Integrated Product Design
IPD brings together a common core in human-centered design and innovation methodologies with specialized courses in design, engineering, and business. We’re currently recruiting students interested in designing for health and wellbeing — and from there, you’ll build your own path.
Within the program, students choose electives to build skills in fields like UX design, design engineering, robotics and intelligent products, innovation strategy, or product management.
Beyond the shared core, students shape their own focus by choosing electives aligned with where they want to go next.
Build skills in user research, interaction design, and digital product experience.
Design and engineer the next generation of intelligent, connected products.
Lead products from concept to market with strategy and management fundamentals.
Every student in the IPD program completes the following core sequence. Students without a background in design, engineering, or business may be required to take a foundation course in that discipline during their first year.
Design Process
Fall
Problem Framing
Spring
Final Project
M:IPD students select one of the following core courses. Each brings a different disciplinary lens — design, engineering, or business — to the same core problem:
MSE:IPD students take both of the following required courses:
Students without a background in design, engineering, or business might be required to take a foundation course in that discipline during their first year of the program.
Foundation courses include:
IPD 5000 | Product Engineering Basics | 1 CU
IPD 5030 | Design Fundamentals | 1 CU
EAS 5450 | Engineering Entrepreneurship I | 1 CU
Beyond the required core, build your own focus with electives across engineering, design, and business — select a category below to see what it covers.
Click here to view the full list of courses.
Engineering courses focus on technical problem solving and the development of technical skills, often integrating theory and practice. To count toward IPD, a course must be offered within Penn Engineering and focus on building engineering capabilities.
Design courses focus on creativity, innovation, and the development of design skills — including sketching, prototyping, digital design tools, and understanding materials. Most are offered through the Weitzman School of Design, with a design-oriented approach even when they teach technical tools.
Business courses focus on the operation, management, and strategy of organizations, including analytic skills for decision-making and interpersonal skills like communication, negotiation, teamwork, and leadership. Offered through Wharton, Penn Engineering, the Nonprofit Leadership Program, Penn Law, and the Behavioral Science & Data Analytics program.
