Work in progress — Minor in engineering studies: Teaching engineering concepts to non-engineering students

This work addresses a new multidisciplinary program at our school called Minor in Engineering Studies, designed by the engineering college for all non- engineering fields and disciplines. The goal of the program is to provide technological awareness and understanding of the technical issues to non-engineering students. This might be one of the most important tasks of an engineering educator: to educate non-engineering students about the issues and importance of engineering. Non-engineering students can participate in this program and receive a minor degree. Since many managers, directors, and policymakers are making decisions on technological-based issues, it makes sense to provide them with a conceptual framework of technology. This work covers the major premise of our efforts as a land-grant institution to educate the students. This is a collegewide effort that includes all levels from the dean of engineering and the dean´s office to the individual departments, as well as some of our graduate and undergraduate students. This work provides an early detail of our planning, implementation, early results, and challenges.