Study Programme in Innovation and Design Engineering
180 ECTS credits
Study programme
The programme in innovation and design engineering is characterized by a holistic perspective on the product development process. This perspective is based on industrial designers' ways of solving problems with the help of design thinking. Add to this technical competence, creativity, and your own curiosity. As an innovation and design engineer, you will work with the entire product development process, from the identification of a need, via ideas, sketches, and models, to a prototype and the finished product.
Do you have an idea for a product and dream of developing it, maybe even of starting your own business? Innovation and design is about the future - a designer sees the world with critical eyes and constantly aspires to improve that which works badly and to identify needs for innovation. Design is often equated with defining a product, which indicates that design and product development require a lot of decisions before a good product can result. In the programme, we value the students' ability to communicate through speech, writing, and images.
Do you have an idea for a product and dream of developing it, maybe even of starting your own business? Innovation and design is about the future - a designer sees the world with critical eyes and constantly aspires to improve that which works badly and to identify needs for innovation. Design is often equated with defining a product, which indicates that design and product development require a lot of decisions before a good product can result. In the programme, we value the students' ability to communicate through speech, writing, and images.
Education level:
Basic level
Prerequisites
General admission requirements and Physics 2, Chemistry 1, Mathematics 3c /Mathematics D
While studying
Education
What is special with this programme is most of all the combination of competence in mechanical engineering and industrial design. We emphasize the role of design as a process to methodically solve vaguely defined problems. As far as is possible, we aim to carry out projects in conjunction with private enterprise.Your technical skills developed in courses in mathematics, mechanics, solid mechanics, materials engineering and construction and energy technology.
Design expertise built through courses in design methodology, human thinking, creative processes, drawing techniques, color and morphology, the products give the right message, modeling, and various visualization methods.
You will study courses provide a basic knowledge of mechanical engineering, energy and environmental engineering, and mathematics. You will also be trained in working in projects and in presenting your results in speech and in writing. In addition, you will learn about the role of technology in society.
In the second year, you take courses that are specific for this programme. They provide knowledge that is of a creative, innovative, design-oriented, and visual nature, including theories of human thinking and culture, and knowledge of how to create concrete products, with an emphasis on innovation, design, production, construction, choice of materials, and manufacturing.
In the third year you may choose to study a course on service design and graphical design. There will also be a course on integrated product development, which is an important concept implying that everybody participating in the product development process works in a team in order to develop products in a faster and safer way. The programme ends with a degree project. This project is a practical and realistic application of previous courses and will be carried out in close cooperation with a company.
Form of Instruction
The training is full-time study and teaching is in the form of lectures, tutorials and laboratory sessions, workshops as well as projects under supervision.Examination
There are no set examination periods, and generally no final exam at the end of a semester, an academic year, or a complete study programme. Examination usually takes place at the end of each course, module, or unit.Study Abroad
The opportunity exists to fulfil a part of the study requirements abroad, e.g. in the elective part of the programme. Karlstad University participates in exchange and cooperation programmes with universities and university colleges in many countries in Europe and further afield.Professional Contact
The programme takes place in close cooperation with private enterprise through special project assignments in different courses.Course of study
| Semester 1 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Program introduction to Innovation and Design Engineering (Obligatory) | 1.5 |
| Mathematics for Engineers I (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Mechanics 1: statics (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Introduction to programming and data processing (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Materials Engineering I (Obligatory) | 6 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 2 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Mathematics for Engineers II (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Manufacturing Technology 1 (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Introduction Course IaD (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Applied Mathematics (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 3 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Mechanics 2: dynamics (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Electrical technology (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Solid Mechanics I for Bachelor students in engineering science (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Visual Thinking and Design (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 4 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Communication Tools for Industrial Design (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Machine components (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Machine design 1, Innovation and Design (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Production Systems I (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 5 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Sustainable Product Development (Obligatory) | 15 |
| Energy Engineering (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Ergonomics (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 6 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Design processes in theory and practice (Elective) | 7.5 |
| Degree Project for Bachelor of Science in Innovation and Design Engineering (Obligatory) | 22.5 |
| Engineering Design II, IoD (Elective) | 7.5 |
Total ECTS credits:
30*
*Full-time study always equals 30 ECTS credits per semester (20 weeks).
Elective course: Students are free to choose among certain alternative courses, often depending on their choice of specialisation.
Optional course: Students are free to choose any course offered at Karlstad University or at other universities. Courses listed are examples of recommended or frequently chosen courses for a specific programme.
Läsårs- och programvärderingar
Start semester Autumn 2013
Start semester Autumn 2014
Start semester Autumn 2015
Start semester Autumn 2016
Start semester Autumn 2017
Start semester Autumn 2018
Start semester Autumn 2019
Start semester Autumn 2020
Future prospects
Employment Market
Depending on your interests, you may find yourself designing together with industrial designers, e.g. as an employee or consultant in development projects at industrial production companies. In minor manufacturing companies, you can contribute with modern methods for quick and effective product development, thereby enhancing competitiveness. With your own innovations, and the tools to assess factors related to economy, marketing, production, and society, you will even be equipped to start your own businesses.Degree
This programme leads to a university degree in innovation and design engineering corresponding to 180 ECTS credits. For examination and assessment regulations, see under the heading "Learning outcomes" in the programme study plan.Further Studies
The education is part of the new flexible education structure in Europe. With your degree you can, provided that you have the necessary mandatory courses, continue your studies aiming for a masters degree in computer science, either at Karlstad University or at other universities in Europe. Studies at the advanced level make you eligible for doctoral studies.Alumni
Name: Lena RudolfssonGraduation year: 2006
Current work: Project leader
E-mail: lena.rudolsson@karlskoga.se
Name: Johan Strandberg
Graduation year: 2000
Current work: Engineering consultant
E-mail: johanstrandberg@hotmail.com