An entrepreneurial approach to project-based courses

A senior project course is often employed to expose students to industrial problems and teamwork. Students are expected to use industrial strength tools to deal with issues such as requirements, design, process models, collaboration, management, testing, maintenance and more. In addition, the senior project often plays a large role in satisfying outcomes related to the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accreditation process. The senior projects are often provided by the schools industry partners, however, this does not guarantee student interest and commitment. From the student's perspective, as the semester ends, so does the project. This study presents a case study for an alternative method to senior projects – an entrepreneurial approach that motivates students and aids with the ABET assessment process.