|
news
Joint program
will eventually get rewards
By Alisha Gomez
On-line Forty-Niner
In the late 1980s, Cal State Long Beach joined with Claremont
University to form a Ph.D program in engineeering and industrial
applied mathematics for students at either campus.
"There was a need for an advance degree, a doctoral degree,
in engineering, coupled with math, At the same time, Claremont
University was looking for a partner to do a joint [Ph.D]
program," said Mihir Das, associate dean for instruction
for CSULB.
Das commented that with engineering, it is really applied
math, which explains why the Ph.D program is in Engineering
and Applied Mathematics. He said that Claremont was a perfect
match and that working professionals liked the idea of the
program because it was a part-time program.
Students in the program study both at CSULB and at Claremont,
taking at least 72 units of course work; 24 of those units
may be transferred from graduate work with the approval of
the Program Committee.
The Program Committee consists of two staff members from CSULB
and two from Claremont. Of CSULB's two staff members, Das'
position is set and the second position rotates between others
faculty. Currently, computer science professor Liu Dar-Biau
is filling the second spot.
Ph.D students must complete 24 of the 72 units at CSULB in
the graduate engineering program and a minimum of 24 units
must be taken at the mathematics program at Claremont Graduate
University.
Allen Teagle-Hernandez has been in the program for about 6,
possibly 7 years.
"Don't be alarmed," Teagle-Hernandez said. "Believe
it or not the average [for most students in the program] is
5 years."
Teagle-Hernandez is getting his Ph.D in mechanical engineering,
focusing on vibration and acoustics.
"This is a very flexible program," he said. "Someone
like myself, who likes theoretical work, will enjoy the program."
Teagle-Hernandez said that just because he thinks students
who like theoretical work will like the program, does not
mean that it is a purely theoretical program.
"I know colleagues who are doing more applied research,
but to complete the program you are going to have to tackle
the theoretical and the applied," he said. "It just
comes down to which one you want to concentrate in."
Fifty students are in the program, if not more, Das said.
"We are really proud of the program," he said. "The
faculty like it and so do the students."
Das said, though, that funding is hard.
"Because we are a part-time program, we are not getting
any funding right now," he said.
Faculty is not compensated when it comes to going beyond the
classroom, like advising students, Das said.
Teagle-Hernandez only has 6 months left.
"The faculty from both institutions have been very supportive,"
Teagle-Hernandez said.
He said that the Mechanical Engineering department at CSULB
has been great to him, especially his adviser, Hillar Unt.
"The faculty's demeanor has always been very positive,
thus making the environment conducive for learning,"
Teagle-Hernandez said. "This is important, since you
might not find this in other institutions, regardless of how
famous they are."
Ph.D students pay the tuition that each school charges, depending
on which campus they are taking classes on. What is a huge
factor for the Ph.D program in engineering and industrial
applied mathematics is that being that it is a part-time program,
students can keep working and still get their Ph.D.
"In most institutions you are forced to be a full-time
student," Teagle-Hernandez said. "The part of the
program that has been difficult is being consistent with the
research and remaining focused."
Teagle-Hernandez said that one drawback to the program has
been that there is less structure.
"If you goes to Stanford or UCLA, you are most likely
assigned a mentor right away and this individual makes sure
you finish," he said. "This is good since someone
is monitoring your progression, but you might be stuck in
doing research in a field that you might not be interested
in; so there are pros and cons for both sides."
Teagle-Hernandez said that the other part of the program that
needs improvement is the money or grant availability. However,
he thinks this will improve in time since the joint program
is still relatively new.
"The word will eventually get around that research is
being done at CSULB," he said, implying that getting
funding will then get easier.
Teagle-Hernandez said that it is still a relatively fledgling
program.
"When I compare my experience with students in other
institutions, I have not missed out on anything, and in some
occasions I have even been able to accomplish more,"
Teagle-Hernandez said. "I have had the opportunity to
get published, travel around the country, even Japan to give
talks and interfaced with top notch researchers from the United
States, Europe and Japan. Again, this was possible because
we have a supporting faculty."
|
|
William
Marshall/On-line Forty-Niner
The La Raza and the Society of Hispanic Professional
Engineers host Peruvian dancers and provide free food as part
of an ongoing celebration of Latin Heritage Month.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Search our site
DEPARTMENT
OF
JOURNALISM
ONLINE 49ER
DEPARTMENTS
ADVERTISING
ADMINISTRATION
DAILY
49ER ALUMNI
SUBSCRIPTION
SERVICE
GIVE
FEEDBACK
|
