Redefining Learning and Discovery

This is not your parents' engineering school. Chalk and talk, so-called gatekeeper courses, and teaching theory without practice went out years ago. In their place, CU-Boulder faculty have pioneered a new approach to engineering education that places the student's needs first.

Our college has a tradition of excellence in engineering education dating back to 1893, and we continually update and improve our programs to reflect the highest standards in teaching and learning, discovery and innovation, and community and culture:

• Our strengths in integrated and discovery learning and in engineering for global society deliver an unrivaled university experience to students.
• Our faculty and students collaborate across the disciplines and with our many external partners on solutions to the world's greatest challenges in aerospace, biotechnology, energy, and other fields.
• We promote an environment of inclusive excellence where the diversity of our students, faculty, and staff provides an enriched experience for all members of our community and helps to prepare students for careers in an increasingly global workforce.
   

Signature Programs

• The Integrated Teaching and Learning Program has provided hands-on design experience to undergraduate students in its unique, award-winning facility. The ITL Laboratory (shown above), with its open-air plazas, team meeting rooms, and "building as a learning tool" systems was described in a Hewlett-Packard publication as one of the "finer teaching environments on the planet."
• The college's First-Year Engineering Projects Course allows students to put engineering theory into practice early in their undergraduate career. Students work together on developing projects such as assistive technology for people with disabilities and interactive exhibits for museums and schools.
• The Discovery Learning Center provides a high-tech research and learning laboratory to support our college-wide initiative integrating undergraduates into the research enterprise (shown at right). The center's 12 advanced laboratories conduct research in fields ranging from biotechnology to unmanned vehicle systems, incorporating undergraduates, graduate students, faculty and industry partners in collaborative research teams.
• The Mortenson Center in Engineering for Developing Communities offers an educational, research, and outreach program where students focus on developing and implementing sustainable technology for developing communities around the world. Launched at CU-Boulder in 2001, the program spun off the non-profit organization Engineers Without Borders, which now has more than 300 university and professional chapters working on sustainable engineering projects in 48 countries around the world.
• CU Engineering International programs and partnerships are rapidly growing and becoming an integral part of our education and research. With a strategic focus on developing programs to advance engineering for a global society and expanding international learning opportunities, the college is leading the campus efforts by establishing new study abroad programs and international research projects.
• The college also is a leader in K-12 Engineering Outreach, pioneering new engineering programs for students and teachers at the elementary, middle and high school levels, and directing the national TeachEngineering digital library collection of free science, math and engineering lessons and activities available to teachers.