We are convinced that there are certain broad skills that are absolutely essential to the pursuit of a successful career, and this conviction is broadly supported in the industrial and research communities. These include effective communication skills, learning how to solve problems and to work with others in a team effort. Early on, students in the laboratory courses undertake serious efforts to perfect their writing skills, particularly in communicating the results of research in report writing and the preparation of journal articles for professional publications. This effort proceeds step by step, the achievements of each year building upon the previous one. Excellence is achieved as fewer than a dozen students study in both lecture and laboratory under the same professor. No more ideal setting exists because principles and theories can be effectively integrated with experiment and interpretation of data. There is time for everyone's questions and there are numerous opportunities for give-and-take at the laboratory bench. Gradually students acquire the sense of teamwork, and learn how complex problems are approached in modem research settings.
The Marist Approach: Provide abundant research opportunities.
