The Introduction to Engineering course launching in Fall 2026 at Eastern Michigan University is taking a new approach to engineering. Rather than serving as a survey of the field, this course is designed as the first step in developing an engineer of the future. We’re developing a book for the course and are pleased to share the book’s Forward to The Student
Most students begin engineering by asking, “How do I solve this problem?”
Fewer ask, “How do I become someone who can solve problems well, consistently, and with purpose?”
This book, Designing Engineers of the Future, is built around the second question.
Engineering is about realization — moving from ideas to outcomes, from uncertainty to decisions, and from initial attempts to improved performance. It is also about becoming someone who can do this work effectively, responsibly, and with increasing independence.
You will not simply learn about engineering. You will learn how to:
- think like an engineer
- work like an engineer
- and develop yourself as an engineer
Throughout this experience, you will engage with engineering through five lenses:
- Identity & Responsibility – understanding who you are becoming and the role engineers play in society
- Disciplined Engineering Thinking – structuring problems, making decisions, and using models effectively
- Development & Validation – designing, testing, and improving solutions
- Accountable Engineering Practice – working in teams, communicating clearly, and making responsible decisions
- Continuous Improvement & Self-Directed Development – learning how to learn, reflect, and grow over time
These lenses are not separate topics. They are different ways of approaching the same work — the work of becoming an engineer.
How You Will Learn
This book is not meant to be read passively. It is designed to be used.
You will learn through a variety of activity types that structure your experience:
- Workshops introduce key ways of thinking and working
- Competency activities ask you to demonstrate what you can do individually
- Team-based realization activities engage you in designing, testing, and improving solutions
- Design reviews provide opportunities to present your thinking and receive feedback
- Reflection activities help you learn from your experiences and improve over time
Many of these activities will take place in class with your team and with guidance from your instructor. Other parts will require you to think independently, reflect on your performance, and take responsibility for your own learning.
At times, you may feel uncertain or challenged. This is not a sign that something is wrong — it is a sign that you are being asked to think in new ways. Engineering is not learned by following steps alone. It is learned by working through ambiguity, making decisions, and improving over time.
Your Role
In this course, you are not just completing assignments. You are developing capabilities that will carry into the rest of your engineering education and beyond.
You are expected to:
- engage actively with your team and your instructor
- prepare for class and contribute to shared work
- reflect on your performance and use feedback to improve
- take increasing responsibility for your learning
You will be supported throughout the course, but you will not be given all the answers. Instead, you will be asked to develop them, test them, and refine them.
What You Will Gain
If you engage fully in this experience, you will leave with more than an introduction to engineering.
You will develop:
- the ability to approach unfamiliar and complex problems
- the discipline to evaluate and improve your own work
- the skills to collaborate and communicate effectively
- the capacity to direct your own learning
You may also find that this course feels different from others you have taken. It is designed not only to help you succeed here, but also to help you navigate the broader challenges of the engineering curriculum — where expectations are high, problems are not always clearly defined, and persistence is essential.
This book is an invitation to take ownership of your learning and your development.
The work may be demanding, and at times uncomfortable, but it is through that work that you begin to build the habits, judgment, and independence that define effective engineers.
We look forward to seeing what you realize — and who you become.
