provides an integrated design experience for students from both the core engineering sequence and the electrical engineering majors´ program. By bringing both groups of electrical engineering students together into a single team to accomplish a significant design effort, substantial experience is gained by all. This integrated team approach has proven to be a positive learning experience for both groups, as well as for majors from other disciplines in a design team effort