The engineering concepts minor was created by the Department of Multidisciplinary Engineering at Texas A&M University to highlight the overlap between engineering and other disciplines. Its goal is to help expand the rate of innovation and technology by equipping those who work alongside engineers with knowledge about fundamental engineering concepts and principles.
Cameron Brown is an aspiring business management major in the Mays Business School. After reading about the engineering concepts minor, he felt it was the perfect opportunity to combine his interests.
“I was torn between doing a business or engineering degree,” Brown said. “I feel the engineering concepts minor will give me the ability to work on the business side of an oil and gas company.”
This unique minor is open to undergraduate students outside of the College of Engineering. Students will learn the general engineering design process throughout the program and the differences between different engineering fields. Students will also use basic quantitative methods, which are commonly used in engineering, to develop a deeper understanding of how engineers solve issues.
“I felt like it would help me understand engineers more than the average business major and will help me think in a different way,” said Brown. “It's been great learning about how engineers think, what problems and possible solutions engineers generally experience, and it will certainly give me an edge in the competitive job market.”
Working collaboratively with engineers, the minor highlights that many real-world problems can only be solved by transcending the boundaries of a single discipline. Together, graduates of Texas A&M, engineers and nonengineers, will be ready to positively impact society.