Engineering Design, Minor

Program Code: ENDSN_UMNR

Program Description

To address design responsibilities necessary for engineering graduates, the engineering design minor develops design skills in students through a series of core project-based design courses supplemented by general electives in their discipline or related field. Through team-based projects, students apply engineering design processes to address design opportunities, from exploration of the problem space through exploration of the solution space. By focusing on different elements of a design process (e.g., defining and exploring the problem vs. identifying, prototyping, and evaluating design solutions), but covering in totality, the minor’s courses complement each other and provide students with a deeper understanding of engineering design. Specific areas of emphasis in this minor include problem framing, stakeholder engagement, human-centered design, rapid prototyping, prototyping to validate assumptions, systems-level design and professional communication. The tools and techniques developed in this minor should be broadly applicable to various engineering disciplines.

Entrance to Minor

For admission into the minor, students must have completed EDSGN 100 and EDSGN 367.

Program Requirements

Requirement Credits
Requirements for the Minor 18

Requirements for the Minor

A minimum of 18 credits is required for completion of the minor with no fewer than 9 credits at the 400-level or above.

A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10. In addition, at least six credits of the minor must be unique from the prescribed courses required by a student's major(s).

Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
EDSGN 100Cornerstone Engineering Design3
EDSGN 367Design Thinking and Making3
EDSGN 467Prototyping to Launch3
EDSGN 485Engineering Design Portfolio1
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
Select 6-8 credits from the following courses:6-8
Summers by Design: An International Engineering Design Experience
Projects in Humanitarian Engineering
Design for Developing Communities
Introduction to Design for Additive Manufacturing
Engineering Design and Analysis with CAD
Research Project
Independent Studies
Project Management for Professionals
Entrepreneurial Leadership
Technology-Based Entrepreneurship
Leadership Principles
Leadership in Organizations
Leadership of International Virtual Engineering Teams
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better
None specified. In consultation with the minor director, students may receive up to 2 course credits for an approved course in support of their engineering design minor.0-2