Teaching the Media and Information Technology Major an Introduction to Engineering of Modern Communication Systems

The Information Revolution has had a profound impact on technical and non-technical professions. Therefore, an understanding of the basic scientific and engineering principles behind computers and electronic communication is important for students from all disciplines, especially those students majoring in Media and Information Technology (MIT). The Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering at The University of Scranton has met this need through a two semester series of courses for the non-science major entitled Introduction to Consumer Technology (PHYS 104) and Information Technology (PHYS 204). Although these courses assume no prior engineering background, they provide a meaningful technical experience that includes a quantitative approach to problem solving. This paper will outline the challenges faced teaching engineering to the non-engineering major and the topics covered in the first semester of these introductory engineering courses