Course Objectives: Engineers are problem solvers, and both engineers and the problems they solve exist in complex and diverse social worlds shaped by societal structures, identity, and human experience. This course asks students to consider their role as a participant in larger communities through the lens of engineering and technology. Students will explore these dynamics in a variety of digital and social contexts, including workplace dynamics, urban planning and built environments, education systems, transportation, design, algorithms, and the internet.
In this course, students will engage with readings, instructor-led activities, and guided discussions to explore perspectives on citizenship in different contexts, including political, economic, social, digital, and ecological. In written reflections, journals, and a collaborative class glossary, students will deepen their understanding of these concepts and then, through the extended research-based Funding Proposal Project, they will have the opportunity to examine the role of the professional engineer in the context of broader societal issues, propose a viable solution, and communicate their ideas to a variety of audiences.
