Interdisciplinary Capstone Design Program
The University of Idaho College of Engineering is ranked by the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) as one of the top seven schools in the nation for infusing real-world experiences into undergraduate engineering education. Participating in the senior capstone design program offers experience collaborating with valued industry partners and an educational experience students wouldn’t otherwise receive in traditional engineering curriculum.
Throughout the Capstone Design Program students work in teams on projects sponsored by industry, private individuals or sources internal to the U of I. The courses involve two consecutive courses and emphasize the design process and the creation of a thoughtfully engineered, tested and validated outcome or prototype.
Engineering Design EXPO, the longest running showcase of undergraduate engineering innovation in the Pacific Northwest, is the culmination of the U of I Engineering senior capstone design program. Seniors from interdisciplinary programs participate in presenting capstone work at EXPO either through a professional exhibit or technical presentation.
Important Dates
2019-2020
- Aug. 1, 2019: Project Submission Deadline
- Sept. 3, 2019: Capstone Project Fair
- Oct. 15, 2019: Snapshot Day #1 – Problem Definition
- Dec. 6, 2019: Snapshot Day #2 – Conceptual Design
- March 6, 2020: Snapshot Day #3 – Detailed Design
- May 1, 2020: 27th Annual Engineering Design EXPO
2020-2021
- Aug. 1, 2020: Project Submission Deadline
- TBD: 28th Annual Engineering Design EXPO
2021-2022
- Aug. 1, 2021: Project Submission Deadline
- TBD: 29th Annual Engineering Design EXPO
The University of Idaho also offers discipline-specific capstone design cycles at alternative times throughout the academic year.
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Spring/Fall sequence
Project Submission Deadline: Dec. 15
Final Project Presentations: End of fall semester
Computer Science
Spring/Fall sequence
Project Submission Deadline: Dec. 15
Final Project Presentations: End of fall semester
Mechanical Engineering
Summer/Fall sequence
Project Submission Deadline: May 15
Final Project Presentations: End of fall semester
Program Contacts
Matthew Swenson
Program Director
Mechanical Engineering
swenson@uidaho.edu
208-885-9029
Steven Beyerlein
Mechanical Engineering
sbeyer@uidaho.edu
208-885-4932
Bruce Bolden
Computer Science
bruceb@uidaho.edu
208-885-5422
Dev Shrestha
Biological Engineering
devs@uidaho.edu
208-885-7545
Feng Li
Electrical and Computer Engineering
fengli@uidaho.edu
208-885-7571
Herb Hess
Electrical and Computer Engineering
hhess@uidaho.edu
208-885-4341