Mission

The center serves the population of Greater St. Louis providing evening graduate programs in various engineering and computer-oriented disciplines. This service of the Missouri University of Science and Technology is mostly intended for working engineers, computer scientists and information specialists interested in enhancing their qualifications and status via acquiring an advanced degree.

Location

The Engineering Education Center is located on the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) and is a part of the School of Extended Learning at Missouri University of Science and Technology. Most of the courses are taught on the UMSL campus or received from other locations via the Internet. A few are taught elsewhere because of the availability of space or convenience to students.

Facilities

When the EEC was formed in 1964, it was known as the Graduate Engineering Center. Classes were initially held at Normandy Junior High School, adjacent to the existing campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis, as well as at Monsanto, the Corps of Engineers, McDonnell-Douglas and other local industries. Within a few years, offices and most classes were moved to University City High School. As space became available on the campus of the newly formed University of Missouri-St. Louis, offices and classrooms were moved to that campus. The center is managed by a director who reports to the Dean of School of Extended Learning on the Rolla campus. Dr. Anton Brasunas was the founding director of the center, and served from its inception in 1964 until 1983. Dr. Edward Bertnolli was the director from 1983 until 1990. Dr. James Hahn was the director from 1990 until 2000. Dr. Victor Birman became the director of the center in 2000.

Research Facilities

Facilities for thesis research may be provided in a number of ways. A computer laboratory with numerous Pentium IV computers, a Sun workstation, and a variety of software packages are available for student use. The workstations and PCs are interconnected by local area network, which is connected to other local and statewide computer networks and to the internet. Local and statewide University of Missouri computing facilities and the Missouri Research Network (MORNET) are thus available through the Engineering Education Center. A small electrical engineering laboratory may be used for student thesis research, class project assignments, and faculty research. Minimal shop facilities are also available for construction projects and equipment maintenance. Hours for the lab facility are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.; contact the EEC office at 314-516-5431 for access.

Faculty

The courses are taught by resident faculty and by faculty coming to teach from the main campus. In addition, the center employs a limited number of adjunct professors working in industry. All faculty and the majority of adjunct professors hold Ph.D. degrees. Numerous classes are taught by faculty from the main Missouri S&T campus via the Internet.

History

The Engineering Education Center was started in 1964 at the request of St. Louis industry and with the encouragement of local universities. It has awarded over 2,500 master of science degrees and currently offers programs in the following fields:

• Aerospace engineering
• Civil engineering
• Computer engineering
• Computer science*
• Electrical engineering
• Engineering management
• Engineering mechanics**
• Information science and technology
• Manufacturing engineering
• Mechanical engineering

*Certificate programs that may lead to a master of science in computer science.
**Certificate program that may lead to a master of science in mechanical engineering.

Courses taken at the center may be used in Ph.D. programs on the Rolla campus.

Classes are scheduled one evening a week for three hours. (Internet classes may differ.) Fall and spring classes are scheduled on a 16-week semester basis with fall semester beginning at the end of August and spring semester beginning early January. Summer classes are held on an eight-week schedule, June through July.

The Engineering Education Center in St. Louis normally offers four to 20 graduate-level courses in each department each semester. In addition, special topics courses carrying 301 and 401 numbers are offered periodically. Courses are selected to ensure availability of required courses and to provide for the specific interests of engineers in the St. Louis area.  Descriptions of the courses are contained in the Missouri S&T Graduate Bulletin.