A study of engineering and technology development in society and
how the concept of systems engineering has developed as the
complexity of technologies has grown. How technology and
engineering fit into the global marketplace and can help solve
pressing societal problems.
Athena Title
Engineered Systems in Society
Pre or Corequisite
MCHE 1940
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will understand how engineering and technology are viewed in today’s society and the challenges engineers face.
Students will understand lessons learned from past engineering failures as well as successes.
Students will understand the globalization of industrial production and commerce as it relates to engineering in particular.
Students will understand the U.S. patent process and how intellectual property is created and turned into products.
Students will understand the concept of systems engineering and how it incorporates both technical and human-centered disciplines such as control engineering, industrial engineering, organizational studies and project management.
Students will understand how public policies are developed and how they influence the development of technology.
Topical Outline
A brief history of what is considered engineering today.
The general public’s perception of engineering today.
Case studies of past engineering failures (Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Challenger, etc.).
Case studies of past engineering successes (landing on the moon and Apollo 13, etc.).
Lessons learned from Thomas Friedman (“The World is Flat”; “Hot Flat and Crowded”; “That Used to Be Us”).
Intellectual property rights and the U.S. patent process.
Examples of the application of systems engineering to large, complex projects, such as the design of a spaceship, computer chip design and robotic systems.
A service-learning project will be done to provide practical experience with bringing these concepts together.
