51����

51���� became the first institution of higher education in Northeast Ohio to offer new interdisciplinary degrees designed to empower undergraduate students with the skills, versatility and adaptability they need to work at the intersection of multiple disciplines or fields. They are each a purposefully designed blend of curriculum for students whose paths require expertise in several disciplines.

The university’s combined majors developed not only from faculty members’ proposals, but also from collaboration with local employers, who weighed in on which of the proposed programs might meet the area’s workforce needs.

“As a regional public, as an institution that seeks to serve this community, we said, what do our employers need?” said 51���� Provost Nigamanth Sridhar, who is spearheading the initiative.

Today, we are highlighting the Engineering + Physics Bachelor of Science degree 

Led by professors Thijs Heus and Hans Richter, the program combines engineering design with the deeper scientific understanding provided by physics.

“Both are tough, full programs,” said Heus. “This allows students to learn the practical application you get with engineering — the software skills, the design process — but also understand in deep detail why that is the way it is.”

Engineering focuses on how systems work, while physics explains why they work. The program blends both approaches without requiring students to double major.

Richter said the goal is to strengthen each discipline by addressing the gaps between them.

“In a nutshell, it is to bring the two disciplines closer to fill the gaps that each one has,” Richter said, noting that engineers often rely on software built on physics principles they may not study in depth.

Physics students, meanwhile, gain exposure to applied design, engineering tools and systems — making graduates from both fields more competitive in the workforce.

The curriculum begins with core courses in calculus and introductory physics before moving into more specialized coursework. The program emphasizes mechanics — including machines, mechanisms and systems — while streamlining some physics topics to maintain a cohesive structure. In their final year, students choose either an engineering capstone design project or a physics-based research project, allowing them to tailor their experience to their career goals.

“By learning those different aspects, they can spark creativity in a way that is not currently available to them.”

CAREER OUTLOOK

Hands-on research is a key part of the program, with students participating in faculty-led and grant-funded projects — including summer Undergraduate Student Research Awards — that provide experience in computational modeling, system design and advanced analysis. 

The training prepares graduates for careers in research and development, advanced manufacturing, robotics and automation, government laboratories and doctoral programs, with Richter noting employers — including organizations such as NASA Glenn — increasingly value engineers who combine deep technical knowledge with creative problem-solving. 

“What they do at NASA is not everyday engineering,” he said. “They are innovating for things that will happen in 20 years. That requires people who have an open mind and are prepared to step outside their comfort zone.”

The program’s integrated structure helps students develop that perspective by blending theory and application while keeping them connected to both the engineering and physics departments. For Heus, the goal is to help students see how combining the two disciplines can open doors throughout their careers.

“There are a lot of students who know what engineers do,” he said. “But what physics really is — or what mechanical engineering really is — they don’t necessarily know. We want to show them this is cool. This gets you on a career path not just for your first job, but for the long term.”

Learn more about 

Learn more about the Mechanical Engineering + Physics degree