The objective of the course is to convey engineering thinking to non engineers, and specifically psychology graduate students, to support the Collaborative Specialization in Psychology and Engineering (PsychEng). The aim is for psychology students to be able to understand engineering language and common methods to be able to participate in design activities.

The course will introduce the problem-solving focus of engineering work, including the use of: engineering assumptions, models (formation, interpretation, limits), codes/standards and heuristics, problem statements, design objectives and functions, and processes for selecting design alternatives.

Considerable attention in the course is devoted to existing applications of psychology in engineering, e.g., in design theory and methodology and human factors, etc. The problem-solving perspective of engineering enables clarification of not just where psychological theories are applicable, but may also inform where such theories may require further development. For example, applying social psychological theories and models, e.g., Higgins' Regulatory Focus Theory, to solve engineering problems can be quite challenging, and may add at least a physical dimension to such models.

Projects in human factors, design methodology, and other areas of engineering that can benefit from application of psychology are offered to be completed as course projects. Finally, psychologists are also guided on how to present their work to engineering audiences.