Capstone Projects Able to Begin in Spring 2024, Following SIE Model

Starting in 2024, College of Engineering students will have the option to begin their Interdisciplinary Capstone projects in the spring semester.

Engineering 498, the required senior capstone course, is the foundation for each graduate’s year-long team project that is presented at Craig M. Berge Design Day. In the past, students have only been able to begin their capstone projects in fall, which doesn’t align with all students’ graduation schedules.

In some cases, students may only be short one or two classes that they need to complete by December for a winter graduation. Rather than having to wait until the next fall to register for the course, these students now have a more convenient option.

"It has been clear for some time that students get off the four-year graduation sequence that results in them not being ready to start ENGR 498 in the fall of their senior year," said Steve Larimore, the capstone program’s lead instructor. "We are always looking for ways to improve the capstone program and better prepare our students for their future careers."

SIE already offered this option for their departmental capstone, but this was mostly used at the Yuma distance campus. According to Senior Academic Advisor Mildred Curran, more and more main campus students began expressing interest in graduating in December.

“Our department has a large number of sponsored international students as well as transfer students or students who switch engineering majors,” Curran said. “Our faculty noticed how large the student enrollment was getting the last few years and spoke with the college about offering ENGR 498 in the spring.”