2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Over the past several decades, quantum technology has become increasingly prevalent and quantum education therefore increasingly relevant to engineers. However, physics education in engineering curricula often ends following electromagnetism, leaving advanced physics topics to physics majors or senior students who actively seek out coursework in, for example, quantum computing. Most engineering graduates are then at a disadvantage to joining a growing quantum workforce or are even unaware that such a sector is available to them.

The barriers to including quantum physics in core engineering curricula are many, from the institutional (e.g., a reduction in science coursework in favor of disciplinary curricula, lack of funding/resources) to the motivational. Here, we focus on the motivational: even when quantum topics are included in required pre-requisite coursework, engineering students early in their academic careers often believe the material is irrelevant to their engineering practice or too challenging. We present a series of case studies designed to rectify these misconceptions and provide sources of both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for students as they embark on their quantum journeys. Even in cases where quantum topics are not included in the required curriculum, these examples can be included in introductory engineering or physics classes in order to encourage students to seek out quantum in their extracurricular activities or electives. These minimal interventions can help open students minds to a field that is too often dismissed as “not engineering” and, hopefully, inspire them to participate in a quantum future.