BSE in Human-Centered Engineering Design

The human centered design approach is widely being adopted by different industries, including automotive, aerospace, healthcare, information technology, software, consumer electronics, e-commerce, and digital marketing and so on.

These industries are actively looking for design professionals with the technical background who can research, identify, translate and document user needs; generate creative product/process design ideas that address user requirements; and implement and evaluate the usability of products or services in a scientific way. Human Centered Engineering Design is an interdisciplinary and inclusive field of study that bridges human-centered design, engineering design, art design, social sciences and business principles.

The Bachelor of Science Engineering in Human-Centered Engineering Design (HCED) is offered by the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering to address a growing need of engineering designers serving human needs by applying design thinking processes to the whole product life cycle while considering user needs, technologies, and business factors. BSE in HCED is concerned with the interactive, iterative, and creative problem solving and/or product and system development by building empathy with the customer to better understand their needs.

The BSE in HCED is designed to

• Provide a strong academic foundation in the field of human-centered engineering design
• Provide innovative design skills and hands-on project-based learning experiences
• Challenge the student with real-life community or industry problems and hence create an innovative solution and build their portfolio

• Apply engineering design skills in mechanical engineering design, electrical and computer engineering design, software engineering, user experience (UX) design, systems design, or an individualized concentration
• Prepare students for career opportunities in human-centered engineering design and related fields.

Visit the University Catalog to learn more about required coursework for the Human Centered Engineering Design major.

There are opportunities to develop skills and connect with others interested in Human Centered Engineering Design beyond the classroom. Check out the Human Centered Engineering Design Major Map to get a more detailed, year-by-year view of how you can learn, engage, network, and transform your community and prepare for life after graduation.

Get Involved

Join a professional organization, such as the Society of Manufacturing Engineering (SME), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME),Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES), Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers (IISE), Association of Computing Machinery (ACM). Qualified students are invited to join the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. Explore UM-Dearborn student organizations on VictorsLink

Get Real-World Experience

Human Centered Engineering Design is a problem-based design program, where every year, each cohort of students will be presented with real-life community or industry problems and will be challenged to create solutions. Furthermore, internship, research, and study abroad opportunities are available for manufacturing engineering students. Talk with your professors to learn more.

Plan for Life After Graduation

Human Centered Engineering Designer works for a variety of engineering industries, including automotive, aerospace, semiconductor, medical devices, defense, software, website and phone application development, and product development...

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