design engineering

The Program

Design Engineers create technology solutions to complex human problems by integrating skills across the engineering, creative, and social science disciplines.

Design Engineering, an ABET-accredited engineering degree, provides:

  • Mastery of all phases of the engineering design process.
  • A broad education built around hands-on learning experiences.
  • Interdisciplinary teamwork tackling real-world challenges.
  • A flexible curriculum to explore individual interests and expansive career opportunities.
Students writing formulas on glass surface.

Studios

The core of the DE curriculum is Mines’ signature integrative design studios—a sequence of project- based design studios that integrate technical, creative and contextual aspects of the design challenge. These studios provide design methodologies that apply broadly to technical problem solving and span all of the program’s focus areas. A human-centered design perspective incorporates social, political, environmental and economic dimensions of the design context, leading to more meaningful solutions.

Two students collaborating, using a 3-D printer.

Life After Mines

DE graduates can chart their own futures. They will be technically skilled, experienced with innovating problem solving in real-world contexts, able to collaborate across diverse disciplines and ready to lead and innovate in any organizational setting.

In addition to traditional engineering or design careers in technology and product-based industries, DE graduates are ideal candidates for roles in NGOs, start- ups and government agencies, and they are uniquely suited to contribute technical design expertise to the fields of healthcare, policy, law and finance.

Design Engineers chart new pathways through old problems, and change the way the world looks in the process.

Two Mines students hiking on Mount Zion with sun peeking behind mountain in the background.

TESTIMONIALS

Nathan LI

“My favorite part of being in the DE program is being able to do what I want to do. Being a MechE or CivE might be able to get me close to my passions, but the DE program lets me do almost exactly what I want to do without adding majors, minors, or years on top of the program. I also couldn’t be more at home than with the people in this program. DE has a very tight-knit nature, and I couldn’t ask for better peers!”

photo of Nathan

Brogan Carey

“I enjoy how the DE program has taught me so many valuable skills. Classes such as communications and the integrated design studios really push you to think outside the box and tackle problems differently. I also appreciate the time and effort the faculty in the program give towards their students to ensure they are best set up for success.”

photo of Nathan

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