Program Overview

Overview of the Integrated Design Engineering Program

The Integrated Design Engineering (IDE) program at the University of Colorado Boulder is a unique and innovative undergraduate degree that combines the principles of engineering, design, and collaboration to prepare students for a wide range of careers. The program is built around a core set of courses that emphasize integrated design, teamwork, and problem-solving, and allows students to customize their degree through a choice of six engineering emphases and a concentration in an approved second area.

Program Requirements

To earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Integrated Design Engineering, students must complete a minimum of 128 credits, including:

• A minimum of 30 credits in math and science
• A core of project-based integrated design-focused engineering courses taught by IDE faculty
• A disciplinary emphasis (aerospace, architectural, civil, electrical, environmental, or mechanical engineering)
• A selected concentration (12 or more credits)
• Humanities and social sciences electives
• A writing course
• Free electives

Disciplinary Emphases

The IDE program offers six disciplinary emphases, each with its own set of requirements and courses. These emphases are:

• Aerospace Emphasis
• Architectural Emphasis
• Civil Emphasis
• Electrical Emphasis
• Environmental Emphasis
• Mechanical Emphasis

Each emphasis requires students to complete a set of core courses, as well as additional courses specific to the emphasis.

Concentration

The concentration requirement allows students to select additional coursework in a chosen field of study, either within or outside of engineering. The concentration course sequence must be a series of courses with increasing specificity or depth within a field, typically culminating in senior-level courses.

Prerequisites and Passing Grades

The minimum passing grade for a course that is a prerequisite or corequisite for another required course is a C-. If a grade of D+ or lower is received in a course which is a prerequisite to another, the student may not register for the subsequent course until the first grade has been raised to a C- or higher.

Additional Graduation Requirements

All integrated design engineering students, regardless of emphasis, are required to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam prior to graduation. Students are also required to take the Senior Survey prior to graduation.

Sample Four-Year Plans of Study

The IDE program provides sample four-year plans of study for each emphasis, outlining the courses and credits required for each semester.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Integrated Design Engineering program is to prepare students to be innovators in a wide range of careers, tackling complex global challenges ethically and creatively by integrating technical engineering knowledge with integrated design thinking and multidisciplinary collaboration skills.

Learning Outcomes

The program has two sets of learning outcomes: program educational objectives and student outcomes. The program educational objectives outline what graduates of the program will achieve within a few years after graduation, while the student outcomes outline what students will be able to do by the completion of the program.

Bachelor's-Accelerated Master's Degree Program(s)

The IDE program offers two bachelor's-accelerated master's degree programs: one in Mechanical Engineering and one in Environmental Engineering. These programs allow students to receive a bachelor's and master's degree in a shorter period of time, with some courses counting towards both degrees.

Admissions Requirements

To be admitted to the bachelor's-accelerated master's degree programs, students must meet certain criteria, including a cumulative GPA of 3.250 or higher, completion of specific courses, and submission of the BAM intent application.

Program Requirements

Students in the bachelor's-accelerated master's degree programs may take up to 12 credits of graduate coursework while in the undergraduate program, with up to six credits counting towards both the bachelor's and master's degrees. Students must apply to graduate with the bachelor's degree and also apply to continue with the professional master's degree.