ENGINEERING EDUCATION AIM OF CURRICULUM PURDUE, AERO INSTITUTE JOIN FORCES.Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer PALMDALE - Taking a step toward bringing engineering education into the Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley , Purdue University Purdue University (pərdy  `, -d`), main campus at West Lafayette, Ind. and a NASA-led consortium are
planning to bring graduate-level college courses to Palmdale this fall.
Purdue is planning to begin courses at the AERO Institute, housed in the former Palmdale Courthouse at the Civic Center. The university will offer continuing education continuing education: see adult education. continuing education or adult education Any form of learning provided for adults. In the U.S. the University of Wisconsin was the first academic institution to offer such programs (1904). and master's degree master's degree n. An academic degree conferred by a college or university upon those who complete at least one year of prescribed study beyond the bachelor's degree. Noun 1. programs in engineering. ``Some will taught by professors on site, and some will be taught through distance learning,'' said Katrina Emery, operations director for the AERO Institute. ``Purdue professors will be coming here. Depending upon the response for the classes we have, that will let us know if we have to hire additional faculty.'' Three types of master's degree programs are planned - an interdisciplinary master's of science in engineering degree; a master's of science degree for those with bachelor's degrees outside of, but related to, engineering; and traditional degrees in specific disciplines, such as electrical, mechanical and industrial engineering. Engineers seeking professional development can attend courses at the institute. If participants later decide to work toward master's degrees, they can apply up to 12 hours of course work completed on a nondegree basis. The institute, formed about two years ago, is a partnership composed of the NASA NASA: see National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA in full National Aeronautics and Space Administration Independent U.S. Dryden Flight Research Center The Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC), located inside Edwards Air Force Base, is an aeronautical research center operated by NASA. On March 26, 1976 it was named in honor of the late Hugh L. at Edwards Air Force Base Edwards Air Force Base, U.S. military installation, 301,000 acres (121,805 hectares), S Calif., NE of Lancaster; est. 1933. It is one of the largest air force bases in the United States and has the world's longest runway. ; the nonprofit California Space Grant Foundation; the California Space Grant Consortium, part of the NASA-sponsored National Space Grant Foundation with more than 800 affiliate colleges and universities; NASA Ames Research Center NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) is a NASA facility located at Moffett Federal Airfield, which covers 43 acres at the borders of the cities of Mountain View and Sunnyvale in California. This research center is most commonly called NASA Ames. ; and the California Space Institute of the University of California The University of California has a combined student body of more than 191,000 students, over 1,340,000 living alumni, and a combined systemwide and campus endowment of just over $7.3 billion (8th largest in the United States). . AERO - short for Aerospace Education Research Operations - evolved out of concerns over the lack of engineering and technical training opportunities in the Antelope Valley. Under an agreement with the city of Palmdale, the institute is leasing 5,800 square feet of the courthouse, at Ninth Street East and Avenue Q- 10, for $1 a year. The institute is responsible for its own maintenance and operations costs. City officials hope the institute will not only enhance technology education, but will lead to economic development with projects from the region's aerospace industry. ``This is what the AERO Institute is all about,'' Mayor Jim Ledford said. ``This is a nice fit with our aerospace industry and our aerospace companies. It strengthens our employment base.'' The institute is working on programs aimed at inspiring kindergarten through high school students to pursue science, math and technical careers, as well as providing technical, undergraduate and graduate training. Jim Skeen, (661) 267-5743 james.skeen(at)dailynews.com |
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