Exciting Changes at UA Engineering!

With the support of a generous gift, the University of Arizona College of Engineering is launching a strategic initiative to expand hands-on design opportunities into all four years of the undergraduate curriculum.

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The Craig M. Berge Engineering Design Program will offer students major-specific design courses, instruction in business basics and the chance to work on community projects from their first year through to graduation.

“These opportunities will help UA students become more versatile and creative problem-solvers — ready to excel even more in their capstone projects and, ultimately, the modern engineering workforce,” said Ara Arabyan, director of Interdisciplinary Capstone.

The senior capstone experience, made successful for more than 18 years thanks to industry and university partners, provides one of the cornerstones of this overarching program. Because the new Craig M. Berge Engineering Design Program encompasses all four years of the undergraduate experience, the senior design course will now be called “Interdisciplinary Capstone.”

“We will still be partnering with industry, helping students to gain real-world experience and helping our corporate partners to gain fresh perspective and talented employees – but now under a fresh name and as part of a new, larger program,” said Dan Klingberg, corporate relations manager for the College of Engineering.

This gift has also endowed the Craig M. Berge Dean’s Chair, to which David W. Hahn, who joined the college in July, has been named.

“I look forward to working with our valued industry partners — who have provided years’ worth of vital support and opportunities for our students — as we build out this new program,” Hahn said. “I’m also enthusiastic about celebrating this transformation with students, sponsors, staff and friends at the inaugural Craig M. Berge Engineering Design Day on May 4, 2020.”