Humanitarian Engineering

The Multidisciplinary Engineering (MDE) concentration of Humanitarian Engineering produces engineers who focus the skill and capabilities of engineering theory and practice toward aiding the greater good of humanity. Humanitarian engineers offer stakeholder-centric solutions to medical and disaster relief, global outreach, human displacement, human safety, food security, cultural awareness/sensitivity, and economic development. View this MDE concentration's plan of study.

Potential Industries: Nonprofit sector, faith-based charities, NGO’s (i.e. global aid/global health), international development as well as state, federal and international government agencies.

Potential Work: Leading research and data analysis in problem topics to develop novel approaches to reduce risk and improve outcomes; developing and designing improved water and sanitation systems; project and supply chain management around aid distribution, supply route repair. The focus of work will always engage a range of stakeholders with many competing interests ranging from time to monetary, religious, geopolitical, raw material and sustainability constraints.

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Highlights

Student and Alumni Stories

Student Highlight: Spring '21 Senior Ashley Foltz, Humanitarian Engineer in the Multidisciplinary Engineering Degree Program

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Interdisciplinary Engineering 2017 Colloquium

On November 9, 2017, Purdue University College of Engineering faculty panelists discussed the nature of humanitarian engineering across engineering design initiatives, emerging economies, and as global competencies and challenges at the 2017 Interdisciplinary Engineering Colloquium.

Watch the Introduction to our 2017 Colloquium:

Part II discusses the need and growth of Humanitarian Engineering (highlights Angela Collins, MDE Alumna '18)

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^{Last Updated: April 29, 2025}