1. BS Interdisciplinary Engineering
EH Presentation, March 8, 2018
T. Jacobs, Director of Interdisciplinary Engineering

2. Interdisciplinary Engineering
Interdisciplinary engineering degree programs allow students to develop unique skill sets and specialize in areas that may not be provided in traditional department degree programs. Such specializations may be driven by emerging technical fields or by a student’s desire to have an immersive interdisciplinary experience.
Texas A&M University’s College of Engineering offers Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees, Master of Science (M.S.) degrees and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Interdisciplinary Engineering (ITDE).

3. BS Interdisciplinary Engineering
The College of Engineering offers a BS in Interdisciplinary Engineering.
The degree program of study can take one of three approaches:
Student designed interdisciplinary program of study (i.e., “build your own degree”)
Combination of two or more specialization tracks
Pre-designed interdisciplinary program of study.
Total program credit hours = 128 credits

4. BS Interdisciplinary Engineering
All three approaches have similar requirements:
Base 66 credits of “core” courses
First-year common engineering courses
Engineering ethics
English / communication courses
Two semesters of senior capstone design
Three additional math courses beyond first-year courses (MATH 251, MATH 308, and one chosen from an approved list)
18 credits of UCC

5. BS Interdisciplinary Engineering
The remaining 62 credits (total program credit hours = 128) consist of interdisciplinary specialization threads that are either:
designed by the student, with one-on-one guidance with the ITDE Director, or
designed by the student with one-on-one guidance with the ITDE Director through combination of previously-approved specialization threads (which are designed by faculty), or
designed by the faculty as specialization programs of study.
In all cases, prerequisites of courses must be satisfied, unless specially waived by the department offering the course.

6. BS Interdisciplinary Engineering
ITDE Student
Core Courses
Specialization Courses
66 credits
Mostly pre-defined with few choices
62 credits
No more than 30 credits from any single degree program.
Either
Student-designed
Student-combined from existing threads
Faculty-designed specialization
Overall
128 total program credits
40 to 50 credits from 3XX / 4XX courses.

7. BS Interdisciplinary Engineering
Specialization Courses
Student Designed
Student Combined
Faculty Designed
Cohesive thread of interdisciplinary studies that provide the student with a specialized and unique set of skills and knowledge.
Cohesive combination of pre-approved threads that provide the student with a specialized and unique set of skills and knowledge
Potential threads (not yet approved)
Entrepreneurship engineering
Cybersecurity
Energy systems
Biomedical systems
Corrosion
Cohesive pre-approved combination of courses designed by faculty to address a present and / or emerging need.
Possible POSs
Architectural Engineering (App)
Advanced Manufacturing (NYA)

8. BS Interdisciplinary Engineering
Website
Contacts
Director, Tim Jacobs
Advisor, Kim Moses
Architectural Engineering Program Director, Dr. Morad Atif

9. Thank you for your attention
BS ITDE

10. BS Interdisciplinary Engineering
Student Designed
66 core credits
62 specialization credits
No more than 30 credits from any one program.
No more than about 14 credits from outside the College of Engineering
50+ credits must be from 300+ courses
Specialization thread must be apparent.

11. BS Interdisciplinary Engineering
Student Designed
Designing your degree
Identify programs
Identify courses
Pay close attention to pre-requisites; pre-requisites must be met unless department offering course grants exception.
Assemble courses per
66 core credits
Meeting course pre-requisites
Degree plan must be reviewed by Director and approved by Advisory Committee
Degree plan must be proposed in ETAM application, but acceptance to ITDE does not guarantee the specific proposed degree plan.

12. BS Interdisciplinary Engineering
Student Combined
66 core credits
62 specialization credits
Combining one or more threads with each other or other courses of interest.
Threads not yet approved but available for consideration
Engineering Entrepreneurship (NYA)
See next slide
Cybersecurity (NYA)
Still under development
Corrosion (NYA)

13. BS Interdisciplinary Engineering
Student Combined
Threads not yet approved but available for consideration
Engineering Entrepreneurship (NYA): 30 credits
Design Process (ENDS 101)
Engineering Creativity (ENGR 260)
Enterprise Basics for Technical Entrepreneurs (ENGR 36X)
Sales, Operations, and Manufacturing for Technical Companies (ENGR 36Y)
Technology Company Management, Leadership, and Corporate Culture (ENGR 46Z)
Product Lean Launch (ENGR 461)
Engineering Entrepreneurship Hour (ENGR 462)
Intellectual Property Law (ENGR 3AA or ENGR 3AB)
Law for Entrepreneurs (ENGR 3BB)
Electives (one technical, one law related)

14. BS Interdisciplinary Engineering
Student Combined
Designing your degree
Identify threads
Identify complementary programs
Identify courses within complementary programs
Pay close attention to pre-requisites; pre-requisites must be met unless department offering course grants exception.
Assemble courses per
66 core credits
Meeting course pre-requisites
Degree plan must be reviewed by Director and approved by Advisory Committee
Degree plan must be proposed in ETAM application, but acceptance to ITDE does not guarantee the specific proposed degree plan.

15. BS Interdisciplinary Engineering
Faculty Designed
Architecture Engineering (approved)
Advanced Manufacturing (NYA)

16. BS Interdisciplinary Engineering
Faculty Designed
Architecture Engineering (approved)
“The application of scientific and engineering principles, and technologies for the design, construction, and operation & maintenance of building systems”
“The design and construction of engineered & integrated building systems”
Contact: Dr. Morad Atif

17. BS Interdisciplinary Engineering

18. BS Interdisciplinary Engineering
Faculty Designed
Advanced Manufacturing (NYA)
Program of study prepares students for careers in design, control, and implementation of manufacturing processes and systems.
Students will take foundational and manufacturing courses in:
MMET
ISEN
MEEN
CVEN
ELEN
CSCE

19. BS Interdisciplinary Engineering
Faculty Designed
Designing your degree
Identify program
Reach out to program director
Architectural Engineering: Dr. Morad Atif
Advanced Manufacturing: Dr. Tim Jacobs
Degree plan must be reviewed by Director and approved by Advisory Committee
Degree plan must be proposed in ETAM application, but acceptance to ITDE does not guarantee the specific proposed degree plan.

20. ENGE Student Engage Director ETAM Application Process for ETAM
Preferably at least 3 weeks before ETAM deadline
Engage Director
Student Designed
Student Combined
Faculty Designed
ETAM Application
Advisory Committee Approval

21. BS Interdisciplinary Engineering
ETAM Application
In your ITDE Essay, you should
Explain your long term (i.e., 3 – 8 years after graduation) aspirations. What are your career goals?
Delineate your short goals (i.e., 2 – 3 years after graduation)
Describe why ITDE is your preferred major
Provide some context for your intended program of study
You will need to have proposed your program of study with the director prior to your ETAM application submission.
Propose alternative, or backup, plans if your specific program of study is not approved (or altered) by the Advisory Committee.
In your ITDE Essay, you should NOT copy and paste your college application essay!