About Capstone

"Engineering design is the process of devising a system, component, or process to meet desired needs. It is a decision-making process (often iterative), in which the basic sciences, mathematics, and the engineering sciences are applied to convert resources optimally to meet these stated needs.” This definition should form the basis for evaluation of the design-related provisions of the Engineering Program Criteria.

The engineering design process typically includes both analysis and synthesis. Analysis involves the application of engineering tools and principles to predict the performance of a system, component, or process. Synthesis involves the creation of a new system, component or process to meet desired needs. Analysis without synthesis is not engineering design. Normally, analysis and synthesis are performed in an iterative cycle. Thus, students should experience some iterative design in the curriculum.

As part of their design experience, students should have an opportunity to define a problem determine the problem scope To list design objectives. Engineering design problems are generally open-ended. They have no single correct answer, rather a range of possible solutions. Engineering design is increasingly interdisciplinary, and requires students to function on multidisciplinary teams. For engineering design project, a team consisting of representatives from the established sub-disciplines of engineering program. The program must also demonstrate students have adequate exposure to design, as defined, in engineering contexts.

Engineering standards and realistic constraints are critical in engineering design. The program must clearly demonstrate where standards and constraints are taught and how they are integrated into the design component of the curriculum. Constraints are economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability considerations.