• Introduction to WPI
• Section 1: The WPI Plan
  • WPI Degree Requirements
  • Bachelor of Science vs. Bachelor of Arts?
  • The Planning Process
  • Academic Advising
  • Major Areas of Study
  • Concentrations
  • Minors
  • Double Majors
  • Minimum Distribution Requirements for Students
  • Courses Qualifying for Engineering Distribution Areas
  • Projects
  • Projects Program
  • Project Centers
  • The Major Qualifying Project (MQP)
  • The Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP)
  • Residential Projects Programs
  • On-Campus IQP Programs
  • Humanities and Arts Requirement
  • The Social Science Requirement
  • Awards and Prizes
• Section 2: Department and Program Descriptions
• Section 3: Course Descriptions
• Section 4: Academic Policies and Procedures
• Section 5: Unique Opportunities at WPI
• Section 6: Career Development & Graduate School
• Section 7: Admission, Expenses, Financial Aid & Housing
• Section 8: Trustees, Administration & Faculty
• Supplement
• Search

On-Campus IQP Programs

LIVING MUSEUMS PROGRAM

The Living Museums Program provides students with unusual opportunities to carry out IQP projects at various culturally rich museums of New England. Museums synthesize knowledge and combine artifacts with primary and secondary documents, often to create an entire social and physical environment. Thus, as students work with professional staff, documents, and artifacts at museum sites, they gain an understanding of the past and present, and begin to see how distinct aspects of human life fit together to form a specific culture. At the outstanding museums participating in the program, students can select projects from a varied list of areas ranging from medieval warfare at the Higgins Armory Museum in Worcester to the rich history and literary culture of Concord, MA, at the Concord Museum and the Thoreau Lyceum.

Special projects are available each summer in Term E at several museums and historical institutions such as : Mechanics Hall, Worcester, MA; the Worcester Historical Museum; Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, MA, Martha's Vineyard, and Higgins Armory Museum.

GENDER, RACE, AND TECHNOLOGY

Prof. S. Vernon-Gerstenfeld, IGSD

Student projects in this program research issues in two general areas: (a) the participation of women and people of color in engineering and science education and in engineering professions, and (b) the effects of particular technologies on women, African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and other specific racial or ethnic groups. Projects are often coadvised, with one advisor from humanities or social science, and one advisor from science, engineering, or computer science disciplines.

Past and ongoing project topic areas include:

• effects of automation on office workers
• women in science and engineering professions
• underrepresented groups in science and engineering professions
• sex differences in learning styles in technical subjects
• ethics and reproductive technologies
• science and math education for precollege Native Americans, Hispanics and African Americans.

Project ideas in these or other areas related to gender, race, and technology can be initiated by students or faculty. For more information, contact Prof. Susan Vernon- Gerstenfeld, Project Center 216.

AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

THE PRESIDENT'S IQP AWARDS

The President's IQP Awards have been established to encourage and recognize meritorious accomplishment in the performance of the Interactive Qualifying Project. To be considered for an award, the IQP, while of overall good quality, should be outstanding in conception, execution, and presentation. There are no predetermined categories for the awards, but the award will recognize the qualities in which the project excels. By thus calling attention to projects which are deemed to be outstanding, the awards help to establish standards for exceptional quality in IQPs.

Each award consists of a certificate of merit to each student and an honorarium. The IQP awards competition is conducted each fall. For further information, see Dean Paul Davis, IGSD Office, Project Center.

THE PROVOST'S MQP AWARDS

The Provost of WPI conducts an annual competition to recognize several project teams in each discipline whose MQPs, in the view of the judges, have been unusually innovative, well executed, and well presented. To qualify as a contestant, the student team must be identified by the department of the team as one of the best presenters in the department oral competition. For more information, contact Associate Provost Lance Schachterle in Boynton Hall.

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Last modified: September 05, 2006 16:24:25