Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology located in Terre Haute, Indiana is one of the nation's few private colleges that specialize in undergraduate engineering, mathematics, and science education. Founded in 1874, Rose?Hulman has earned a reputation as one of the nation's leading independent colleges because of its educational philosophy that focuses on small classes and an innovative curriculum.
For the fifth consecutive year, 2004 edition of U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" ranks Rose-Hulman as the No.1 engineering institution whose highest degree is a bachelor's or master's. Retaining their top ranking were degree programs in chemical, civil, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering.
Rose-Hulman's degree programs include:
- Applied Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Electrical Engineering
- Engineering Physics
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Optical Engineering
- Physics
- Software Engineering
Combining Entrepreneurship and Engineering Education at Rose-Hulman
Rose-Hulman believes that incorporating entrepreneurial behavior is important component of a 21st century technical education. Entrepreneurship and involvement of students in the excitement of innovation is a way for students to learn the importance of customers and the complexity of forces that lead to success of new technical ideas in the marketplace. This knowledge will be crucial to them as leaders of our economy.
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Early efforts at Rose-Hulman include an Entrepreneur-in-Residence program and a course on entrepreneurship. This course has been successful in launching three technology-based business ventures which were funded by angels and/or venture capitalists and provided the foundation for other students to start companies some years after graduation. As the Rose-Hulman moved to requiring externally-sponsored projects as a part of every student's degree program, it included both projects with entrepreneurial firms and the students' own efforts as basis for this course work. Some of the student efforts' funding has come from the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators' Alliance. Space for pursuing these projects is available in the John T. Myers Center for Technological Research with Industry.
Entrepreneurial Interns
Another program which began as an experiment for the Kauffman Foundation who later extended it across the nation is an entrepreneurial intern opportunity that enabled students to apply their technical skills to a small company while learning first hand about starting a business. That program continues with emphasis on placing Rose-Hulman undergraduates in summer internships with Indiana firms.
Rose-Hulman Ventures
The founding of Rose-Hulman Ventures with funding from Lilly Endowment created a tremendous educational opportunity, as well as an important piece for Indiana economic development. Rose-Hulman Ventures, a program of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, brings together outstanding engineering students with technology-based companies. For students, that means the best engineering professional practice experience possible within an academic program. For businesses, it means prototypes, refining the design of existing products, and expanding current engineering capabilities. This unique combination helps companies to meet the challenges of taking an idea to the marketplace while working with some of the brightest engineering students in the country.
Student interns work part-time during the academic year and full-time in the summer developing new technologies and products for the client companies. This internship process is based on a collaborative approach with Rose-Hulman Ventures project managers leading multidisciplinary teams of students. www.rhventures.org
Engineering Management
The Masters of Science in Engineering Management is an innovative program to enhance the professional growth of the active implementer of technological change. It emphasizes the integration of knowledge of state of the art technology and management principles as a foundation for continuous learning and adapting to change. Students gain a broad and integrated understanding of the management of technology-based business. They cultivate responsiveness to rapidly changing business and technological environments. Students also develop an entrepreneurial perspective for continuous learning and application of new knowledge. www.rose-hulman.edu/msem
Engenius Solutions
Two years ago, Lilly Endowment provided resources for another innovative approach to technical entrepreneurship for undergraduates. Engenius Solutions is a student managed operation that uses encouragement, communication assistance, consultation, and financial help to get student teams actively involved in the commercialization of inventions. Ideas are solicited from members of the campus community and externally. Help includes investigation of intellectual property potential and licensing possibilities, as well as assistance in moving successful prototypes on to the next stage of product development. www.engeniussolutions.org
Future plans for Rose-Hulman include further educational programs to leverage the assets and experiences that are described above. For example, a group of over a dozen faculty members are exploring the establishment of an innovative three course design sequence that is both multidisciplinary and entrepreneurial in its orientation. In addition, the engineering management program is investigating certificates in technical entrepreneurship to be earned by students earning B.S. and M.S. degrees in traditional engineering and science fields and a novel new Master of Technical Entrepreneurship degree that would prepare its graduates to immediately launch technology-based ventures.
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