
Engineering Design Graduate Curriculum
Engineering design courses are aligned with four primary focus areas—product engineering design, human-centered computing, humanitarian engineering, and systems design.
Prescribed Courses
All candidates for both the master of science (M.S.) and the master of engineering (M.Eng.) degrees must take 8 credits as follows: EDSGN 581, EDSGN 582, EDSGN 585, and EDSGN 590. Master of science degree candidates must also take 6 credits of thesis—EDSGN 600/610.
EDSGN 581: Design Studio I (3 credits) - Cross-disciplinary teams learn in a studio environment to consider broad aspects and context in their engineering design activities.
EDSGN 582: Design Studio II (3 credits) - Cross-disciplinary teams in an engineering design studio environment with project emphasis on technical and analytical depth. Prerequisite: EDSGN 581
EDSGN 585: Design Portfolio (1 credit) - Preparation of a portfolio summarizing the student's experience with engineering design research and practice. Prerequisite or concurrent: EDSGN 582
EDSGN 590: Colloquium (1 - 3 credits)
EDSGN 600: Thesis Research (1 - 15 credits) / EDSGN 610 Thesis Research Off Campus (1 - 15 credits)
M.Eng. Course Offerings
A minimum of 18 credits must be in the 500 series.
12 credits in EDSGN (Choose at least 4 courses)
Fall Semester | Spring Semester | Summer Semester |
---|---|---|
IE/EDSGN 479: Human-Centered Product Design and Innovation (3 credits) | EDSGN 497: Additive Manufacturing (3 credits) | |
EDSGN 547: Human Variability (3 credits) | EDSGN 548: Interaction Design (3 credits) | |
EDSGN 558: Systems Design (3 credits) | ||
EDSGN 561: Data Mining (3 credits) |
11 credits (Required courses)
Fall Semester | Spring Semester | Summer Semester |
---|---|---|
EDSGN 581: Studio I (3 credits) | EDSGN 582: Studio II (3 credits) | EDSGN 595/596: Independent Study/Internship (3 credits) |
EDSGN 590: Colloquium (1 credit) | EDSGN 585: Portfolio (1 credit) | EDSGN 585: Portfolio (1 credit) |
9 credits (elective courses)
M.S. Course Offerings*
12 credits in EDSGN (Choose at least 4 courses)
Fall Semester 1 | Spring Semester 1 | Summer Semester |
---|---|---|
IE/EDSGN 479: Human-Centered Product and Innovation (3 credits) | EDSGN 497: Additive Manufacturing | |
EDSGN 547: Human Variability (3 credits) | EDSGN 548: Interaction Design | |
EDSGN 558: Systems Design | ||
EDSGN 561: Data Mining |
Fall Semester 2 | Spring Semester 2 |
---|---|
EDSGN 497: Additive Manufacturing (3 credits) | EDSGN 548: Interaction Design (3 credits) |
EDSGN 547: Human Variability (3 credits) | EDSGN 558: Systems Design (3 credits) |
EDSGN 549: Decision-Making (3 credits) | EDSGN 561: Data Mining (3 credits) |
14 credits (Required courses)
Fall Semester 1 | Spring Semester 1 |
---|---|
EDSGN 581: Studio I (3 credits) | EDSGN 582: Studio II (3 credits) |
EDSGN 590: Colloquium (1 credit) |
Fall Semester 2 | Spring Semester 2 |
---|---|
EDSGN 600: Thesis Research (3 credits) | EDSGN 600: Thesis Research (3 credits) |
EDSGN 585: Portfolio |
*Research completed throughout the program.
6 credits (elective courses)
Elective Courses
Penn State's online Graduate Programs Bulletin provides a full list of current graduate engineering design courses.
IE 418 - Human/Computer Interface Design (3)
Design and evaluation of the human/computer interface, including human performance, visual displays, software design, and automated system monitoring.
IE 460 - Service Systems Engineering (3)
Use of quantitative models and methods for analysis, design, and control of service systems.
IE 470 - Manufacturing System Design and Analysis (3)
Contemporary design and analysis methodologies used to organize systems for the economic manufacture of products.
IE 520 - Multiple Criteria Optimization (3)
Study of concepts and methods in the analysis of systems involving multiple objectives with applications to engineering, economic, and environmental systems.
IE 557 - Human-in-the-Loop Simulation (3)
This course is aimed at understanding how theoretical data mining/machine learning algorithms can be employed to solve large scale, complex design problems.
IE 563 - Computer-Aided Design for Manufacturing (3)
Study of CAD systems and concepts including 3D wireframe and solid modeling systems, emphasizing manufacturing applications.
ME 561 - Structural Optimization Using Variational & Numerical Methods (3)
Shape and size optimization of elastic structures, continuous and discrete solution methods and numerical algorithms, design of compliant mechanisms.
ME 565 - Optimal Design of Mechanical and Structural Systems (3)
Shape and size optimization of elastic structures, continuous and discrete solution methods and numerical algorithms, design of compliant mechanisms.
MANGT 510 - Project Management (3)
A problem-based, interdisciplinary course in project management skills and techniques needed to manage projects in a modern business environment.
SYSEN 550 - Creativity and Problem Solving I (3)
Foundations of individual problem solving, including creativity, cognitive style and level, problem-solving processes and techniques, and the paradox of structure.
SYSEN 555 - Invention and Creative Design (3)
This course focuses on the creative design process, which leads to the development of new products, processes, and systems (i.e., invention).



- Contact
- Nicholas Meisel
Associate Director of Engineering Design Graduate Programs and Associate Professor of Engineering Design
323 Engineering Design and Innovation Building
nam20@psu.edu
814-865-3163