Multidisciplinary Engineering

MDESS Student Society
2300+ Alumni Since 1969
8% Underrepresented Minorities

Our Program

Multidisciplinary Engineering (MDE) is an intersectional field, bringing together engineering and other areas of study, or combining multiple areas of engineering in a unique way that are currently not being served by a traditional field of engineering.

MDE is a first-choice destination for those whose interests and abilities lie across academic disciplines, and for whom the practice of engineering revolves around a focused concentration that integrates engineering and non-engineering knowledge. The program offers considerable flexibility and permits students to develop their own individual plan of study or choose from nine (9) established plans of study that combine several academic disciplines around a focused concentration.

Our alumni have gone on to accomplish incredible things, and our students are top notch. MDE is home to a Marshall Scholar recipient and Purdue's second ever Harry S. Truman Scholar! Learn more about the wide variety of scholarships available to our talented students.

Accredited through ABET

The Bachelor of Science (BS) program in Multidisciplinary Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission’s General Criteria with no applicable program criteria. ABET accreditation assures confidence that a collegiate program has met standards essential to prepare graduates to enter critical STEM fields in the global workforce. Entry into some military jobs, engineering roles or career pathways, may require that you graduate from an ABET-accredited program. Learn more about why ABET accreditation matters.

Read about the program's mission, vision and goals, educational objectives, and outcomes.

Multidisciplinary Engineering Concentrations

Acoustical Engineering
Engineering Management
General Engineering
Humanitarian Engineering
Educational Engineering
Lighting Engineering
Nano Engineering
Theatre Engineering*
Visual Design Engineering

Salaries* & Placement

Average Starting $70,000
Max Starting $129,000
Placement 96%
In Industry 85%
In Graduate School 11%

Diversity of Employers**

Acentech Agile Space Industries
Amazon Arup
Ball Aerospace Belcan Global Engineering
Black & Veach Bose
CISCO Systems Design Collaborative
Disney EPIC
Ford Ford AV
Gaylor Electric General Motors
Honeywell Intelligrated Image Engineering
IMEG Corporation John Deere
Klipsch Louis Vuitton
McLaren Engr Molex
Naval Nuclear Laboratory PwC
Ralph Lauren Roush Entertainment
SpaceX Thinkwell Group
Ultrasafe Nuclear Corp Tech Viatrix

Internships/Co-op Companies

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

*In 2022, more than 97% of recent grads who responded to the survey had secured professional opportunities (e.g., employment or graduate school), and those who were employed increased their average salary by more than 9.5% from 2021. Source
**Based on 2022-2023 placements.

MDE students are in demand by employers

Multidisciplinary Engineering students are recruited by all types of companies including large/small, public/private, not-for-profit, traditional/established, and startups just emerging onto the scene.

Companies want to hire our students because they've onboarded MDE students in past years and are coming back for more, or they are looking for that special candidate with a broad and flexible mindset toward engineering (e.g. general, visual design) or a very specific and refined skill set within a novel area of engineering (e.g. acoustical, theatre).

Explore careers & personal pathways.

Program Policies

If no differentiation in degree program is highlighted between the Multidisciplinary Engineering (MDE) and Interdisciplinary Engineering Studies (IDES) programs, the policy applies to both programs. If questions remain, schedule an appointment with the program's academic advisor to develop a plan forward.

Reis Lehman
Why Visual Design Engineering?

Issy Block
Why Theatre Engineering?

Rebecca Dever
Why Humanitarian Engineering - It’s My Calling

Zach Herington
Looking back, why Engineering Management?

Gary Horlacher
Looking back, why Interdisciplinary Engineering?

Alex Offenbach
Chasing a Dream

Additional information about the undergraduate degree programs and opportunities in Engineering Education




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 MDE at Purdue's Office of Future Engineers.