2022-2023

Multidisciplinary Engineering, Bachelor of Science

Engineering

College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences

The Bachelor of Science in Multidisciplinary Engineering provides students learning opportunities in multiple engineering disciplines and complemented by other disciplines across campus. The program supports a customizable curriculum that includes a capstone experience focused on multi- and inter-disciplinary teamwork. Specific combinations of coursework are formulated in several named emphases that provide unique opportunities and inspires students to build their own unique engineering pathways.

  • Available Emphasis Areas:
  • Audio Engineering - Emphasis
  • Engineering Design - Emphasis
  • Engineering Coursework
  • Energy Engineering - Emphasis
  • Sustainable Engineering - Emphasis
  • User Experience Engineering - Emphasis

  • To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.

    • All of Northern Arizona University's diversity, liberal studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
    • At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
    • At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
    • A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.

    The full policy can be viewed here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • At least 92 units of major requirements, including at least 54 units of emphasis requirements
  • Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements
  • For this major the liberal studies prefix is CENE, CS, EE, EGR, INF, ME

  • Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion 120
Highest Mathematics Required MAT 137
University Honors Program Optional
Some online/blended coursework Required
Progression Plan Link View Progression Plan
Emphasis or Coursework Required

An emphasis or coursework is required for this degree.

Purpose Statement

The Bachelor of Science in Multidisciplinary Engineering provides students learning opportunities in multiple engineering disciplines and complemented by other disciplines across campus. The program supports a customizable curriculum that includes a capstone experience focused on multi- and inter-disciplinary teamwork. Specific combinations of coursework are formulated in several named emphases that provide unique opportunities and inspires students to build their own unique engineering pathways.

The core of the program is a design sequence with loose commonality across most of NAU’s engineering programs.  All students, regardless of emphasis, engage in contextualized engineering design and project management courses. This core is supported by foundational math, computer science, and physics coursework.  The design sequence also becomes the scaffolding for integrating and synthesizing coursework across several disciplines and content areas.

Students who do not select an emphasis area may work with either an advisor or a faculty mentor to select course work in the plan that supports their own personal engineering aspirations and interests. Students who get an MDE degree have many general engineering career opportunities.  This includes areas such as engineering sales, engineering management, engineering communication, or an engineering technician.

Students who select the Audio Engineering emphasis take specialized coursework in electrical engineering, computer science, and media production that prepares them to work as an audio engineer or a broadcast engineer. These students learn the foundation broadcast communication theory and engage in actual media production practice that builds on an engineering foundation.  This curriculum is intended to support certification preparation for the society of broadcast engineers.

Students who select the Energy Engineering emphasis take specialized coursework in EE, ME, and ECO, which allows them to engage in engineering design problems related to energy capture and storage as well as energy policy and critical thinking.  This emphasis is intended to support students who are interested in working in the energy sector and especially at the intersection of mechanical and electrical engineering practice in this area.

Students who select the Sustainable Engineering emphasis take specialized coursework in environmental engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and environmental sciences, which allows them to engage in engineering practice that focuses on sustainability.  This emphasis is intended to support students who are interested in working at the intersection of engineering and environmental science and practice with a focus on sustainable systems.

Students who select the User Experience emphasis take specialized coursework in psychology and user experience design and testing, by combining core engineering coursework, computer science, and psychology.  User interfaces and human computer interaction is explored in CS coursework while the foundational principles of human perception and engagement is explored in Psychology coursework.  This emphasis is intended to support students interested in becoming UX engineers or product design engineers who focus on usability.

Students who select the Engineering Design emphasis take specialized coursework in engineering design and art.  This allows students to learn how to design for practical specification and utility while also learning the aesthetic foundations of design and creativity.  This emphasis is intended to support students interested in becoming product or industrial design engineers.

With several distinctive emphasis areas, this program can also prepare students for roles as audio engineers, energy engineers, sustainability engineers, user experience engineers, and industrial design engineers.

Student Learning Outcomes

Student learning outcomes are aligned with the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC).  We anticipate that all emphases will be accredited under the EAC under the “General Engineering” program criteria.  Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) for this degree program are: 

  1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
  2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
  3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
  4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
  5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
  6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
  7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Major Requirements

  • This major requires 92-99 units distributed as follows:

    • Core Requirements: 38-39 units
    • Emphasis or additional advisor approved coursework: 54-60 units
      • Additional advisor approved coursework: 60 units
      • Audio Engineering Emphasis: 54 units
      • Engineering Design Emphasis: 57 units
      • Energy Engineering Emphasis: 57 units
      • Sustainable Engineering Emphasis: 58 units
      • User Experience Engineering Emphasis: 56 units


    Take the following 92 - 99 units:

    Core Requirements (38 - 39 units):


    Students are encouraged to complete one of the emphasis areas below; however, no emphasis is required to complete the Multidisciplinary Engineering degree.

    If electing not to complete an emphasis, complete the following advisor approved coursework (60 units): 
    • Additional CENE, CS, EE, ME or INF coursework (36 units) 
      • In consultation with your advisor, select either 18 units from two subject areas, or 12 units from three subject areas
    • MDE Technical electives (24 units): 
      • In consultation with your advisor, select additional 200-level or higher AST, BIO, CENE, CHM, CS, EE, GLG, GSP, INF, ITG, MAT, ME, PHY and STA (excluding STA 270) courses.  


  • Optional Emphasis Requirements 54 - 58 units:
    Select One:

  • Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.

    You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.

    We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.