Creative Inquiry in Industrial Engineering

Structure

Creative Inquiry (CI) has a common experience and an advanced experience, totaling at least six credit hours. The first half of the minimum six credits consists of sophomore and junior seminars and a senior symposium. All students have a common fundamental experience set (the seminars and symposium) and an advanced experience in their mode of choice. A mode defines the second stage of the minimum six credits of CI. The CI curriculum, then, is defined by the course elements that comprise the common experience and enable the modes.

Common Experience

There are three objectives in the common experience. First, students learn the basic skills and resources of CI, and learn the structure of CI in IE. This takes place in IE268 CI Seminar in IE. Next, students have the basics reinforced in the context of our profession. This takes place in IE368 Professional Seminar in IE. In these two seminars students are also encouraged to choose a mode of CI, and are assisted in making this choice. The third objective is to share results of CI among students. This takes place in IE469 CI Symposium in IE. Each of these courses carries one credit hour.

The common experience provides both a baseline for beginning CI and continuing involvement shared across the discipline. These seminars relieve the faculty of the necessity to provide the basic introduction and experience. They further help students make contact with those faculty members through shadowing. (Shadowing involves beginning students participating as observers on CI teams. This can be repeated until the student makes a CI choice. The default choice of Capstone Design is always available. Shadowing is coordinated by the CI Coordinator.)

Modes

Students engage in CI beyond the basic level in a mode, and this activity is recognized by credits in a modal course, typically IE403 or IE402. Modes have several features in common:

1. they articulate with IE268 and IE368, which serve as sources of students;
2. they articulate with IE469 as a venue for presentation of results;
3. they are selected by students following exposure to CI and experience in IE courses.

Modes can also differ substantially, as seen in the following descriptions.

Capstone Mode

In this mode students engage in CI through activities in our capstone design course, IE 467. Its primary theme is Advanced Practice, which will have sub-themes dependent on the client projects selected each offering. This theme has six CI credits.

Honors Mode

Students enroll in designated sections of IEH400 and work under the supervision of a faculty member. This mode has from six to nine CI credits, of which six may also satisfy the technical requirement. Themes may vary widely, based on student interest.

Professor-Focused Mode

Students enroll in designated sections of IE 402 and work as part of a CI team. The teams typically include graduate students and may be multidisciplinary. This mode has from six to nine CI credits, of which three to six may also satisfy the technical requirement. Themes may vary widely based on professor interest.

Coursework-Focused Mode

This mode consists of a set of courses, some advanced, which have CI activities and corresponding CI credits. These courses may include technical electives. This mode has at least six CI credits. Themes arise from professor interest; and may have more than one professor involved.

Competition Mode

In this mode student teams may enter competitions organized by professional societies or trade groups. Students involved enroll in a designated section of IE403 which is conducted by a professor sponsor. This mode has six CI credits, three of which may be used to satisfy the technical requirement. The competitions that are included in this mode may vary with offerings outside Clemson University.

Cooperative Education Mode

This mode consists of a problem area of interest that arises out of student work semesters. A mentor is assigned to the student, and the student and mentor develop a set of CI activities that are pursued while enrolled in a designated section of IE 403. This course may be taken in one or two hour increments, totaling three credits (technical requirement credit will be given for these hours). The enrollment would typically be in semesters following work semesters, but could be taken during work semesters as student time, mentor time, and access to resources permit. Themes will vary widely, depending on the work location and problem identified. This mode has six CI credits.