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A new graduate program in electronic packaging and reliability (EPAR)

A new specialization at the graduate level in Electronic Packaging and Reliability (EPAR) at the University of Maryland is described. This program was initiated to meet the growing industrial need for interdisciplinary expertise in the area of electronic packaging. Initially introduced on a trial basis, it was overwhelmingly approved as a regular program by the Mechanical Engineering faculty in 1993. Currently, a framework of appropriate coursework, examinations and research projects leading to MS and PhD degrees is in place. In order to meet the coursework requirements for these degrees, new introductory and specialized courses have been developed at three levels. The first level core courses serve as the entry points into the graduate program. More focused courses are offered at the second and third levels. Students in the EPAR program are generally required to take half of the academic credits from these courses and the other half as traditional engineering core courses. There is considerable flexibility in accommodating diverse undergraduate backgrounds. Also, with appropriate choice of core and specialized courses, graduate programs with various specializations are easily designed. These areas of specialization within EPAR include mechanics, vibrations, reliability, thermal engineering and computer aided design. In order to effectively respond to the evolving nature of the field, the EPAR courses are kept current by strong industrial participation. Many of the specialized graduate courses include guest lectures by industrial experts.