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Minor in Multidisciplinary Design

The MD Minor provides a cohesive package that sets you apart from other students and demonstrates your relevance to the world. The MD Minor is highly individualized. It’s customized to support you as you develop your skills on a project that you care about passionately.The Multidisciplinary Design Minor is currently available to students in Engineering, Business, Art & Design, Architecture, and Literature, Science & the Arts.  The MD Minor incorporates practical teamwork skills with classroom learning, culminating in an intensive, hands-on, multi-term design project.

Requirements to Declare the MD Minor

  • Be in good academic standing (2.0 or above, in both term and cumulative GPAs)
  • Be declared into a major or concentration, as determined by your School or College

Program Requirements (15 total credit hours)

  • 2 Complete Design Cycle experiences (one short, one multi-term)
  • +1 Cornerstone course
  • +1 Mentor/Leadership experience
  • All courses/credits must be earned at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor; no transfer credit can be applied to the MD Minor. All courses/credits must be taken for a grade, except for Engr 456 Mentorship/Leadership.

Introductory Design, Build, Test Experience

  • At least 2 credit hours
  • Must include a complete Design Cycle (Design, Build, Test and Review)
  • Some common courses used to fulfill this requirement include, but are not limited to:
  • - Engineering 100 Sections labeled “Design Build Test (DBT)”
  • - ENGR 255
  • - ME 250
  • - ME 350
  • - NAME 270

Cornerstone Course

  • A 3-4 credit course, not already required by your major
  • Must be completed prior to the last term of your Multi-Term Project
  • Broadens or advances your contribution to the project beyond the scope of your major, or:
  • Complements or enhances your role on your project team
  • Identify options based on your work or role on your project; review them with the MDP Student Program Manager for final approval

Multi-term Project

  • At least 7 credits, which must be spread over more than one semester
  • The project team must include and utilize skills from at least three different disciplines.
  • Identify your project from a variety of sources:, student organizations, MDP Partnered Projects, extended class projects, or even student-led inventions (see additional descriptions below)
  • Must include a complete Design Cycle (Design, Build, Test and Review)
    • - A formal Design Review completed during the Multi-Term Project
    • - A final report including a 2-page executive summary submitted to complete the minor
  • Courses used to fulfill this requirement include, but are not limited to:
    • - Engr 355, 450, and 455
    • - Art&Design 300, 350, 416
    • - DesSci 501
    • - OMS 548

There are several ways you can connect with a multi-term project:

Partnered Projects
Use your classroom knowledge to solve real problems for real clients. Exciting design projects are developed each year with partners from industry and the University.  Small teams of students work directly with a Faculty Mentor and Industry Partner for two consecutive semesters.   Professional practice, hands-on application, and collaboration with faculty and industry make this a one-of-a-kind learning experience.  New projects are introduced in the fall at the MDP Project Fair.

Student Organizations
Convert your learning experience on an existing project team into academic credit. Student-run teams of all sizes work on design projects throughout the year. Connect with a team that matches your academic interests, or venture outside your major and apply your skills in a broader context. Student teams compete on national and international levels, serve under-resourced communities here and abroad, and develop new technologies and products with an entrepreneurial mindset.  Explore your options here.

Course Extensions (Academic Course + ENGR 455)
Continue your work on a project that was begun in another course (e.g., senior design, OMS, Advanced Studio courses). Combine that first course with Engr 455 to complete the remaining credits for your MD Minor.

Student Initiated Projects
Form a team to work on a project of your own design or initiative.  Connect with a faculty member to mentor your team over multiple terms. You must have a faculty advisor in order to earn credit for your project work.  This option is particularly useful for students who are ready to take their entrepreneurial inspirations to the next phase of design.

Peer Mentorship / Leadership (ENGR 456)

  • - At least 2 credit hours, completed over one or two semesters
  • - Transfer your design skills and knowledge to students in an organized setting
  • - Options include your own project team, a student organization, or a K-12 setting
  • - Taken Pass/Fail

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