Spartaneering

From the Dean

In the MSU College of Engineering, our goal is to offer experiences that lead to the development of a 21st Century, renaissance engineer—a Spartan Engineer. We provide academic rigor and provide students with experiential educational opportunities that will help them gain essential skills. Spartan Engineers learn how to learn, so they can adapt to the rapid changes inherent in today’s global marketplace.

Hear more from the Dean (17:14 min/15.8mb/mp3)

Cornerstone/Capstone Experience

Cornerstone

Every Spartan Engineer begins with a cornerstone experience that exposes him or her to a broad overview of engineering disciplines and hands-on design experience from day one.

Capstone

The capstone project is the undergraduate Spartan Engineer’s final project and culminates in Design Day—one of the largest exhibits of student projects in the country. In preparation, each student completes a capstone course that poses a team-based design challenge requiring them to apply technical and experiential skills to an engineering problem.

Watch a video about Design Day to learn more.

Residential Experience

Spartan Engineers can join a living–learning community that immerses them in the engineering experience and brings another dimension to the common first-year curriculum. Living–learning participants share common class sections, sharpen problem-solving skills, connect with campus and community resources, and interact with students from other majors.

Listen to a podcast with Tom Wolff, associate dean for undergraduate studies and associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (15:00 min/8.59mb/mp3)

Student Experience

Spartan Engineers share their stories:

• Listen to Ross Weaver, mechanical engineering undergrad and MSU cornerback (1:03 min/625kb/mp3)
• Listen to Adam Zemke, graduate student and operations manager for the MSU Formula Racing Team (10:37 min/6.1mb/mp3)
• Listen to Tom Herzog, Applied Engineering Sciences major and MSU Basketball player (9:24 min/ 5.4 mb/mp3)
• Listen to Kurt Kivisto, Civil Engineering graduate and MSU Hockey player ( 8:53 min/5.1 mb/mp3)
• Listen to Trevor Nill, Mechanical Engineering major and MSU Hockey player (6:50 min/3.9 mb/mp3)

Undergraduate Research Experience

Undergraduate research assistants work side by side with faculty to develop cutting-edge solutions for modern technical challenges. This interaction pushes students to become critical thinkers and to learn how to learn. 

View undergraduate students as they talk about what they did this summer
(05:00 min/56mb/wmv)

Experiential Opportunities

As part of a network of Spartan Engineers, engineering graduates have outstanding career opportunities. Students can take advantage of this same network before graduation by participating in internship and cooperative-placement opportunities. If interested in study abroad, students can choose from 200 programs in more than 60 different countries. Engineering-centered programs, providing students with a global view of engineering needs, are offered in six countries. Spartan Engineers can find experiential program opportunities easily through The Center, a resource located in the engineering building.

Listen to a podcast with Garth Motschenbacher, director of employer relations in MSU's College of Engineering (12:18 min/7.0mb/mp3)

Multicultural Perspective

Being a Spartan Engineer means gaining a multicultural perspective of the engineering profession. This enhances your learning and increases your ability to problem solve in a cultural landscape growing ever more global. There are many organizations that encourage diversity within the college, including the Diversity Programs Office and the Women in Engineering program.