Greetings from the Executive Director of the Career Development Center, Steve Koppi
WPI: We Prefer Initials
Like other cutting-edge learning organizations, WPI proudly proclaims a language of our own, including many acronyms at the heart of our educational mission. When you sample students’ resumes, you are likely to see:
- GPS – Great Problems Seminar: This two course introduction to university research and project work for first-year students is aimed at applying technology to solving current, real world problems.
- IQP – Interactive Qualifying Project: This nine-credit-hour interdisciplinary requirement enables students to connect science and technology with social issues and humans needs through a team-based problem solving experience, many of these take place overseas in the junior year.
- HUA – Humanities and Arts: The six course HUA requirement includes an Inquiry Seminar or Practicum, which enables every student to explore the human experience through performance, analysis, the creative process, or cultural exploration.
- MQP – Major Qualifying Project: Through this senior-year capstone project, students gain real-world design or research experience in their major field. Many MQPs are corporate-sponsored, where students act as consultants to companies under the direction of faculty experts.
These are just a few of the acronyms you will find at WPI, but to “geek out” even more on WPI’s unique language, visit our “We Prefer Initials” guide.
WPI’s project-based curriculum requires every student to connect theory and practice, applying knowledge from the classroom and laboratory to address social, economic, and business challenges while developing essential “soft skills.” Our students are eager to contribute as interns, co-ops, full-time professionals – and project teams – with your organization.
