Integrated Engineering and Business Practices Program

Successful engineers in industry are not only technically skilled — they also have a keen understanding of the concepts and practices needed to excel in a business environment. That’s why Notre Dame offers one of the few programs in the country that integrates business courses right into the engineering curriculum.

Rev up for a fast start

The Integrated Engineering and Business Practices Program is a two-course sequence that can be applied to any major in the College of Engineering. The program will help you understand the dynamics of organizations, making you more effective in the workplace and better prepared for managerial or technical leadership roles. It provides the foundation for a fast start as you begin your engineering career.

During the course of the program, you’ll acquire a working knowledge of the fundamental processes of business and gain an appreciation of the functional areas of a corporation. You’ll also establish an ethical perspective of the role of engineering in business and begin to build the interpersonal, team, and managerial skills required to make significant contributions to a business enterprise. Each course features guest speakers and teleconferences with professional engineers and industry executives.

Course 1: Integrated Engineering and Business Fundamentals

During the first half of this course, you’ll explore the financial processes involved in engineering in industry, including financial reports and statements, stocks, bonds, working capital, and more. You’ll study business strategy and planning fundamentals: competitive advantages, creation of customer value, market segmentation and targeting, and other practical areas that will help you understand and execute a successful business plan.

In the second half of the course, your focus will turn to the practical processes you’ll need to work successfully as an engineer: project management and the product development process. Following the classic Triple Constraints method of project management—time, scope, and cost—you’ll learn best practices for keeping projects on track. You’ll also explore voice-of-customer research, rapid development iterations, and other tactics to make product development more effective. In addition, you’ll study supply chain and Lean Six Sigma, some of the key concepts driving efficiency and success in modern business:

Course 2: Advanced Integrated Engineering and Business

In this course you’ll solidify your understanding of core business practices while exploring in depth the personal leadership skills that drive success.

The centerpiece of this course is a semester-long, team-based competition in which you and your teammates will run a simulated company. You’ll see firsthand how analytics-based decisions drive business—from choosing a market to financing production. During the competition, you’ll perform weekly analysis of business results, including forecasting success, product placement, market share, and financial results.

Program Faculty

Feel free to reach out with any questions.

Michael Kitz
Director, Integrated Engineering and Business Practices Program
mkitz@nd.edu

Todd Taylor
Associate Director, Integrated Engineering and Business Practices Program
ttaylo24@nd.edu


Minor in Engineering Corporate Practice