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Studies & Degrees in Engineering Interdisciplinary Studies

Engineering interdisciplinary studies are engineering programmes that are not tied to a single branch such as civil, mechanical or electrical engineering. Students follow a common base of mathematics, science and engineering design, and then combine subjects from several branches, often with courses in business, computing or the social sciences.

Universities use different names for this kind of programme: general engineering, engineering science, integrated engineering or interdisciplinary engineering. The United States classification of study programmes (CIP) describes general engineering as a programme that prepares students to apply mathematical and scientific principles to a wide variety of practical problems in industry, social organisation, public works and commerce. It also covers undifferentiated and individualised engineering programmes.

What students learn

The content depends on the university, but accredited programmes share a common core. ABET, the body that accredits engineering programmes in the United States, sets the same general requirements for every bachelor's programme in engineering:

  • At least 30 semester credit hours of college-level mathematics and basic sciences
  • At least 45 semester credit hours of engineering topics, including engineering design and computer sciences
  • A broad education component that complements the technical content
  • A final major engineering design project

Around this core, an interdisciplinary programme lets students choose a focus or build an individual plan of study. Arizona State University is one example. Its Polytechnic School offers a bachelor's degree called Engineering, BSE. Students may enter the general engineering programme and must declare a concentration before the end of the fourth term. The concentrations are automotive systems, clean energy systems, electrical systems, mechanical engineering systems and robotics. The school describes the degree as an integrated multi-disciplinary engineering education.

Many programmes of this type also include subjects from outside engineering, such as project management, economics, accounting or intellectual property law. These help graduates who move into management or start a company.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree. This is the usual entry qualification for engineers. In the United States the degree is typically a Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE). In Spain, an official bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits, at 60 credits per academic year.
  • Open first years in Spain. Spanish universities may offer bachelor's programmes with an open academic pathway. Students take subjects from two or more official degrees in the same or related fields during the first two years, and then continue in one of them.
  • Master's degree. An official master's degree in Spain has 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. Some universities in the United States combine both levels: at Arizona State University, selected students in certain concentrations can obtain a bachelor's and a master's degree within five years.

Accreditation deserves attention. ABET accredits individual programmes, not universities, and states that its accreditation is not a ranking. Accreditation is voluntary in the United States. The specific criteria that apply to a programme depend on the technical specialties named in its title, so a general or interdisciplinary programme is assessed mainly against the general criteria. Students who want to work as licensed engineers should ask the university which accreditation the programme holds.

Where to study it

General and interdisciplinary engineering degrees are most common in the United States, where they are taught in English. SpainExchange currently lists one school under this subject, in the United States: the American English and Culture Program of Arizona State University in Tempe. This is the university's English language unit, now called Global Launch. Its ASU-USA Pathways programme is designed for international students who need to improve their English or academic readiness before they begin an undergraduate degree. The degree tracks linked to the programme include Engineering, BSE and Engineering Science, BS.

Programme titles vary widely, so it is useful to compare the list of subjects, the number of free electives and the point at which a concentration must be chosen.

Careers

Graduates work as engineers in multidisciplinary teams, in project management, technical sales, consulting and product development. Some continue with a specialised master's degree.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment in architecture and engineering occupations is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations from 2025 to 2035, with about 174,800 openings each year. BLS data for 2023 show that general engineering accounts for 13% of people with an engineering degree. Of all engineering graduates, 29% work in architecture and engineering occupations, 19% in management and 16% in computer and mathematical occupations, and 42% hold an advanced degree.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between interdisciplinary engineering and a traditional engineering degree?

A traditional degree covers one branch in depth, such as civil or electrical engineering. An interdisciplinary or general engineering degree keeps a common core of mathematics, science and design, and lets students combine subjects from several branches or choose a concentration later.

Is an interdisciplinary engineering degree accredited?

It depends on the programme. In the United States, ABET accredits individual programmes and accreditation is voluntary, so each programme has to be checked separately.

How long does the degree take in Spain?

An official bachelor's degree in Spain has 240 ECTS credits, at 60 credits per academic year. An official master's degree adds 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.

Can international students prepare for an engineering degree in English?

Yes. At Arizona State University, the ASU-USA Pathways programme of Global Launch is designed for international students who need to improve their English before starting an undergraduate degree, and its degree tracks include engineering programmes.