Physicist-to-engineer: a graduate program recruiting tool

In this work-in-progress paper, we report on a rigorous, time-condensed program to prepare graduates with a Bachelor of Science in physics for graduate study in electrical, computer, and telecommunications engineering. Due to the ongoing favorable job market for engineers, we have found it increasingly difficult to recruit quality students into our graduate programs. In fact, this is recognized as a nationwide problem. We have identified the national pool of undergraduate physics majors as a prospective group of students who can excel in graduate engineering studies. We have established a rigorous eight-week curriculum, to be offered during the summer term, that provides the necessary prerequisite material, including: microprocessors, signals and systems, electronics, and an integrated laboratory experience. This "summer academy" is designed to eliminate the need for normal session leveling classes that students without electrical or computer engineering degrees are required to complete, thereby reducing the overall time required to get a graduate degree.