Human-Centered Engineering Design Major Map
Get started thinking about the future now.
Use this major map to explore possibilities and plan for success in five overlapping areas of career and academics.
Choose your year below, then see what you can do when you:
- Learn. Develop the knowledge and skills to complete your major.
- Engage. Contribute to the campus and the community.
- Network. Build a foundation of professional connections.
- Transform. Make a positive impact in a diverse world.
- Prepare. Plan for life after graduation.
The map just offers suggestions - you don't have to do it all.
Learn: What foundational courses should I be taking?
- HCED 220
- ENGR 360
- HCED 370
- HCED 380
- IMSE 382
- IMSE 421
- IMSE 4425
- HCED 450
- HCED 4951
- HCED 4952
- ART 202
- ART 210
- ART 410
- 19 credit hours of concentration technical and free elective courses
Engage: What kinds of activities & organizations can I explore?
- Join Talent Gateway - UM-Dearborn’s unique online community
- Check out all the opportunities offered by the Office of Student Life
- Participate in First Year Programs, offered through the Office of Student Life
Network: What are the ways to learn about important topics in my field?
- Visit Mardigian Library to explore endless resources and librarian support
- Attend research talks at UM-Ann Arbor, Wayne State, or Oakland University
- Attend department colloquium and other research talks on campus
Transform: How do I learn more about the challenges/strengths of my community?
- Attend a local meeting of your community board
- Donate to the Student Food Pantry
- Explore the Environmental Interpretive Center and sign up for one of their community or university activities.
Prepare: How do I prepare to enter into a career with my major?
- Start building your CV - your academic resume
- Explore career options in your field to learn about requirements and expectations
- Visit the Office of Career Services or attend one of their career fairs
Learn: How do I build on foundational courses?
- The required program courses will enable the students to research, identify, document and translate user requirements and needs, generate functional, innovative, sustainable, economic and aesthetic ideas, and finally implement the idea using theoretical, technological design knowledge, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Engage: What activities & organizations will help me develop professional skills?
- Sign up for MLK Day of Service or Alternative Spring Break
- Join American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers, Human Factors & Ergonomics Society, Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers, Association of Computing Machinery, or Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society
Network: How do I connect with faculty & students with similar interests?
- Visit your professor’s office hours to introduce yourself
- Submit one of your best papers or projects to the Meeting of Minds Undergraduate Conference
- Join a professional organization related to your major
Transform: How do I learn about the challenges/ strengths of the metro Detroit area?
- Take a course at the University of Michigan Detroit Center
- Volunteer for a campus or community organization
- Become a Diversity Ambassador or participate in a Conversation on Race
Prepare: What resources are available on campus to help me develop the professional skills I will need?
- Meet with your professors to discuss your skills and possible career options
- Find out about co-ops and internships at and whether your job qualifies for credit
- Visit the Success@Dearborn webpage to view a collection of all the student success resources available to you
Learn: How do I gain expertise in my major?
- The hands on project based program trains engineering students to design and build effective solutions to meet societal needs. One design studio class per semester will present each cohort of students with real-life community or industry problems, will challenge them to create innovative solutions working in a team environment and will help them build their design portfolio
Engage: How can I grow as a leader on campus?
- Consider running for Student Government or a leadership position in a campus organization
- Check out the options through the Office of Student Life for Leadership Development
- Work in an office on campus
Network: How can I broaden my professional relationships?
- Submit your best paper or research to an undergraduate student journal
- Contact the Office of Alumni Engagement about connecting with a mentor in your field
- Establish a LinkedIn profile to connect with UM-Dearborn alumni or to join industry-related LinkedIn Groups that hire students.
Transform: How can I prepare to effectively solve local & global challenges?
- Register for a study abroad program
- Use Mardigian Library resources to learn more about real world problems and solutions
- Visit the Office of International Affairs to learn about multi-cultural events on campus
- Participate in field visits organized as part of the studio classes
Prepare: What practical things should I do to further my career options?
- Schedule a visit to the Office of Career Services
- Work a (paid) internship or co-op into your schedule to gain professional experience.
- Assess what experiences you are lacking for current job postings and fill in those gaps before graduation.
Learn: How do I finish strong?
- The program offers different design concentrations; hence forming design groups with multidisciplinary backgrounds will help exposing the students to real life work conditions and build strong teamwork skills. Being part of skill diverse teams is the key be a better designer
Engage: How can I mentor others to be leaders on campus?
- Become a peer tutor in a campus learning center
- Create a new club or student organization
- Check out the Success@Dearborn webpage for all of the mentoring opportunities available on campus.
Network: How can I demonstrate my readiness for the next steps?
- Do targeted networking with alumni working in careers of interest and ask questions about job opportunities and the interview process
- Request letters of recommendation from faculty who know your work
- Make sure your applications for graduate or professional schools are complete with a writing sample and personal essay
Transform: How can I add to the strengths of my community, region, & world?
- Contribute to global learning initiatives on campus
- Add a minor or certificate program to your degree
- Consider spending summer volunteering with government agency or non-profit
Prepare: How do I make the best use of university resources to launch my professional next steps?
- Apply to jobs or future education, or make plans for other adventures
- Visit Career Services for advice with job searching and interviewing, resumes, and graduate school applications
- Register for postgraduate entrance exams if you plan on graduate school
Human-Centered Engineering Designers work for a variety of engineering industries, including:
- Automotive
- Aerospace
- High-tech
- Semiconductor
- Medical devices
- Information technology
Software development Human-Centered Engineering Designers can also work in the defense and high-profile companies, such as:
- Ford
- GM
- Toyota
- Tesla
- Chrysler
- Apple
- Bosch
- Denso international
- IMB
- Cisco
- General Electric
- US Department of Defence
- US Department of Energy
Use the map on the interior portion of this brochure to review possibilities and plan for success in the five areas listed - Learn, Engage, Network, Transform, Prepare. The map gives options so you can select what best matches your interests and goals. Start thinking about your future now and build a path throughout your UM-Dearborn career that will prepare you for success.
College is a time for discovering your passions — figuring out who you are and what drives you. UM-Dearborn offers more than 100 majors and minors, so you can find a program that is right for you. We are committed to cultivating a campus community that acknowledges our similarities and celebrates our differences. On campus you’ll find a range of support services and offices that provide the programs you need to be successful both academically and personally