Minor in Engineering Design

Program Learning Outcomes for the Minor in Engineering Design

Upon completing the minor in Engineering Design, students will be able to:

  1. Execute steps of the engineering design process including problem identification, needs assessment, context review, defining design criteria, idea generation, solution selection, iterative prototyping, and testing.
  2. Become familiar with other steps of the engineering design process including market assessment, design for manufacturing, field testing, and implementation.
  3. Apply technical knowledge from their major within the School of Engineering to solve a design challenge.
  4. Develop breadth in design by working on at least two different design projects.
  5. Work in multiple teams, filling the role of a team member and a team leader.
  6. Apply project planning tools to guide design projects.
  7. Communicate effectively their design problems and solutions through written, oral, and visual communication tools to a wide variety of audiences.
  8. Become proficient in low and high fidelity physical and digital-based prototyping. 

Requirements for the Minor in Engineering Design

Students pursuing the minor in Engineering Design must complete:

  • A minimum of 6 courses (18 credit hours) to satisfy minor requirements.

Students are encouraged to begin taking courses in the minor during their freshman year, and are encouraged to declare the minor no later than the beginning of their fifth semester.

The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this minor. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the minor’s academic advisor, or where applicable, the Program Director. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the minor's Official Certifier). Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.

Summary 

Total Credit Hours Required for the Minor in Engineering Design18

Minor Requirements 

Core Requirements
Select 1 course from the following:3
INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING DESIGN
INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING DESIGN II
INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING DESIGN AND COMMUNICATION
ENGI 200ENGINEERING DESIGN STUDIO3
ENGI 210PROTOTYPING AND FABRICATION3
ENGI 350NEEDS IDENTIFICATION AND DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION3
Elective Requirements
Select 2 courses (and a minimum of 6 credit hours) from the following: 16
APPROPRIATE DESIGN FOR GLOBAL HEALTH
NEW ENTERPRISES: DISCOVERY
ENTREPRENEURIAL STRATEGY
SUSTAINABLE WATER PURIFICATION FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD
CHEMICAL CAR ENGINEERING AND DESIGN
IMPLEMENTATION OF DIGITAL SYSTEMS
INTRODUCTION TO ANALOG INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
UNDERGRADUATE ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH PROJECTS-VERTICALLY INTEGRATED PROJECTS 2
ENGINEERING DESIGN WORKSHOP
INTRODUCTION TO PRACTICAL ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
LEADING TEAMS AND INNOVATION
DIGITAL DESIGN AND VISUALIZATION
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DESIGN TOOLS
DESIGN OF MECHATRONIC SYSTEMS
INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS
Additional Requirement
Students must participate in at least two different design projects during their undergraduate experience. 3
Total Credit Hours18

Footnotes and Additional Information 

Policies for the Minor in Engineering Design

Admission

Rice students who are pursuing a B.A. or B.S. degree in the School of Engineering are best prepared to pursue the minor in Engineering Design. Many courses that can be applied towards the minor requirements are open to all Rice students, including those not pursuing the minor in Engineering Design. For ENGI 200 and ENGI 300, students must explain their interest and reasons for taking the course in order to gain instructor permission. Preferential admission will be given to students who indicate they are seeking to complete the minor in Engineering Design. 

Program Restrictions and Exclusions

Students pursuing the minor in Engineering Design should be aware of the following program restriction:

  • As noted in Majors, Minors, and Certificates, i.) students may declare their intent to pursue a minor only after they have first declared a major, and ii.) students may not major and minor in the same subject.

Transfer Credit 

For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. The Office of Academic Advising maintains the university’s official list of transfer credit advisors on their website: https://oaa.rice.edu. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic program’s transfer credit advisor when considering transfer credit possibilities. 

Program Transfer Credit Guidelines

Students pursuing the minor in Engineering Design should be aware of the following program-specific transfer credit guidelines:

  • Requests for transfer credit will be considered by the program director (and/or the program’s official transfer credit advisor) on an individual case-by-case basis.

Additional Information 

For additional information, please see the Engineering Design website: http://oedk.rice.edu/minor

Opportunities for the Minor in Engineering Design

Academic Honors

The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate’s academic history at Rice. For information on university honors, please see Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) and Distinction in Research and Creative Work. Some departments have department-specific Honors awards or designations.

Additional Information 

For additional information, please see the Engineering Design website: http://oedk.rice.edu/minor