Thermal Systems Design at the junior level

A major portion of the curriculum at the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) is devoted to engineering practices and design. Sophomore level students currently enter the Engineering Division as they are completing a four course design sequence entered Engineering Practices Introductory Course Sequence (EPICS). In the past, the next sequential open-ended design course provided within our curriculum occurred in the senior year during the normal two semester capstone design class. Following a curriculum review CSM postulated the need for a specialized course connecting EPICS to the capstone design sequence. For this reason, CSM have undertaken a pilot course development intended to fill the design gap occurring in the junior year. The authors describe that course, entitled Thermal Systems Design, which is taught to the Mechanical specialty students. It is envisioned that some form of this course could be adapted to the entire Engineering Division in the new curriculum.