Interdisciplinary Studies
Although engineering curricula are generally structured, it is possible to pursue a secondary field of interest through the judicious selection of electives. If added flexibility is needed to pursue specific goals, students may petition the advisor and department head for the substitution of required courses. Some of the more popular secondary areas are:
Bioengineering
Bioengineering is a broad field overlapping the life sciences and many engineering disciplines. Some of the subareas are biomechanics, ergonomics, bioinstrumentation, biomaterials, bioenergetics, water and waste treatment, food engineering, and environmental engineering. In addition to the courses listed in the pre-medicine section, other courses of interest include:
| BAE 510 | Environmental Design of Agricultural |
| Buildings |
| BAE 521 | Energy in Biological Systems |
| BAE 700 | Agricultural Process Engineering |
| CHE 715 | Biochemical Engineering |
| CHE 725 | Biotransport Phenomena |
| CE 563 | Environmental Engineering Fundamentals |
| CE 565 | Water and Wastewater Engineering |
| CE 762 | Water Treatment Processes |
| CE 766 | Wastewater Engineering: Biological |
| Processes |
| EECE 771 | Control Theory Applied to Bioengineering |
| EECE 772 | Theory and Techniques of |
| Bioinstrumentation |
| EECE 773 | Bioinstrumentation Design Laboratory |
| IMSE 623 | Industrial Ergonomics |
| IMSE 625 | Work Environments |
| ME 622 | Environmental Engineering I |
| ME 722 | Environmental Engineering II
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Business administration
Increasing numbers of engineers are assuming managerial positions in all phases of industrial operations. Some of the courses listed in the section of dual degrees could be appropriate technical electives for students with goals in management.
Energy systems engineering
The increasing demand for energy is one of the major problems confronting all nations. New energy sources are needed in addition to more effective use of present resources. Interested students should select courses from the following areas: thermodynamics, energy conversion, nuclear reactor technology, electric energy systems, and engineering economics.
Pre-medicine
Many recent advances in medical research techniques, patient monitoring systems, artificial limbs and organs, and aerospace and undersea medicine have developed from the partnership of medicine and engineering. Engineering students wishing to satisfy entrance requirements to a typical school of medicine must take at least two semesters of biology and two semesters of organic chemistry, and should take additional social science/humanities electives. The pre-medical advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences should be consulted in the sophomore year.
Pre-law
A graduate degree in law can be desirable for engineers wishing to pursue careers in industrial management or patent law. While there are no specific courses required for entry to law school, appropriate elective areas are economics, political science, history, sociology, psychology, anthropology, accounting, and finance. The pre-law advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences should be consulted prior to the junior year.
Computer science
Computers are powerful tools for the solution of complex engineering and/or management problems. Individuals with training in both engineering and computer science possess the background to attack problems over a broad range of areas. Appropriate courses include:
| Languages |
| CIS 200 | Fundamentals of Software Design and Implementation |
| CIS 300 | Data and Program Structures |
| CIS 450 | Computer Architecture and Organization |
| CIS 505 | Introduction to Programming Languages
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| Design |
| EECE 241 | Introduction to Computer Engineering |
| EECE 541 | Design of Digital Systems |
| EECE 543 | Computer System Interfacing Lab |
| EECE 643 | Computer Engineering Design Lab
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| Computational techniques |
| CHE 316 | Chemical Engineering Computational |
| Techniques |
| IMSE 560 | Introduction to Operations Research |
| IMSE 573 | Industrial Simulation |
| ME 760 | Engineering Analysis I
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Mathematics, physics, and chemistry
Engineering students with interests in research should plan on graduate study. Preparation at the undergraduate (B.S.) level could be enhanced by additional courses in mathematics and the basic sciences. Refer to the departmental listings in the College of Arts and Sciences section for possible electives.
Food engineering
Engineers are needed in the food industry for process development and design, equipment design, and management of operations. Students should select technical electives to augment a background in chemistry, microbiology, agricultural and food sciences, and process engineering.
Natural resources/ environmental sciences secondary major
Increasing national and international concerns have generated opportunities for individuals to contribute to the resolution of environmental and resource problems. These issues are so complex that they lie beyond the scope of any one discipline.
The secondary major prepares students to apply broadly-based knowledge to the use, management, sustainability, and quality of soil, air, water, mineral, biological, and energy resources. See the Secondary Majors section of this catalog.
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