Our Interdisciplinary Approach
At Butler, engineering is not just about mastering equations or running experiments—it is about cultivating a versatile mindset that integrates knowledge from multiple fields, embraces innovation, and considers the broader impact of engineering solutions on individuals, communities, and the world.
By integrating mechanical, chemical, and bioengineering within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS), we offer a technically rigorous education that extends beyond proficiency. Our competency-based model, grounded in Human-Centered Design (HCD), intentionally pairs deep disciplinary mastery of engineering topics with psychology, business, design, and the humanities.
Students will leverage a rich STEM ecosystem—sharing labs and expertise across physics, chemistry, biology, and the social sciences—while following a scaffolded human-centered, competency-based, and LAS-integrated curriculum (ENGR 133, 234, 333, 433, and 491). This immersive path transforms technical problems into human ones, cultivating the empathy, ethical reasoning, and adaptability necessary to create sustainable solutions with meaningful societal impact.
Skills and disposition development: Student road map to success in Engineering
Year 1: Foundational principles
- Introduction to engineering basics
- Connecting analytical tools to real-world applications
Year 2: Discipline-specific coursework
- Mechanics
- Thermodynamics
- Materials
- Chemical processes
- Bioengineering
Year 3: Domain integration
- Advanced modeling
- System-level design
- Interdisciplinary projects
Year 4 and Capstone: Synthesis and capstone
- Designing
- Prototyping
- Validating solutions for complex, open-ended problems
Interdisciplinary skill development
Human-centered, competency-based, and LAS-integrated courses
This framework reflects the intentional design of the Butler Engineering curriculum, where technical rigor and human-centered development progress in parallel across all four years. Students move from exposure to integration and leadership, culminating in a capstone experience that demonstrates not only disciplinary competence, but ethical responsibility, interdisciplinary synthesis, and meaningful societal impact.
Why: These are all about the “who.” They focus on empathy, understanding human needs, and considering the broader social and cultural impact of your work.
First Year: ENGR 133 Intro to Engineering
- Human-Centered Design: Design as a human-centered process
- Humanistic Perspective: Ethics, psychology, and communication
- Global and Community Engagement: Global and societal challenges
Sophomore: ENGR 234 Human-Centered Engineering
- Human-Centered Design: Core principles and structured challenges
- Humanistic Perspective: Engineering as societal challenge
- Global and Community Engagement: Stakeholder needs
Junior: ENGR 333 Community-Engaged Engineering
- Human-Centered Design: Community-engaged research and iteration
- Humanistic Perspective: LAS collaboration in design
- Global and Community Engagement: Service learning and global case studies
Senior: ENGR 433 Leadership & Global Impact
- Human-Centered Design: Societal and global innovation
- Humanistic Perspective: STEM–LAS synthesis in practice
- Global and Community Engagement: Sustainable and inclusive solutions
Capstone: Engineering Design I
- Human-Centered Design: Integrated design mastery
- Humanistic Perspective: Holistic, fully integrated outcomes
- Global and Community Engagement: Measurable societal impact
Why: These represent the “logic” of a project. They involve gathering data, analyzing constraints, and making informed choices based on facts and financial viability.
First Year: ENGR 133 Intro to Engineering
- Research and Evidence: Information literacy and evaluation
- Business, Economics, and Decision-making: Cost, value, and market awareness
Sophomore: ENGR 234 Human-Centered Engineering
- Research and Evidence: Data collection and analysis
- Business, Economics, and Decision-making: Engineering economics principles
Junior: ENGR 333 Community-Engaged Engineering
- Research and Evidence: User studies and evidence-based design
- Business, Economics, and Decision-making: Decision tools and cost analysis
Senior: ENGR 433 Leadership & Global Impact
- Research and Evidence: Impact assessment and research direction
- Business, Economics, and Decision-making: Financial modeling: entrepreneurship
Capstone: ENGR 491 Engineering Design I
- Research and Evidence: Validated testing and performance analysis
- Business, Economics, and Decision-making: Economic feasibility and value justification
Why: This is the “how” of working together. One is how you function within a group; the other is how you convey that group’s value and ideas to others.
First Year: ENGR 133 Intro to Engineering
- Teamwork and Collaboration: Roles, trust, and shared responsibility
- Communication and Storytelling: Technical writing and presentations
Sophomore: ENGR 234 Human-Centered Engineering
- Teamwork and Collaboration: Collaborative problem-solving
- Communication and Storytelling: Structured reports, visual communication
Junior: ENGR 333 Community-Engaged Engineering
- Teamwork and Collaboration: Interdisciplinary team dynamics
- Communication and Storytelling: Stakeholder communication and feedback
Senior: ENGR 433 Leadership & Global Impact
- Teamwork and Collaboration: Multidisciplinary team guidance
- Communication and Storytelling: Persuasive public communication
Capstone: ENGR 491 Engineering Design I
- Teamwork and Collaboration: Professional project coordination
- Communication and Storytelling: Comprehensive documentation and formal presentation
Why: These focus on the “self.” They cover your personal standards, your professional “brand,” and the moral compass that guides your career.
First Year: ENGR 133 Intro to Engineering
- Ethics and Responsibility: Professional standards and codes
- Career Identity and Professional Disposition: Engineering pathways and identity
Sophomore: ENGR 234 Human-Centered Engineering
- Ethics and Responsibility: Case-based ethical reasoning
- Career Identity and Professional Disposition: Goal setting and reflective growth
Junior: ENGR 333 Community-Engaged Engineering
- Ethics and Responsibility: Ethics in community and real-world contexts
- Career Identity and Professional Disposition: Professional planning and networking
Senior: ENGR 433 Leadership & Global Impact
- Ethics and Responsibility: Global and systemic responsibility
- Career Identity and Professional Disposition: Entrepreneurial mindset and influence
Capstone: ENGR 491 Engineering Design I
- Ethics and Responsibility: Ethical justification of decisions
- Career Identity and Professional Disposition: Professional readiness and identity