Want the flexibility to earn an engineering degree and explore an additional passion simultaneously? If so, Integrated Design Engineering (IDE) may be the engineering degree for you. An IDE degree is made up of foundational coursework, engineering core courses, a selected emphasis (in aerospace, architectural, civil, electrical, environmental or mechanical engineering) and a chosen concentration either within or external to engineering. An emphasis establishes a disciplinary engineering foundation, while a concentration allows students to explore an additional passion, preparing them for a broad range of career opportunities post-graduation. Students choose from 20 concentrations such as pre-medical, business, CU Teach Engineering (teacher licensure), sustainability, applied math and others.
IDE students essentially design their own degree with the amount of flexibility and choice woven throughout. This hands-on, design-based engineering degree equips students with the necessary skills for careers, graduate school and professional programs beyond CU Boulder. All students meet with an IDE advisor prior to registration to ensure their customized course choices meet the program requirements.
If you are looking for a customizable, design-rich engineering degree, or are passionate about an area of study outside of engineering, IDE may be the right pathway for you at CU Boulder.
Integrated Design Engineering at CU Boulder is an innovative and unique engineering pathway for students wanting to customize their education and pursue the dreams most important to them! Students choose from 6 emphases and 20 concentrations. An emphasis establishes a disciplinary engineering foundation, while a concentration allows students to explore an additional passion which prepares them for a broad range of career opportunities post graduation. Woven throughout the degree, students have the opportunity to take hands-on, design-based versions of the traditional courses offered through various departments. While these courses cover the same material, students get to put theory into practice and learn by doing through hands-on design.
IDE students can pursue research opportunities through various faculty within the program or through the department of their chosen emphasis. Additionally, there are opportunities in undergraduate research through the Discovery Learning Apprenticeship Program. The program, open to all academic levels in the College of Engineering and Applied Science, allows undergraduate students to earn hourly pay while engaging in research with college faculty. Students learn hands-on techniques, gain insight into a field of study and learn life skills such as time management, flexibility and how to be part of a team. Learn more today about the Discovery Learning Apprenticeship Program.
The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program supports research partnerships between faculty and undergraduates from all colleges. Students from all academic levels can participate. Grants include assistantships, team grants or standard grants. Learn more today about undergraduate research today.
Students pursuing CU Teach Engineering, as their chosen concentration, engage in a student teaching experience where they teach and develop curriculum in a Denver School of Science and Technology. This unique opportunity provides CU Teach Engineering students the ability to integrate engineering and education within secondary math and science classrooms.
IDE students essentially design their own degree with the amount of choice and flexibility woven throughout. Additionally, IDE students take a project course each year, teaching students skills in leadership, collaboration and communication. Students have the same foundational engineering skills as traditional programs, but they set themselves apart through the additional fields of study woven throughout the program. Due to the amount of flexibility, IDE prepares students for a wide variety of jobs such as, teaching science & math, product design, entrepreneurship, technical sales, pre-med, law, business or many more.
Graduates of IDE can pursue a variety of jobs in industry, teaching, business and more. Many students go on to graduate school and professional programs post-graduation. With the programs focus in leadership, collaboration and communication, students are uniquely equipped with skills to lead in a broad range of opportunities. Recent graduates have become managers within Arrow Electronics or are monitoring avalanches for the State of Colorado.
With an IDE degree, it is difficult to pinpoint a starting salary since there are so many pathways for employment, due to the flexibility of the degree. This allows students to fine-tune their degree towards a very specific passion or gives them the opportunity to broaden their knowledge and learning through the combination of an emphasis and concentration.
