“Many of the courses in the core curriculum include a strong laboratory experience, which both enhances students’ learning and hones their abilities to apply technology effectively in the workplace.”
In a direct response to emerging industries’ need for engineers that can innovate and work across traditional discipline boundaries, Kettering University’s College of Engineering will launch a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) this summer.
This new multidisciplinary engineering program combines elements of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering and computer science.
Careers BSE students could focus on are multidisciplinary. They may work in intelligent manufacturing or apply their mechatronics or robotics skills toward mobility, healthcare, energy or communication.
“They will design and implement the smart systems needed to advance these industries,” said Dr. Scott Grasman, Head of Kettering’s Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Department.
The initial response to the program has been strong, as more than 100 students have applied for the program in its first year, and others have switched to the BSE or added it as a second major, according to Grasman.
“Many of the courses in the core curriculum include a strong laboratory experience, which both enhances students’ learning and hones their abilities to apply technology effectively in the workplace,” he said. “Students with an interest in engineering systems — that integrate the best of traditional engineering disciplines — are naturally drawn to the BSE program. It allows them the flexibility to pursue a variety of career paths.”
The program features a core set of engineering courses, which “provides students with a foundation in computer, electrical, industrial and mechanical engineering principles,” Grasman said. “After completing the foundational courses, students can choose concentrations in Manufacturing Systems, Mechatronics Systems or Robotic Systems.”
Another concentration in the BSE program is Engineering Management, which is a response to the growing demand for engineers with a strong foundation in business principles.
Concentrations — including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Artificial Intelligence — will be added in the future, as new needs are identified, said Dr. Craig Hoff, Dean of the College of Engineering.
“The future of engineering will be in multidisciplinary systems, more specifically in mechanical, electrical and computer systems,” Hoff said. “… You will still need people who can do a deep dive in each traditional engineering discipline, but you will also need people who have a systems view of how everything integrates.
“There are very few purely mechanical products anymore,” he said. “Everything is electro-mechanical with computer control. All of our traditional engineering programs are being updated, to include more interdisciplinary concepts and ‘systems thinking.’”
For more information about this degree and others offered through the College of Engineering, visit https://www.kettering.edu/academics/college-engineering.