The first of its kind, the interdisciplinary engineering program has transitioned into the Department of Multidisciplinary Engineering (MTDE). In this individualized approach to education, students work closely with MTDE staff and faculty to create degrees that align with their interests. By educating engineering students in an array of disciplines, MTDE students are able to overcome problems in innovative ways and lead engineering into the future.
After hearing about the department through an engineering seminar, Susan McCartt jumped at the opportunity.
“An engineer is comfortable taking risks, thinking outside the box, and choosing their own path. This is the kind of engineer I want to be,” said McCartt. “By choosing interdisciplinary engineering, you are taking a risk. You could do a program that has already been thought of, but instead, you choose to create a program geared towards questions that don’t have answers.”
From Austin, Texas, and part of the graduating class of ’22, McCartt enjoys the flexibility and range of courses that are available. In MTDE, every student has the ability to choose classes that are tailored to their wants or choose a pre-approved track that is equally diverse.
“I am able to take classes that I am passionate about and have a deep interest in rather than getting a degree as a means to an end,” said McCartt. “Because of my unique course load, I inherently have different ideas for ways problems can be solved.”
The mix of engineering courses is not the limit of MTDE. Students are also able to take courses in disciplines outside engineering such as education or architecture to develop a personalized set of skills.
“The ability to integrate non-engineering courses into a degree plan builds on the concept that MTDE students are able to apply an engineer’s problem-solving ability to a number of projects that expand across the professional workforce,” said McCartt. “There is absolutely no limit to what an MTDE student can achieve.
McCartt plans on entering industry after graduation in design engineering, research and development, or a consulting field. She believes that because her degree plan was tailored to her, she will be successful in whatever she chooses. She is frequently in close-communication with advisors and professors to make sure she is taking steps to reach her long-term goals.
“MTDE students are able to think deeply about the values they hold for themselves, their degree, and their profession,” said McCartt. “This approach requires a lot of collaboration between students and MTDE staff, but MTDE students leave Texas A&M with an in-depth understanding of how far their degree can and will take them.”