3.003 | Spring 2010 | Undergraduate

Principles of Engineering Practice

Course Description

This class introduces students to the interdisciplinary nature of 21st-century engineering projects with three threads of learning: a technical toolkit, a social science toolkit, and a methodology for problem-based learning. Students encounter the social, political, economic, and technological challenges of engineering …
This class introduces students to the interdisciplinary nature of 21st-century engineering projects with three threads of learning: a technical toolkit, a social science toolkit, and a methodology for problem-based learning. Students encounter the social, political, economic, and technological challenges of engineering practice by participating in real engineering projects with faculty and industry; this semester’s major project focuses on the engineering and economics of solar cells. Student teams will create prototypes and mixed media reports with exercises in project planning, analysis, design, optimization, demonstration, reporting and team building.
Learning Resource Types
Lecture Notes
Projects with Examples
Activity Assignments
Presentation Assignments
Written Assignments with Examples
A paved road loops in front of a city skyline, with DNA strands and glowing optical fibers in the background.
Modern society incorporates new technologies in energy production, bioengineering, communications, transportation, and infrastructure. (Image by Lionel Kimerling. Used with permission.)