The College of Engineering builds real-world engineering practice into the undergraduate curriculum to ensure that all students gain abilities and insight in the process of teaming with other engineers to identify a problem, brainstorm solutions, and then design, build, and test prototypes.
EK 131- Introduction to Engineering: Hands On
EK 131 is a workshop for learning a set of engineering skills, intended to give freshman hands-on experience on using engineering tools (software and hardware) for design and prototyping. The students will be exposed to a number of mechanical and electrical engineering tools applicable to 3D visualization, building structures, designing and wiring circuits, prototyping and instrumentation. Students will work individually and in teams to build substructures that can be integrated into a functional device (final product).
EK 210 – Sophomore Design Project
Undergraduates first encounter this as a required part of the sophomore curriculum, through EK210: Introduction to Engineering Design. This course is client-based, meaning that we are seeking projects from either companies or non-profits that are suitable for sophomores. We require six projects each semester and anticipate having eight teams of students (in groups of four or five) each working independently on one of the six projects
Senior Design Project
Capping off each student’s undergraduate experience is the Senior Design Project, a year-long, hands-on, team-driven capstone project intended to integrate and apply all of the knowledge gained in four years.
Students form small teams to design and prototype a product, electronic device or software system. They design solutions to real-world challenges, frequently working with businesses, government agencies, non-profit organizations to address their needs while gaining valuable experience. Students from different majors have the opportunity to work on interdisciplinary teams that converge to bring their divergent knowledge to bear on solving engineering challenges.
At the conclusion of the senior year, each team formally presents its project to an audience of faculty, students and industry representatives. Each department chooses a winning project and the team members are formally recognized at Commencement Exercises.
EPIC
Students work with faculty and sponsoring companies, and create prototypes in our Engineering Product Innovation Center.