IDMEN-BS - Individually Designed Major in Engineering (BS)
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Program Overview
The Individually Designed Major in Engineering (IDMEN) provides another option for undergraduate students interested in a specific study area not covered by one of the numerous engineering programs offered as departmental majors or Engineering subplan majors. Each IDMEN curriculum is designed by the student in consultation with at least two faculty advisors. The primary academic advisor must be in the School of Engineering and a member of the Stanford Academic Council.
Preparing for the Major
The IDMEN committee reviews proposals three times a year (autumn, winter, and spring).
The latest a student may propose a major program is winter quarter of their junior year: Four quarters and at least 58 units of undergraduate work must remain after the quarter a proposal is approved. More details, proposal deadlines, and the pros and cons of this major can be found on the IDMEN Major page of the UG Engineering Handbook website.
In engineering, you need to strike a balance between taking advantage of Stanford’s freedom to explore and ensuring you are getting a reasonable start on an engineering curriculum. Technical courses tend to be cumulative; more advanced courses draw heavily on the material presented in the introductory courses that precede them. For first-year students thinking about getting started in engineering or other STEM majors, the School of Engineering has a simple online tool called the Roadmap which suggests which courses might be appropriate to take in the first year. In addition, the one-unit autumn course, course Want to Be an Engineer, offers broad exposure to STEM majors within and outside the School of Engineering. Faculty present an overview of their program and where the study of that topic might take you. Other courses that might be of interest are the IntroSems and Engineering Fundamentals.
Minimum Units in the Program
Minimum University Units
Engineering students need a solid foundation in the calculus of continuous functions, linear algebra, differential equations, an introduction to discrete mathematics, and an understanding of statistics and probability theory. Students are encouraged to select courses on these topics.
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- 1035351
- 2023541
- 1043151
- 1043162
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- 1056641
- 2140171
- 2085321
- 2085281
- 1038311
- 1042773
OR 2193643 - 2155763
- 1172271
- 1172291
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OR 1237822 - 1253961
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More advanced Mathematics courses may be substituted via approval of petition to deviate.
A strong background in the basic concepts and principles of natural science in such fields as physics, chemistry, geology, and biology is essential for engineering. Most students include the study of physics and chemistry in their programs. Only one social/behavioral sciences course, and one earth sciences course, may be used for the major and must be above the level of an intro course. Both Physics 20 series courses may not be used if the corresponding course (mechanics, E&M) in the Physics 40 series is counted.
- 2121351
- 1118501
- 1118511
- 2181841
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- 2193661
- 2193651
- 2193671
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- 1034381
OR 1034411 - 2042511
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OR 2208011
OR 2114241 - 1226191
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AND 2114251 - 1226511
AND 2011271 - 1226461
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PHYSICS 22, 24, and 26 are Laboratory courses associated with PHYSICS 21, 23, and 25, and must be taken at the same time as, or following completion of the associated Lecture courses.
That is:
PHYSICS 22 should be taken in the same quarter or following completion of PHYSICS 21
PHYSICS 24 should be taken in the same quarter or following completion of PHYSICS 23
PHYSICS 26 should be taken in the same quarter or following completion of PHYSICS 25
It is essential for the student to obtain a broad understanding of engineering as a social activity. To foster this aspect of intellectual and professional development, all engineering majors must take one course devoted to exploring issues arising from the interplay of engineering, technology, and society.
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AND 2046081 - 2120991
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OR 2145762 - 2041791
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AND 2262062 - 2055941
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NBIO101 by application only; must take for 3 units and a letter grade.
Course chosen must be on the list the year it is taken.
The Engineering Fundamentals requirement is satisfied by a set of technically rigorous introductory courses from various engineering disciplines, as shown in the table below. These courses serve several purposes:
They provide a breadth of knowledge about some of the major fields within engineering.
They allow students to explore several engineering topics before starting a specific engineering major.
The individual classes offer a reasonably deep insight into a contemporary technological subject for the interested non-engineer. Engineering (and IDMEN) majors must complete at least two courses from the list below.
Only one course from each numbered series is allowed (for example, CS 106A or 106B, but not both).
ENGR 40M and 50M are offered via video at some BOSP overseas program locations and will count as fulfilling the requirement.
Students must receive a C- or better grade in each Engineering Fundamentals course.
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OR 2216341
OR 1056451 - 1042501
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OR 2141891 - 2169522
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OR 2193643 - 2155752
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Students must receive a C- or better grade in each Engineering Fundamentals course.
Only one course from each numbered series is allowed (for example, CS 106A or 106B, but not both).
CS 106M is a 1-unit enrichment supplement for CS 106B. Students must be enrolled in CS 106B to enroll in CS 106M.
ENGR 40M and 50M are offered via video at some BOSP overseas program locations and will count as fulfilling the requirement.
Thirty-four units of engineering depth courses must be drawn from Engineering coursework accepted by other majors within the SoE at the core/depth level, including a capstone depth course with content relevant to proposed goals.
Students must receive a C- or better grade in all engineering depth courses, maintaining an overall GPA of at least 2.0 in engineering courses.
Sufficient relevant additional coursework to bring the total number of units in the major to at least 90.
Introductory Seminar courses (IntroSems), 1- or 2-unit survey/professional/personal interest courses (such as MS&E 475, ENGR 103, or ME 104B), ENGR 1 or 2, Student Initiated Courses (SIC), or Sophomore College (SC) courses may not be used to satisfy unit requirements in the IDMEN program.
Students are responsible for completing the prerequisites for all courses included in their majors.
Students must take one course related to their focus area designated as a Writing in the Major course by the SoE department offering the course (the course must be certified as fulfilling WIM by the university).
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AND 1031742 - 2215491
AND 2215501 - 1031091
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- 2120991
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NOTE: BIOE 212 is crosslisted with BIOMEDIN 212, CS 272, and GENE 212. Any of these offerings will count.
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The WIM course for MS&E is the same as the capstone course, MS&E 108. This course is not available to IDMEN students because they lack the background to take this project course.
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At least one of the Engineering courses must be identified as a “capstone/senior project” course in an SoE major, with content and activities that are relevant to your proposed goals (for example, ME 216B+C [DESIGN 161A+B] are the capstone courses for the Design major, CS 191, 194, etc., are the capstone options for CS. ENVSE has a list of 5-9 capstone offerings, depending upon the specialty area chosen). Your capstone should fit into your SoE topic focus; an Honors thesis or project may not be used for the capstone unless a detailed proposal and plan are approved at least a full year before graduation by the participating faculty member and the IDMEN Review Committee. [NOTE for those with an MS&E-centric program: The MS&E capstone/WIM course (MS&E 108) is available only to declared MS&E majors, so you must find an alternative option from one of the other SoE programs.]
Students must receive a C- or better grade in the engineering capstone course(s).
Students should choose one option from one of the lists below. Please note that some options consist of one course, and others require two courses to complete.
An Honors Thesis may also meet this requirement, with approval from advisors and the IDMEN committee.
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AND 1031742 - 2215491
AND 2215501
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OR 1056921 - 1057051
OR 2111641 - 2164971
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AND 2140312 - 2263891
AND 2263901
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Students wanting to count ENGR 199 or 199W must get approval from advisors and IDMEN committee.
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Applicable only for students approved for Honors and enrolled in applicable research.
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IDMEN majors with a solid academic record and enthusiasm for independent research in a significant project may pursue a Bachelor’s degree with Honors (IDMEN-BSH). This option is particularly valuable for students pursuing a PhD because the research experience helps prepare a student for doctoral-level work. The honors thesis, and any coursework associated with the honors degree, is above and beyond the scope of the major itself and can only be counted as a Capstone project if a detailed proposal and plan are approved at least a full year before graduation by the participating faculty member as well as the IDMEN Review Committee.
The student must submit a letter applying for the Honors option endorsed by the student’s primary advisor and honors advisor; the letter should be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs in 135 Huang no later than mid-October of the senior year.
The IDMEN honors advisor may require coursework beyond what is required for the BS without honors.
The student must maintain a GPA of at least 3.5.
The student must complete an honors thesis or project. The manner of evaluating the work will be set by the honors advisor and a second reader, one of whom must be a member of the Academic Council in the School of Engineering. The honors or program advisor will decide the deadline to submit the thesis or project, but it should be set by mid-May at latest.
The student must present the work in an appropriate forum, e.g., in the same session as honors theses are presented in the advisor’s department.
If the honors project will also serve as the capstone for the major, the project must be sent to the SoE Office of Student Affairs by end of May of the senior year for final evaluation by the IDMEN committee.
The signature and title page of the approved thesis or project must be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs by the first week in June of the senior year.
Further information is available from the Office of Student Affairs, Huang 135.