Program Structure
Learn By
Doing
Our lab offers a dynamic dual-track program designed to foster innovation at every stage. For students, we provide an academic pathway that equips them with the training and resources to transform ideas from concept to prototype. Additionally, we welcome early-stage entrepreneurs who already have developed ideas, offering them the support and expertise needed to elevate their projects to the next level, ensuring they achieve tangible impact.
CRITICAL THINKING
We cultivate the habit of disciplined, rational analysis. Our students learn the art of asking the right questions and distilling answers from a multitude of possibilities, ensuring thoughtful and well-grounded decision-making.
DESIGN
We emphasize user-centered design, where form and function align. Our students learn to integrate aesthetics, usability, and practicality, creating solutions that are effective, intuitive, and impactful in the real world.
ENGINEERING INNNOVATION
We inspire creativity and technical ingenuity, encouraging students to explore diverse technologies. Our approach fosters bold innovation, enabling them to develop solutions that address real-world challenges, from low-tech to high-tech.
GLOBAL COLLABORATION
We emphasize diplomacy by fostering community engagement and global partnerships. Our program equips students to navigate diverse cultures and build strong international collaborations, crucial for addressing global challenges.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Our program nurtures lean-startup mindset, focusing on the development of sustainable ventures that prioritize societal impact. Students are equipped with the skills to launch startups and drive innovation in diverse fields.
STORYTELLING
We teach how to collect, interpret, and communicate narratives effectively. Students learn to tell the story of their innovations in ways that inspire action and transfer solutions from the classroom to real-world impact.
ETHICS
We instill a strong ethical foundation, guiding students to develop solutions that respect human values and moral norms. Our emphasis on ethical engineering ensures that innovations are created with integrity and responsibility.
SYSTEMS APPROACH
We train students to analyze complex systems, recognizing interconnections. They identify leverage points, anticipate consequences, and design solutions that effectively address both immediate and long-term challenges.
Minor in Sovling Global Challenges
Required Courses     18 Units
ENGR 254
2 Units
Immersive Storytelling for Engineers, Innovators, and Makers
Teaches engineers to communicate their ideas effectively through engaging storytelling.
ENGR 270
2 Units
Ethics for Engineers
Focuses on ethical decision-making and the moral implications of engineering practices.
ENGR 365
4 Units
Prototyping for Design and Development of Physical Products
Provides hands-on experience in designing and prototyping physical products.
ENGR/CE 385
4 Units
Human-Systems Integration for Global Engineering
Explores human-system interactions to improve usability in global engineering contexts.
CE 486a
3 Units
Innovation in Engineering and Design for Global Challenges - Part 1
Concentrates on team formation, identifying global challenges, and conducting boots-on-the-ground user research and forming partnerships in global contexts.
CE 486b
3 Units
Innovation in Engineering and Design for Global Challenges - Part 2
Emphasizes prototype development, testing with users, implementing solutions with global partners, demoing to investors and launching your startup.
Elective (Optional) Courses
- ITP 215: Introduction to 3D Modeling, Animation, and Visual Effects (2 units)
- ITP 228: Computer-Aided Modeling for 3D Product Design (2 units)
- ITP 308: Computer-Aided Design for Bio-Mechanical Systems (3 units)
- ITP 415: 3D Design and Prototyping (2 units)
- ITP 466: Building the High-Tech Startup (4 units)
- ENGR 345: Principles and Practices of Global Innovation
- BUAD 201X: Intro to Business for Non-Majors (4 units)
- BUAD 301: Technology Entrepreneurship (3 units)
- BUAD 452: Feasibility Analysis (4 units) (BUAD 301 is the prerequisite)
- BAEP 496: The Digital Startup Launchpad (2 units)
- BAEP 455: Founders Dilemmas (4 units)
- BAEP 460: Entrepreneurial Solutions to the UN Global Goals (2 units)
Outcomes
Our graduates are making a significant impact across various industries and fields. Many have successfully launched startups, while others have been accepted into prestigious graduate programs at Yale, MIT, Stanford, Columbia, the University of Chicago, and Georgetown. Alumni are also leading innovative projects at top Fortune 500 companies such as Apple, Google, Amazon, Tesla, Disney, and Morgan Stanley. In addition, they are driving social change through NGOs like the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Halcyon, continuing to address critical global challenges.