Minor in Engineering Design
What if you could turn your ideas into something real?
If you’re curious about how things are built, designed, and brought to life, CCU’s Engineering Design minor gives you a front-row seat to the creative side of engineering. You’ll discover how innovative ideas become real systems, products, and solutions, and how engineering can make a meaningful impact on the world around you.
No matter what you’re majoring in, this minor adds a powerful edge to your education. You’ll learn how to think like an engineer, solving problems, creating value, and seeing possibilities others might miss while building skills you can use in almost any career.
Even better, you won’t do it alone. You’ll collaborate with engineering students on real projects, gaining hands-on experience while learning how to communicate, create, and innovate as part of a team. It’s a unique opportunity to step into the design process, even if you’re not pursuing a full engineering degree.
At CCU, you’ll grow into a creative problem-solver who’s ready to dream bigger, work smarter, and make an impact that matters.
Program FAQs
What is the engineering design minor at CCU?
The engineering design minor at Colorado Christian University complements any major, providing a well-rounded perspective on the engineering design process and value creation. This minor is offered through the School of Science and Engineering. It is designed for non-engineering students who want to learn how engineering transforms creative ideas into systems, products, and innovations. The engineering design minor provides students with foundational knowledge of engineering principles and computer-aided design tools for the creation, modification, analysis, and optimization of designs.
The minor in engineering design requires completion of specific credit hours in courses that cover engineering fundamentals, ethics, and design projects. Students work alongside engineering majors in a peer-engineering capacity, building collaboration skills valuable in any career. This program helps students from any department develop the ability to identify, analyze, and solve engineering problems while exploring how faith integrates with technical work.
What can you do with a minor in engineering design?
A minor in engineering design prepares students to work more effectively with engineers and technical teams in virtually any career field. Students develop skills in prototyping, analysis, and design processes that enhance their major field of study. Whether your major is in business, communication, science, or another discipline, the engineering design minor builds knowledge that helps you collaborate on engineering projects, understand technical requirements, and contribute to innovation in your workplace.
Graduates with a minor in engineering design find this credential valuable in careers spanning product development, project management, manufacturing, and technical leadership roles. The design minor demonstrates to employers that you can bridge communication between technical and non-technical teams. Many students pursue this minor to support career goals in industries where understanding the engineering design process provides a competitive advantage in leadership and decision-making roles.
What courses are required for the engineering design minor?
The engineering design minor includes courses that introduce students to engineering principles, computer-aided design, and ethical considerations in technical work. Students take Introduction to Engineering, Computer-Aided Design and Engineering Applications, Engineering Ethics, Systems Engineering, and Human Factors. The following courses provide a comprehensive foundation in how engineers approach design projects from concept through completion.
The course requirements build both theoretical knowledge and practical skills through hands-on design projects. Students learn to use CAD tools and apply the engineering design process to real-world challenges. The credit hours required can be completed alongside your major, and your academic advisor can help you plan a semester schedule that fulfills the minor requirements while staying on track for graduation. Transfer credit may be approved for equivalent courses completed at other schools.
Are engineering minors useful for non-engineering majors?
Yes, engineering minors are highly useful for students in any major who want to develop technical problem-solving skills and work effectively in innovation-driven environments. The engineering design minor specifically serves non-engineering students by providing an accessible introduction to engineering thinking without requiring the advanced mathematics and science prerequisites of a full engineering major. This makes engineering knowledge available to students across the college.
Students who complete the design minor gain credibility when collaborating with engineers and technical teams in their careers. The minor demonstrates that you understand engineering processes, can communicate intelligently about design projects, and have completed rigorous coursework in technical problem-solving. For students interested in leadership roles in manufacturing, product development, sustainability initiatives, or research, the engineering minor provides foundational knowledge to support career advancement.
What makes CCU's engineering design minor unique?
CCU's engineering design minor examines engineering principles from a biblical perspective, helping students understand how faith integrates with technical work. Throughout the program, students explore engineering ethics from both a Christian viewpoint and the National Society of Professional Engineers Code of Ethics. This dual approach develops graduates who bring both technical competence and moral reasoning to their engineering projects and leadership roles.
The minor fosters a collaborative learning experience in which non-engineering students work alongside engineering majors on design projects. This peer-engineering approach develops real-world teamwork and communication skills that prepare students to contribute effectively in cross-functional workplace settings. Small classes and faculty support ensure students receive personalized guidance as they develop new skills in prototyping, analysis, and the engineering design process.
How do you declare the engineering design minor?
To declare the engineering design minor, students should meet with their academic advisor to discuss how the minor fits with their major and graduation plan. The advisor can help you understand the required credit hours, map out a semester schedule to complete your courses, and ensure the minor requirements do not delay your graduation. Students typically declare the minor early enough to complete all required courses before their final semester.
The School of Science and Engineering welcomes students from any department to pursue the engineering design minor. You do not need prior engineering coursework to begin the program, though you should be prepared to develop new technical skills. Contact the school office or visit with an enrollment counselor to learn more about how to add this minor to your academic plan and build valuable engineering knowledge alongside your primary field of study.
Is an engineering design minor right for you?
The engineering design minor is ideal for students who want to explore engineering thinking and develop technical skills without committing to a full engineering major. If you are curious about how products and systems are designed, interested in innovation and prototyping, or planning a career that will involve working with engineers and technical teams, this minor complements your major well. Students who enjoy hands-on learning through design projects often find this program engaging and practical.
Consider the design minor if you want to build knowledge that sets you apart in your career field. The minor is particularly valuable for students pursuing leadership roles in manufacturing, product development, sustainability, or research if you want to earn credentials that demonstrate technical literacy while completing your primary major at CCU, the engineering design minor offers that opportunity through a manageable course load that fits alongside most programs of study.
View the course catalog.
