Integration of Projects in Astrophysics Courses

Project-based learning is the hallmark of WPI’s undergraduate curriculum. WPI students complete multiple projects both on and off campus throughout their undergraduate studies. Some projects are closely tied to their majors, while others apply their WPI education to benefit communities around the world. As WPI celebrates the 50th anniversary of its global project programs, faculty continue to incorporate project-based learning into their courses, making student learning more engaging, effective, and rewarding. In this presentation, I will introduce WPI’s two major project types: the Major Qualifying Project (MQP) and Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP), and share my experiences with integrating projects into my astrophysics courses, along with student reflections on these projects.