ENGRI 1320

Inventive Problem Solving for Engineers

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2025-2026 Catalog.

This introductory course aims to equip you with important fundamental, life-long, problem-solving skills in preparation for your journey into the field of Engineering. You will learn techniques to develop your innate creative talents, refine your ability to recognize unmet needs in healthcare, and how to tackle those problems systematically. The semi-flipped format of the class will be comprised of pre-class reading assignments and pre-recorded lectures; in-class lectures and exercises. Topics include: Reverse Engineering, Concept/Mind Mapping, Engineering Estimation (aka Fermi problems), Engineering Drawing, a Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (Triz), Brainstorming, Ideation, Patent Principles, Bio-Inspired Design, How Things are Made, “Designing for Humans,” and “Designing the Future.” By the end of the course, you should confidently identify yourself as an engineering problem-solver, lateral thinker, and inventor.

Last 4 Terms Offered (None)

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate instincts to identify, systematically analyze unmet needs in healthcare that require an engineering solution.
• Demonstrate confidence to dismantle and reverse-engineer a medical product, and identify how the components are made, and work together.
• Possess command of the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving known as TRIZ.
• Demonstrate an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs. Including ability to convey ideas through drawing and CAD.
• ABET 1: Demonstrate ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
• ABET 2: An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
• ABET 3: An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
• ABET 4: An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
• ABET 7: An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

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