Interdisciplinary Engineering Studies
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Multidisciplinary Engineering
Our Program
The Interdisciplinary Engineering Studies (IDES) program at Purdue University is for students for whom an engineering background will help them obtain professional goals in a broad range of areas, including but not limited to engineering. Coursework ranges from exploring general engineering interests to preparing for professional studies.
Students may choose to pursue a bachelor of science degree with one of two established concentrations. Both IDES options bring course flexibility to engineering-based plans of study. Our Engineering Science Studies concentration prepares you for a career that benefits from an engineering background, and our Pre-Medical Engineering Studies concentration prepares you to pursue advanced degrees such as medicine, law, or veterinary medicine.
We provide a nurturing environment, tailored engineering programs, and unique interdisciplinary experiences. You'll find a sense of community alongside your Multidisciplinary Engineering (MDE) counterparts with participation in the Multidisciplinary Engineering Student Society (MDESS) and the School of Engineering Education's Undergraduate Participation in Research in STEM Education (UpRise) program.
Learn more about our history, program data, scholarships, then find out how to change your degree and transfer into the program!
CAREER SNAPSHOT: Multidisciplinary Engineering and Interdisciplinary Engineering Studies
Salaries & Placement*
| Average Starting | $71,540 |
| Max Starting | $129,000 |
| Placement | 87.3% |
| In Industry | 80.2% |
| In Graduate School | 7.1% |
Employers**
| Acentech |
| Aerospace Corp |
| Agile Space Industries |
| Aisin, Seymour, IN |
| Aldrin Family Foundation |
| Amazon |
| American Structurepoint |
| Arup |
| Ball Aerospace |
| Belcan Global Engineering |
| Black & Veach |
| Bose |
| Bruns McDonnell |
| CISCO Systems |
| City engineer |
| Curtiss-Wright |
| Design Collaborative |
| Disney |
| Dometic |
| Drone Research |
| EPIC |
| Fisher-Price |
| Flexaseal |
| Ford |
| Ford AV |
| Gaylor Electric |
| General Motors |
| Graduate School |
| Granite Construction, Southern CA |
| Henkel Adhesive Technologies |
| Honeywell Intelligrated |
| IBM Infrastructure |
| Image Engineering |
| IMEG Corp |
| IMEG Corporation |
| John Deere |
| Klipsch |
| Los Alamos National Labs |
| Louis Vuitton |
| McLaren Engr |
| Medical school |
| Milwaukee Tool |
| Molex |
| Naval Nuclear Laboratory |
| OHM Advisors |
| Optum Technologies |
| Power Design |
| PwC |
| Ralph Lauren |
| RayzeBio, Indianapolis IN |
| Roush Entertainment |
| SMC Cor |
Internships/Co-op Positions**
| Aerotech |
| Amazon |
| Apple |
| Basin Electric Power Cooperative |
| Bose |
| Burns McDonnell |
| Butler America |
| Carrier |
| Columbia |
| Ethicon |
| Enesco |
| Ford |
| Genentech |
| General Electric |
| General Motors |
| Halliburton |
| Hasbro |
| John Deere |
| Klipsch |
| Kohl's |
| PNC |
| Ostergaard Acoustical Associates |
| Raytheon |
| Raw Science |
| Shure |
| The Palladium |
| The Walt Disney Company |
| United States Navy |
| Universal Destinations & Experiences |
| Valspar |
| Whirlpool |
*Numbers are self-report and collected up to one year after students' graduate. Numbers do not represent data from students who did not self-report. Last updated February 4, 2026
**Based on 2020-2025 placements
Could you be the elusive Purple Squirrel sought by today's employers?
The proud mascot of the Purdue School of Engineering Education's undergraduate programs is a Purple Squirrel, which exemplifies the rare and highly sought-after job candidate who perfectly matches a specific role’s requirements...possessing the ideal combination of skills, experience, and qualifications to hit the ground running with minimal training.
The term highlights the difficulty employers have in finding such candidates, implying these graduates are as elusive as a purple squirrel in nature.
Alumni Voices
Abhipri Mishra, '19, BS IDES-Pre-Medical Engineering Studies
Post-graduation, Alumnae Abhi Mishra attended the Indiana University School of Medicine, her first choice. She said, "My background in IDES brought in a unique perspective when discussing issues about healthcare quality and accessibility, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals." She was a recipient academic awards of excellence in her junior and senior years, and benefited from undergraduate research opportunities in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering.
Corey Jorman, '06, BS IDE-Pre-Professional Engineering Studies
A patent attorney who holds two bachelor’s degrees and a JD in intellectual property, Alumnus Corey Norman “harvests inventors,” meeting with leaders of cutting-edge companies around the world to evaluate their intellectual property for possible future use. Read more
Purdue engineers have an interest in changing the world, making an impact in their communities, and doing meaningful work. Strong leadership characteristics, ingenuity, adaptability, critical thinking, problem solving skills, and technical proficiency are among the main competencies that our students gain. Purdue engineering is dedicated to helping students attain the skills and attributes needed to succeed in this rapidly-changing global economy.
ENE Undergraduate Office
You can find the Advising Office and the "Nest" community space for students on the first floor of the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering (ARMS) building at the corner of Northwestern Ave. and W. Stadium Ave.
Address:
Purdue University School of Engineering Education
Undergraduate Programs
ARMS, Room 1337A
701 W Stadium Ave
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2035
Prospective students will find more information on IDES at Purdue's Office of Future Engineers.