Program Overview

Introduction to the Center for Engineering Design and Entrepreneurship

The Center for Engineering Design and Entrepreneurship (CEDE) is a key component of the School of Engineering & Applied Science at Gonzaga University. It provides students with the opportunity to engage in real-world engineering and computing projects, applying their technical knowledge, creativity, and teamwork to solve problems for industry, research, and community partners.

Senior Design Program

The Senior Design program is a cornerstone of CEDE, where students take on the challenges of professional projects over two semesters. The program is designed to mimic the demands of real-world engineering projects, with teams of students responsible for planning, budgeting, managing, and executing their project from concept to completion.

How Senior Design Works

• Students rank their project choices and are assigned to a team in September.
• Each team works together to meet milestones and create deliverables.
• Teams present their progress in October, December, and February.
• Students present project results and give a public poster session before finals.

Sponsors and Projects

• Sponsors work with the student team as customers, clarifying project requirements and expectations.
• Projects can range from computer code to design and analysis documents to physical prototypes.
• Deliverables are provided to the university or sponsoring organization as stipulated by the project agreement or agreed-upon scope.

Resources and Support

• The program provides dedicated lab space, equipment, fabrication, and funds.
• Students are expected to submit requests, track expenses, and maintain records to use these resources.
• Each team is assigned a faculty member to provide guidance and evaluate their performance.
• A volunteer industry mentor from the Design Advisory Board (DAB) also gives the team feedback and ideas.

Milestones and Presentations

• Teams present their progress at each mid-term and at the end of the fall semester.
• These presentations give students a place to practice communication and solicit feedback.
• The program culminates in the Design Expo, where students show any prototype and a project poster to the general public, and give final presentations to their advisors, liaisons, and DAB members.

Design Advisory Board

The Design Advisory Board is a dedicated group of volunteers from the engineering community who lend their expertise to students and the program by reviewing student presentations and reports.

Capstone Committee Members

• Tailian Chen, Ph.D., Professor, Mechanical Engineering
• Brooke Colburn, M.S., Lecturer, Engineering Management
• Sue L. Niezgoda, Ph.D., P.E., Professor, Civil Engineering
• John Tadrous, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Yanping Zhang, Ph.D., Chair & Professor, Computer Science

Student Experiences and Research

The School of Engineering & Applied Science offers a variety of student experiences, including the Cadwell Maker Center, Study Abroad programs, the Manufacturing Technology Center (MTC), and the Renouard Lecture Series. Research opportunities are available through Gonzaga Research Opportunities in Math Engineering and Computer Science (GRO-MECS), Seubert Engineering Entrepreneurial Design (SEED), and the Center for Materials Research (CMR).

About the School of Engineering & Applied Science

The School of Engineering & Applied Science is committed to providing a high-quality education that combines technical expertise with a strong foundation in the liberal arts. The school offers undergraduate and graduate programs in a range of engineering disciplines, including biomedical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, and more.