Building a Foundation for Multidisciplinary Design Using Case Studies

Abstract

The explosion of technological complexity has intensified the struggle between depth and breadth in engineering programs. It is difficult for graduating students to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams. Although multidisciplinary projects and courses can address this, a strong foundation of communication and non-technical skills is also required. Case studies are proposed to help develop these skills within disciplinary courses. A novel approach to the development of diverse case studies based primarily on student work term experience is presented. These cases are very motivating and have proven to be an effective and engaging application of course material.