Many of the basic tenets of engineering economy are founded in the finance world. The concept of the time value of money is certainly financial and students appreciate that they are learning tools that they can apply to their personal finances. Does typical coverage in an Engineering Economy course emphasize financial or engineering applications? This paper looks at three leading Engineering Economy textbooks and assesses the level of financial versus engineering applications within the chapters that are typically covered in a one-semester course. End of chapter problems are categorized according to the level of and type of engineering content. Summary information from the study should be helpful in determining the appropriate balance of engineering and finance coverage to meet curricular objectives.
