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This archived information is dated to the 2009-10 academic year only and may no longer be current.

For currently applicable policies and information, see the current Stanford Bulletin.

Product Design (PD)

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Undergraduate Programs in the School of Engineering

Completion of the undergraduate program in Product Design leads to the conferral of the Bachelor of Science in Engineering. The subplan "Product Design" appears on the transcript and on the diploma.

Mission of the Undergraduate Program in Product Design

The mission of the undergraduate program in Product Design is to graduate designers who can synthesize technology and aesthetics in the service of human need. The program teaches a design process that encourages creativity, craftsmanship, and personal expression, and emphasizes brainstorming and need finding. Students studying product design follow the basic mechanical engineering curriculum and are expected to meet the University requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree. The program emphasis is placed on conceptual thinking, creativity, risk taking, and aesthetics. Students are taught to use design processes to resolve constraints arising from technical, human, aesthetic, and business concerns. The course work provides students with the skills necessary to carry projects from initial concept to completion of working prototypes. The program prepares students for careers in industry and for graduate study.

Requirements

Mathematics (20 units minimum):

Recommended: one course in Statistics

Science (22 units minimum):

15 units must be from School of Engineering approved list1

One year of PHYSICS 40 series (required)

Behavioral Science1 (8 units minimum):

PSYCH 1. Introduction to Psychology (required)

5

PSYCH elective from courses numbered 20-952

3-5

Mathematics and Science (maximum combined total of 45 units)

Technology in Society (one course):

ME 120. History of Philosophy of Design (required)

3-4

Engineering Fundamentals (three courses minimum):

13-15

ENGR 40 (required), 70A (required), plus one course from

ENGR 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 50 or 50M, 60, 62

Product Design Engineering Depth (48 units minimum):

ARTSTUDI 60. Design I: Fundamental Visual Language

3

ARTSTUDI 160. Design II: The Bridge

3

One additional Art Studio course (ARTSTUDI 70 recommended)

3

ENGR 14. Applied Mechanics

3

ENGR 102M. Technical/Professional Writing for ME Majors3

1

ME 80. Strength of Materials

4

ME 101. Visual Thinking

3

ME 103D. Engineering Drawing

1

ME 110A. Design Sketching

1

ME 112. Mechanical Systems

4

ME 115A. Human Values in Design2

3

ME 115B. Introduction to Design Methods2

3

ME 115C. Design and Business Factors2

3

ME 116. Advanced Product Design: Formgiving

4

ME 203. Manufacturing and Design3

4

ME 216A. Advanced Product Design: Needfinding

4

ME 216B. Advanced Product Design: Implementation

4

These requirements are subject to change. The final requirements are published with sample programs in the Handbook for Undergraduate Engineering Programs.

1 School of Engineering approved science list available at http://ughb.stanford.edu.

2 One quarter abroad may substitute for one of the ME 115-series classes.

3 Must be taken concurrently to fulfill the Writing in the Major requirement.

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