A Systems Approach to Engineering and Society
课程目标与内容概述：
This course introduces undergraduate students to the global context in which engineers are asked to operate in the 21st century. The course also introduces students to system dynamics tools and other decision-making tools (network analysis, agent-based modeling, etc.) to analyze the uncertainty and complexity inherent in projects. At the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Have the ability to identify the multiple dimensions of engineering projects;
- Be aware of the role non-technical issues may play in their technical decision-making;
- Appreciate the multi-cultural, social, and economic dimensions of practicing engineering;
- Understand the global interconnectedness of issues at different scales;
- Formulate problems and their solutions in a more systemic and integrated way;
- Be able to approach a wide range of simple, complicated, and complex issues often characterized by different levels of uncertainty; and
- Be familiar with a range of decision-making tools.
Throughout this course, students will be presented with the importance of depth and breadth in their education, the need to balance specialization, and a broader understanding of the linkages between engineering and society.
