Leveraging ABET Accreditation to Promote Inclusion of Noise Control Engineering Concepts in Engineering Programs

ABET accreditation is an internationally recognized system ensuring consistency and quality in engineering education programs. As a part of ABET accreditation, there is no set requirement for any general engineering program to include noise control engineering concepts in their curricula. However, one of the seven student outcomes that each ABET accredited engineering program must document is their students' "ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare..." Controlling noise in the authors' view is a fundamental strategy for protecting workers from occupational noise and the public from the harmful effects of environmental noise. This presentation provides an overview of ABET accreditation and how INCE can promote inclusion of noise control engineering concepts in engineering programs by leveraging ABET safety and health criteria requirements. Several suggestions for appropriate inclusion of noise control engineering concepts into curricula will be outlined. Additionally, the authors will present synopses of lesson plans that include noise control as a means to address the ABET public heath, safety and welfare requirements. The end goal of such efforts is to promote the understanding and practice of noise control across a variety of engineering disciplines.