Major Design Capstone Projects: A Multidisciplinary Teaching and Learning Approach

Before 2020, Major Design Capstone Project (MDCP) courses in Mechanical Engineering and in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering departments involved teams of students engaged in capstone projects, which often required expertise beyond the scope of their disciplinary training. With the new robotic program, the purpose of the new multidisciplinary MDCP courses is to develop a unified framework that enables mechanical, electrical, computer and robotic engineering students to effectively work together by combining the disciplinary expertise required to achieve their projects. The multidisciplinary MDCP framework involves an open call for project ideas, multidisciplinary assessments by groups of students, three courses over the last three semesters of their undergraduate curricula, multidisciplinary team teaching, and skill-based evaluations. The resulting capstone projects improve in quality, efficiency, and complexity. Having the opportunity to combine their expertise with other engineering fields creates a real teamwork learning experience that enhances students preparation for their future professional practice.