A Multi-disciplinary Approach to Developing an Introductory Course in Engineering and Architecture

Abstract

Engineering and architecture is aimed at improving the life of humans by designing and building products and services to the needs of civilizations. In real life settings, designing and building a product/service is a multidisciplinary event that involves the collaboration of a variety of specialists from different backgrounds. Accordingly, students need to acquire multidisciplinary skills and a holistic view of the world to be more successful in their future jobs. A committee of faculty from various disciplines in engineering and architecture at the American University of Beirut (AUB) was entrusted to design and introduce a new course that inspires creativity in engineering and design, engages first-year students from architecture and various engineering disciplines, and above all provides a multi-disciplinary experience to engineering education. This paper presents the theory, pedagogy, and background of introducing such a course to engineering and architecture students at AUB.