This CCLI Phase 1 Exploratory project is vertically integrating thermal mechanical engineering undergraduate curriculum around Microsoft Excel as a computational and organizational tool. The project is using computational modules that can substitute for the tabular data and graphical solutions commonly used in textbooks, allowing a deeper understanding of computational methodologies and a broader grasp of engineering analysis. The project is vertically integrating five required courses and one elective course using this model. The evaluation plan is measuring students' perception and comprehension of the course materials, as well as students' problem solving efficiency, especially for complex computationally intense problems. Interactions within the project's advisory board of engineering educators from a wide range of engineering universities are forming a strong network of educators with interest in better computational abilities for engineering students. Project results are being disseminated through education conferences and journals. Sustained utilization of a single computational tool is facilitating deeper learning of course materials and the ability to solve more complex engineering problems.
