Engineering Design and Innovation

The Engineering Design and Innovation program prepares the innovators of the future. Core EDI courses: 1) build theoretical and practical knowledge and skills related to design methods; 2) develop entrepreneurial skills related to business finance, intellectual property, and marketing; 3) develop knowledge of policy-making and the political process and how these advance or constrain engineering solutions, and ability to apply strategies to influence the system; and 4) build competencies to evaluate and apply leadership and innovation management strategies to identify opportunities for new products and businesses in alignment with a corporation’s business strategy and promote internal innovation.

Students may specialize in one of the following focus areas: Engineering Design; Engineering Leadership and Innovation Management; Engineering, Law, and Policy; or Entrepreneurship.

Engineering Design (EDSGN): This specialty focuses on preparing the innovators of the future. Specifically, this specialty integrates the disciplines of engineering with design theory, business, psychology, and art through project-based learning. Students will develop the technical depth and breadth to solve problems related to products, systems, processes, and services.

Entrepreneurship (ESHIP): This specialty focuses on the development of knowledge and skills related to the creation of new ventures for products and services. Students will be able to identify an opportunity, evaluate and create a value proposition around the opportunity, develop and analyze a financial model for the new venture, develop a sales and marketing plan for the new venture and consider how to optimally deliver the product or service. The student will be able to apply these skills to new products or services for a new venture or within an existing organization.  

Engineering, Law, and Policy (ELP): This specialty focuses on the development of knowledge and skills related to science and technology policy, legal and regulatory policy, intellectual property, and complex systems. Students will acquire strong technical and analytical skills in systems thinking, communicate effectively across disciplines, and acquire an understanding of how engineering, law and policy intersect and drive (or constrain) the development and advancement of ethical and sustainable solutions to complex problems in our global society.

Engineering Leadership and Innovation Management (ELIM): This specialty focuses on the development of knowledge and skills related to the ability to identify and manage innovation opportunities, and work effectively in a globally connected engineering environment.  Students will be able to evaluate leadership and innovation management strategies for corporate innovation and identify opportunities for new products and businesses in alignment with an organization’s strengths and weaknesses; effectively consider cultural and international business differences; apply project management methods; and develop self-awareness of personal leadership attributes and areas for growth in fostering cultures of innovation and creativity in engineering teams.

Admission Requirements

Applicants apply for admission to the program via the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.

Applicants with at least a 3.00 junior/senior grade-point average (on a 4.00 scale) and appropriate course backgrounds may be considered for admission. Exceptions to the minimum 3.00 grade-point average may be made for students with special backgrounds, abilities, and interests.

All applicants must submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended; international applicants must submit official transcripts, degree, and diploma certificates in both English and their native language. Photocopies will not be accepted. Applicants must also submit a statement of objectives, resume, and three letters of recommendation. GRE scores will not be accepted.

The language of instruction at Penn State is English. English proficiency test scores (TOEFL/IELTS) may be required for international applicants. See GCAC-305 Admission Requirements for International Students for more information.

Applicants for fall admission who wish to be considered for financial aid should complete the application process prior to December 15 of the preceding year.

Degree Requirements

Master of Engineering (M.Eng.)

Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-700 Professional Degree Policies.

The M.Eng. degree is a non-thesis professional master’s degree that provides training for advanced professional practice. To receive the Master of Engineering degree in Engineering Design and Innovation, a student must complete at least 31 credits beyond the baccalaureate degree, which includes a culminating experience through EDI 582: Multi-disciplinary Studio (3-credits).  A minimum of 18 credits must be in the 500 or 800 series.

A minimum of 31 graduate credits at the 400-, 500-, or 800-level is required as follows: 

¹

A list of approved focus area courses will be maintained by the program.

Master of Science (M.S.)

Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-600 Research Degree Policies.

The M.S. degree is an academic degree, which is strongly oriented toward research. To receive the Master of Science degree in Engineering Design and Innovation, a student must complete at least 31 credits beyond the baccalaureate degree. At least 18 credits in the 500 and 600 series, combined, must be included in the program. A minimum of 12 credits in course work (400, 500, and 800 series), as contrasted with research, must be completed in the major program. A thesis is required and at least 6 credits of thesis research (EDI 600/EDI 610) must be included in the program.

A minimum of 31 graduate credits is required as follows:

The M.S. in Engineering Design and Innovation requires the completion of an M.S. thesis.

Minor

A graduate minor is available in any approved graduate major or dual-title program. The default requirements for a graduate minor are stated in Graduate Council policy GCAC-218 Minors.

Student Aid

Graduate assistantships available to students in this program and other forms of student aid are described in the Tuition & Funding section of the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School’s website. Students on graduate assistantships must adhere to the course load limits set by the Fox Graduate School.

Courses

Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 699 and 800 to 899. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements when taken by graduate students. Courses below the 400 level may not. A graduate student may register for or audit these courses in order to make up deficiencies or to fill in gaps in previous education but not to meet requirements for an advanced degree.

Engineering Design and Innovation (EDI) Course List

Learning Outcomes

Master of Engineering

1. KNOW: Understand and evaluate the unique needs of a broad set of design problems and apply in-depth design theories and methods to enhance innovation processes. Specifically, students will be able to identify appropriate design methods that will augment team capabilities and apply them appropriately given the context of the design problem or task.
2. APPLY/CREATE: Apply an entrepreneurial mindset and deploy entrepreneurial skills related to business finance, intellectual property, and marketing to identify and evaluate product-market fit, business viability, and market opportunities. Specifically, students will be able to apply lean startup methods to rapidly identify market opportunities and develop minimum viable products to test the viability of the market itself.
3. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: Identify relevant policies and political processes that advance or constrain the development of the project innovation and apply strategies that are needed to influence the system as it relates to an innovation. Specifically, students will be able to identify the regulatory bodies that govern the implementation of the innovation and understand the broader eco-system in which the innovation will exist, developing a critical understanding of the societal, economic, and environmental outcomes of their design decisions.
4. THINK: Evaluate leadership and innovation management strategies to identify innovation opportunities and illustrate the alignment with the intended project sponsor’s business strategy (or potential investor’s business strategy). Specifically, students will be able to articulate the strengths and weaknesses of an organization, mapping the opportunities of the innovation to the strengths of the organization and/or mitigation strategies for overcoming weaknesses.
5. APPLY/CREATE: Develop a solution (prototype) to an innovation challenge with market demand justification and alignment with project sponsor (or potential investor) business strategy.
6. COMMUNICATE: Communicate innovation results and justification to the broader community via both written and oral mediums.

Master of Science (M.S.)

1. KNOW: Understand and evaluate the unique needs of a broad set of design problems and apply in-depth design theories and methods to enhance innovation processes. Specifically, students will be able to identify appropriate design methods that will augment team capabilities and apply them appropriately given the context of the design problem or task.
2. APPLY/CREATE: Apply an entrepreneurial mindset and deploy entrepreneurial skills related to business finance, intellectual property, and marketing to identify and evaluate product-market fit, business viability, and market opportunities. Specifically, students will be able to apply lean startup methods to rapidly identify market opportunities and develop minimum viable products to test the viability of the market itself.
3. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: Identify relevant policies and political processes that advance or constrain the development of the project innovation and apply strategies that are needed to influence the system as it relates to an innovation. Specifically, students will be able to identify the regulatory bodies that govern the implementation of the innovation and understand the broader eco-system in which the innovation will exist, developing a critical understanding of the societal, economic, and environmental outcomes of their design decisions.
4. THINK: Evaluate leadership and innovation management strategies to identify innovation opportunities and illustrate the alignment with the intended project sponsor’s business strategy (or potential investor’s business strategy). Specifically, students will be able to articulate the strengths and weaknesses of an organization, mapping the opportunities of the innovation to the strengths of the organization and/or mitigation strategies for overcoming weaknesses.
5. APPLY/CREATE: Establish robust experimental methods capable of collecting data to test relevant hypotheses.
6. COMMUNICATE: Communicate research findings/results to the broader community via both written and oral mediums.

Contact