Although many mechanisms exist for engineering course assessments such as teacher/course evaluations, homework and test results, and student office visits, developing new mechanisms for curriculum assessment can be difficult to implement and analyze. This paper discusses the six-week mini-project for senior students in the Electrical and Computer Engineering program at Bradley University. Use of the mini-project to increase the design content in our curriculum has been in place for ten years. The results have been used successfully to implement course, laboratory, and curriculum modifications. The paper will discuss the small products developed, curriculum modifications, project development time and costs, and how the mini-project will be used in the new Engineering Criteria 2000 accreditation process.
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