Grand Canyon University is a premier Christian University educating people to lead and serve. Our mission is to prepare learners to become global citizens, critical thinkers, effective communicators, and responsible leaders by providing an academically challenging, value-based curriculum from the context of our Christian heritage. GCU prioritizes student success as measured by learning, retention, and career preparedness.
GCU’s traditional ground campus, located on 270 + acres in West Phoenix, primarily serves undergraduates. It is the fastest growing university campus in the country, expanding from approximately 7,000 undergraduates in 2012 to approximately 20,500 in 2019. The campus is situated in a predominantly Hispanic community and has a student demographic of 47% minorities, 29% Hispanic, and 60% women. GCU’s priority is to expand participation of under-represented minorities and women in STEM programs, and KEEN’s support of team-focused, project-based learning has shown to make a difference.
GCU offers over 200 degree and certificate programs through nine colleges and has focused on growth of the STEM disciplines, recognizing their importance to career preparation and regional workforce development. In 2015, GCU added new Bachelor of Science programs in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering as well as STEM programs outside of engineering. In Fall 2019, the school had nearly 8,000 undergraduates studying in STEM related areas, with over 800 in Engineering. The addition of new programs provides GCU with a unique opportunity of working from a blank slate to design innovative programs that can leverage best practices in STEM education.
Dr. Doug Melton and KEEN have been valued resources for GCU since the initial vision of offering engineering in 2013. The KEEN framework and principles have shaped the early design of programs including insights regarding engagement with a broader cross-section of students in engineering, particularly under-represented groups. In developing the plan for ABET submission, GCU drew upon the ABET subnet community and recognized experts such as Dr. Patsy Brackin. In designing project-based-learning and capstones, GCU Engineering networked with experts such as Dr. Chris Kitts of Santa Clara and Dr. Ken Van Treuren of Baylor at the KEEN National Conference. This engagement can continue as GCU Engineering programs rapidly expand in numbers for both faculty and students. A partnership with KEEN will be an essential resource for new faculty to implement entrepreneurial engineering mindset and valuable for the growth of creativity in established GCU Engineering programs.
University Mission: In the most rapidly developing and competitive fields of STEM, the College of Science, Engineering and Technology creates a challenging and engaging, inquiry-based learning environment. Through robust collaboration and partnership with industries that require a STEM-prepared workforce, our faculty concentrate exclusively on student success within a deeply nurturing Christian setting.
University Vision: Grand Canyon University’s (GCU) College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET) offers a premier educational experience with relevant curricula designed to prepare learners for a career in a competitive science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) field. As one of the growing engineering universities in Arizona, CSET engineering curriculum changes to adapt to new developments in STEM industries. We teach students to foster traits in collaboration, creativity as well as ethical and social awareness to create competitive graduates for the workforce.
Learn more about the entrepreneurial mindset. You can also join Engineering Unleashed today.
GCU’s traditional ground campus, located on 270 + acres in West Phoenix, primarily serves undergraduates. It is the fastest growing university campus in the country, expanding from approximately 7,000 undergraduates in 2012 to approximately 20,500 in 2019. The campus is situated in a predominantly Hispanic community and has a student demographic of 47% minorities, 29% Hispanic, and 60% women. GCU’s priority is to expand participation of under-represented minorities and women in STEM programs, and KEEN’s support of team-focused, project-based learning has shown to make a difference.
GCU offers over 200 degree and certificate programs through nine colleges and has focused on growth of the STEM disciplines, recognizing their importance to career preparation and regional workforce development. In 2015, GCU added new Bachelor of Science programs in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering as well as STEM programs outside of engineering. In Fall 2019, the school had nearly 8,000 undergraduates studying in STEM related areas, with over 800 in Engineering. The addition of new programs provides GCU with a unique opportunity of working from a blank slate to design innovative programs that can leverage best practices in STEM education.
Dr. Doug Melton and KEEN have been valued resources for GCU since the initial vision of offering engineering in 2013. The KEEN framework and principles have shaped the early design of programs including insights regarding engagement with a broader cross-section of students in engineering, particularly under-represented groups. In developing the plan for ABET submission, GCU drew upon the ABET subnet community and recognized experts such as Dr. Patsy Brackin. In designing project-based-learning and capstones, GCU Engineering networked with experts such as Dr. Chris Kitts of Santa Clara and Dr. Ken Van Treuren of Baylor at the KEEN National Conference. This engagement can continue as GCU Engineering programs rapidly expand in numbers for both faculty and students. A partnership with KEEN will be an essential resource for new faculty to implement entrepreneurial engineering mindset and valuable for the growth of creativity in established GCU Engineering programs.
University Mission: In the most rapidly developing and competitive fields of STEM, the College of Science, Engineering and Technology creates a challenging and engaging, inquiry-based learning environment. Through robust collaboration and partnership with industries that require a STEM-prepared workforce, our faculty concentrate exclusively on student success within a deeply nurturing Christian setting.
University Vision: Grand Canyon University’s (GCU) College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET) offers a premier educational experience with relevant curricula designed to prepare learners for a career in a competitive science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) field. As one of the growing engineering universities in Arizona, CSET engineering curriculum changes to adapt to new developments in STEM industries. We teach students to foster traits in collaboration, creativity as well as ethical and social awareness to create competitive graduates for the workforce.
Learn more about the entrepreneurial mindset. You can also join Engineering Unleashed today.
"I had the pleasure of attending my first KEEN National Conference in January 2013 in Tempe, AZ, where I first learned about the entrepreneurial mindset for engineers. Immediately, I recognized this would be a valuable framework for building the new GCU Engineering Programs. Subsequently, I have had the opportunity to host Dr. Doug Melton for an on-campus workshop and attend several KEEN conferences along with GCU Engineering faculty. Networking with KEEN partner institutions and the KEEN materials have provided substantial guidance for GCU Engineering faculty and programs. We continue to value the practical insights provided by KEEN to the education of the next generation of engineers."
