Interdisciplinary Courses (Engineering) (INTEREGR)

INTEREGR 115 — ENGINEERING UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SCHOLARS SEMINAR

1 credit.

Introduction to foundational skills for conducting research. Research methods and inquiry, professional and technical communication, and effective presentation of research. Includes laboratory research under the supervision of engineering faculty.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

Repeatable for Credit: No

Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify a research question or problem within engineering and explain its significance.
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Conduct a literature review.
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Write a proposal to address an open research question.
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Describe the basic components of the research process, including literature review, methodology, data collection, and analysis.
Audience: Undergraduate

5. Identify and practice key behaviors necessary for successful participation in an engineering research lab, including safety, communication, and teamwork.
Audience: Undergraduate

INTEREGR 130 — INTRODUCTION TO MECHANICS AND APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING

1 credit.

Introduction to mechanics and applications in engineering, including introduction to free body diagrams, spatial awareness, and how to use vectors in engineering applications.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Summer 2025

Learning Outcomes: 1. Correctly use basic mathematics concepts that are applied to introductory mechanics and connect math to conceptual physical understanding
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Practice 3D spatial awareness/reasoning
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Apply problem-solving strategies to physical problems, including evaluating engineering problem solving approaches.
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Demonstrate group problem solving skills through assessment of peers’ ideas and work, discussion of alternate approaches, and explanation of solutions
Audience: Undergraduate

5. Effectively communicate problem solving processes and results through writing and diagrams.
Audience: Undergraduate

INTEREGR 140 — SUCCESS IN ENGINEERING ACADEMICS

1 credit.

Learn and practice evidence-based strategies for success as an engineering student. Topics include study skills, time management, career exploration, academic writing, academic reading comprehension, motivation and self-directed learning.

Requisites: None

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Spring 2026

Learning Outcomes: 1. Practice evidence based learning strategies (such as elaboration, recall, spaced practice)
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Develop and implement time-management techniques
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Practice problem solving strategies
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Identify the tools for being a successful engineering student
Audience: Undergraduate

INTEREGR 150 — DIRECTED STUDIES IN ENGINEERING FOUNDATION COURSES

0 credits.

Directed study through College of Engineering Supplementary Instruction program. Group discussion and problem-solving coaching to enhance understanding of physics and its applications to engineering.

INTEREGR 156 — INTRODUCTION TO WRITING, SPEAKING, AND ETHICS FOR ENGINEERS

3 credits.

Introduction to college-level communication and academic research. Emphasizes written and oral communication, audience analysis, ethical reasoning, and use of credible sources. Provides instruction in both the foundations of oral and written academic communication (including skills like critical thinking, argumentation, and information literacy) and the writing process itself (including activities like drafting, giving and receiving feedback, and revising). Explores the rhetoric and values of engineering work from multiple perspectives. Provides a foundation for effective communication and ethical awareness useful for subsequent coursework and professional settings.

Requisites: Students required to take the MSN ESLAT cannot enroll until the ESL 118 requirement is satisfied

Course Designation: Gen Ed - Communication Part A
Level - Elementary
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S

Repeatable for Credit: No

Learning Outcomes: 1. Communicate effectively in both written and oral formats, especially within technical and applied STEM contexts, by aligning research, purpose, and organization with academic conventions and the needs of diverse audiences.
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Apply rhetorical principles to analyze audiences, purposes, and genres, using appropriate tools and techniques to adapt communication strategies.
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Engage in the full writing and speaking process, including planning, drafting, reviewing, revising, and collaborating with peers to improve written and spoken communication.
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Use evidence and reasoning to develop and support arguments in communication tasks, while thinking critically about what constitutes credible evidence and how to synthesize information from relevant and recent research.
Audience: Undergraduate

5. Identify and evaluate ethical dimensions of real-world problems, particularly in STEM-related discourse, and practice advancing a clear, informed, and empathetic point of view on the social and ethical implications of emerging technologies.
Audience: Undergraduate

6. Build inclusive teamwork skills by adapting to diverse audiences and contexts, engaging respectfully across cultural and work-style differences, and ensuring equitable participation in both written and spoken interactions.
Audience: Undergraduate

INTEREGR 170 — DESIGN PRACTICUM

3 credits.

Introduction to design via the invention, fabrication and testing of a device that solves a problem proposed by a real world client. Information retrieval techniques, specification writing, methods for enhancing creativity, analysis techniques, scheduling, selection methodologies, cost estimating, sustainability in design, shop safety, engineering ethics, opportunities for engineering students (ie, study abroad, internships, co-ops), major exploration, fabrication equipment and techniques, and oral and written communication.

Requisites: None

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Spring 2026

Learning Outcomes: 1. Learn the fundamentals of the engineering design process and then apply them in a laboratory setting by working on a novel, client-based, hands-on engineering challenge.
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Develop individual learning and cooperative teamwork skills through conduct of independent research and collaborative problem solving in a team setting.
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Promote diversity and inclusiveness through exercises designed to create multicultural awareness of, and respect for, individual differences in experience, learning style, and academic interests.
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Effect professional development through team-building activities, practice in personal and professional communication, leadership, project management, and engineering ethics.
Audience: Undergraduate

5. Utilize academic research, creativity, innovation, fabrication, testing, and design iteration to develop effective decision-making and problem-solving skills.
Audience: Undergraduate

6. Practice effective technical communication skills through maintaining a design notebook, giving oral presentations, and writing a technical report.
Audience: Undergraduate

7. Participate in COE shop training to obtain the basic skills required for prototype fabrication and as a prerequisite for more advanced training in subsequent design courses.
Audience: Undergraduate

8. Develop professional teaching and leadership skills in junior and senior engineering student assistants through peer-mentoring and training activities during the course.
Audience: Undergraduate

9. Define engineering and learn the fundamentals of the engineering design process
Audience: Undergraduate

10. Major exploration and self reflection
Audience: Undergraduate

11. Learn pertinent information to maximize success as an engineering student
Audience: Undergraduate

INTEREGR 180 — FOUNDATIONS OF COMPUTATIONAL ENGINEERING DESIGN

3 credits.

Foundational skills in computing, design, ethics, and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence with a focus on interdisciplinary engineering design. Introduction to engineering disciplines and problem-solving strategies using modern computational tools and principles. Development of professional and technical skills. Application of modern computational principles to the creation of physical or virtual prototypes of devices, systems, or processes.

Requisites: None

Repeatable for Credit: No

Learning Outcomes: 1. Use modern computing tools and principles to analyze and solve engineering problems.
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Define key terms related to modern computational principles in engineering.
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Apply engineering design skills to progress from a problem definition to a physical or virtual prototype using modern engineering software such as computer-aided design or process-simulation tools.
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Function effectively in a multidisciplinary team by using clear communication and basic project-management techniques to define tasks, execute a plan, and meet project goals.
Audience: Undergraduate

5. Communicate design decisions using written technical reports and presentations.
Audience: Undergraduate

INTEREGR 200 — PROFESSIONAL ORIENTATION

1 credit.

Introduction to career development and career-related competencies for engineers.

Requisites: Freshmen, Sophomores, or Juniors only

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Spring 2026

Learning Outcomes: 1. Integrate understanding of the career development process into exploration of engineering disciplines and professional goals
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Explore the transition from student to professional utilizing the design thinking framework
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Identify and articulate skills and career goals
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Create/develop a professional profile
Audience: Undergraduate

5. Develop professional awareness of employer needs by identifying key leadership and career readiness skills employers look for across a wide range of industries
Audience: Undergraduate

INTEREGR 275 — TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS

2 credits.

Principles and theory of effective oral technical presentations. Provides a framework for applying the principles in professional settings common to the engineering profession. Preparation, delivery, and evaluation of oral presentation on technical subjects, analysis of professional "real-world" technical presentations, survey of presentation technology, self-analysis including listening and non-verbal skills, and practice of group discussion and interview skills.

Requisites: Sophomore standing

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Spring 2026

Learning Outcomes: 1. Present technical concepts and information to a general audience without oversimplifying or losing technical complexity
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Deliver a compelling technical presentation
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Develop a compelling argument about a unique research question
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Conduct relevant and credible research to enhance presentation value
Audience: Undergraduate

5. Design well-organized, informative, clear, engaging visuals that enhance but do not dominate the presentation
Audience: Undergraduate

6. Anticipate or identify audience expectations and concerns and to address them appropriately in your presentation
Audience: Undergraduate

7. Work in teams to prepare and practice discussing cases in engineering ethics
Audience: Undergraduate

INTEREGR 303 — APPLIED LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES IN ENGINEERING

3 credits.

An introduction to basic leadership theories, styles, and perspectives with an emphasis on applying these concepts to engineering practice and professional contexts. Develop personal leadership competencies such as self-awareness, ethical decision making, and effective teamwork.

Requisites: None

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Spring 2026

Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify and describe one's own individual strengths, and value others' strengths on a team.
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Communicate comfortably and professionally with peers, practicing engineers, non-engineering professionals, and community members.
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Reflect upon and understand one’s own responsibility to strive for self-awareness, empathy, curiosity, vulnerability, and feedback when developing one’s leadership skills.
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Identify the leadership role that engineering professionals play in service to a breadth of social, political, environmental, economic, and global issues.
Audience: Undergraduate

5. Apply teamwork and leadership skills necessary to embrace individual differences and help groups collaborate on shared aims and values.
Audience: Undergraduate

6. Incorporate one's experiences, reflections, and values into a personal leadership identity and develop a plan for further leadership skill development.
Audience: Undergraduate

INTEREGR 397 — ENGINEERING COMMUNICATION

3 credits.

Communication for engineering, science, and technology; theory and practice in planning, preparing, and critiquing reports, proposals, and workplace correspondence; persuasive argumentation, ethical decision-making strategies, multidisciplinary communication skills, research strategies, collaborative work; oral presentations.

Requisites: Satisfied Communications A and junior or senior standing only

Course Designation: Gen Ed - Communication Part B

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Spring 2026

Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify a focused technical project, then research, organize, draft, apply feedback, develop, and revise technical writing and presentations for a multidisciplinary, professional audience
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Retrieve, identify, and analyze credible research that can help develop and inform a technical problem
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Identify and describe contexts for engineering projects that address relevant social, ethical, environmental, economic, and political impacts
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Apply moral theories and professional codes to effectively analyze problems in engineering ethics and arrive at defensible actions
Audience: Undergraduate

5. Contribute to a team through creating a collaborative and inclusive environment, establishing goals, planning tasks, and meeting objectives
Audience: Undergraduate

INTEREGR 413 — CURRENT ISSUES IN INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERING

1 credit.

Provides a comparative examination and analysis of global trends and regional variations for engineering concepts, standards and practices. Using organizational case studies, the course will describe and analyze multi-national engineering operations and summarize best practices and caveats.

INTEREGR 477 — TOOLS FOR PROTOTYPING AND MANUFACTURING

1-3 credits.

Tools for prototyping and manufacturing physical objects along with some of the underlying theory for how the tools work. Tools include 3D printers, 3D scanners, thermoformers, CNC routers, welders, wood saws, mills, lathes, laser cutters, waterjets, machine tools, general electronics, microcontrollers and Virtual Reality.

Requisites: None

Course Designation: Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement

Repeatable for Credit: Yes, unlimited number of completions

Last Taught: Fall 2025

Learning Outcomes: 1. Implement prototyping as a design methodology that incorporates making, critical reflection, and iteration.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

2. Use rapid prototyping and machining equipment and techniques safely.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

3. Employ a set of prototyping techniques and approaches for concept development.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

4. Work independently and collaboratively to generate a portfolio of hands-on projects using the various tools.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

5. Apply engineering principles and equipment theory to troubleshoot while operating equipment.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

6. Describe the current roles of the rapid prototyping and machining techniques in industry and research.
Audience: Graduate

INTEREGR 601 — TOPICS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY ENGINEERING

1-3 credits.

Interdisciplinary topics of special interest to undergrad and grad students in engineering.

INTEREGR 797 — IMPROV TO IMPROVE SCIENCE COMMUNICATION AND TEACHING

1 credit.

Use improvisational activities and techniques to improve teaching and communicating about science, technology, engineering or math with a variety of audiences in both formal and informal settings.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

Course Designation: Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Spring 2026

Learning Outcomes: 1. Create a learning community
Audience: Graduate

2. Demonstrate the basics of improvisation
Audience: Graduate

3. Use physicality and emotion to enhance communication
Audience: Graduate

4. Think and speak creatively to improve explanations of complex concepts
Audience: Graduate

5. Apply improvisation techniques to multiple teaching, presentation experiences, and professional experiences
Audience: Graduate

INTEREGR 941 — COLLABORATIVE CAPSTONE II

3 credits.

Explore chosen opportunity area through prototyping, user testing, and iteration. Creation of final, high resolution design, with communication and launch plan for startup, product or service. Practice behaviors of design thinking - ethics, critique, and storytelling.

Requisites: INTER-HE 940

Course Designation: Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Spring 2026

Learning Outcomes: 1. Apply an iterative design thinking process on an interdisciplinary team.
Audience: Graduate

2. Generate creative ideas through structured brainstorming sessions.
Audience: Graduate

3. Develop and fabricate rapid prototypes using a wide range of techniques (physical, digital, etc.) to bring their ideas into reality as quickly as possible and obtain feedback.
Audience: Graduate

4. Deliver a clear, thoughtful design with evidence showing it is desirable, feasible, and viable.
Audience: Graduate

5. Communicate effectively, both visually and orally.
Audience: Graduate

6. Demonstrate constructive collaboration behaviors— creative critique, balancing independent work with group work, and knowing when to get an outside opinion.
Audience: Graduate