Department of Engineering
In addition to the courses offered by the individual departments, the School of Engineering also offers courses which are interdisciplinary in nature as follows:
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
ENGR 207. Medical Device Invention From Ideas to Business Plan
This course will introduce students to various tools and processes that will improve their ability to identify and prioritize clinical needs, select the best medical device concepts that address those needs, and create a plan to implement inventions. Also listed as BIOE 207. (2 units)
ENGR 249. Topics in Bioengineering**
An introduction to the central topics of bioengineering including physiological modeling and cellular biomechanics (e.g., modeling of the human voice production and speech biomechanics), biophotonics, biomedical imaging, visualizaion technology and applications (e.g., virtual endoscopy), biosignals and analysis methods, microfluidic devices and bio-nanotechnology. i. (2 units)
ENGR 250. Introduction to Bioinformatics and Sequence Analysis**
Overview of bioinformatics. Brief introduction to molecular biology including DNA, RNA, and protein. Pairwise sequence alignment. Multiple sequence alignment. Hidden Markov models and protein sequence motifs. Phylogenetic analysis. Fragment assembly. Microarray data analysis. Protein structure analysis. Genome rearrangement. DNA computing. Prerequisites: AMTH 377 or MATH 163 or equivalent and programming experience. (4 units)
ENGR 251. Molecular Biology for Engineers**
Comprehensive introduction to molecular biology for the non-biologist. Study of macromolecules that are critical to understanding and manipulating living systems. Proteins. Nucleic acids, DNA, and RNA. Genes and genetic code. Transcriptions, translations, and protein synthesis. Information storage and replication in DNA. Mechanics and regulation of gene expression. Splicing. Chromosomes. The human genome project. Scientific, social, and ethical issues. Also listed as BIOE 251. (2 units)
ENGR 253. Molecular Biology for Engineers II**
The science underlying biotechnology: how DNA, genes, and cells work, and how they can be studied and manipulated in fields as diverse as biomedical research, bioengineering, pharmaceutical and vaccine development, forensics, and agriculture. Laboratory experiments will focus on isolating, studying, and using DNA in a variety of contexts. The course includes a laboratory component. Prerequisite or co-requisite: ENGR 251 or equivalent. (2 units)
ENGR 254. Microfabrication and Microfluidics for Bioengineering Applications**
Focuses on those aspects of micro/nanofabrication that are best suited to BioMEMS and microfluidics to better understand and manipulate biological molecules and cells. The course aims to introduce students to the state-of-art applications in biological and biomedical research through lectures and discussion of current literature. A team design project that stresses interdisciplinary communication and problem solving is one of the course requirements. Also listed as BIOE 174/274. (4 units)
ENGR 256. Introduction to NanoBioengineering**
This course is designed to present a broad overview of diverse topics in nanobioengineering, with emphasis on areas that directly impact applications in biotechnology and medicine. Specific examples that highlight interactions between nanomaterials and various biomolecules will be discussed, as well as the current status and future possibilities in the development of functional nanohybrids that can sense, assemble, clean, and heal. Also listed as BIOE 256. (2 units)
ENGR 257. Introduction to Biofuels Engineering**
Introduction to biofuel science and production for engineers. Basic cell physiology and biochemical energetics will be reviewed. Fundamentals of bioreactor technology will be introduced as a foundation for biofuel manufacturing. This will include cell growth models, biochemical and photobioreactor systems, and other processes related to the production of biofuels such as ethanol, methane and biodiesel. Promising technologies such as algae based systems, genetically engineered enzymes and microbes, and microbial fuel cells with be discussed. An overview of the economics of production, including feedstock, manufacturing and capital and operating costs, as well as current biofuel prices, will be given. Also listed as BIOE 157. (2 units)
ENGR 260. Nanoscale Science and Technology**
Overview of key elements of physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering underlying this interdisciplinary field. Bulk vs. surface properties of materials. Surface phenomena and quantum phenomena. Self-assembly and soft lithography. Nanoscale materials characterization. Carbon nanotubes, inorganic nanowires, organic molecules for electronics, biological and bio-inspired materials. Emerging applications of nanoscale materials. Prerequisite: Graduate standing. (2 units)
ENGR 261. Nanotechnology and Society
Addresses the fundamental scientific and technological underpinnings of the important new field of nanotechnology. Examines how our understanding and our technological capabilities have evolved over the past century, and how nanotechnology proposes new applications that can address social and economic goals. An appreciation of the interaction between these goals and the evolution of the technology is central to the course. Students will develop critical thinking about the prospects for nanotechnology in order to be able to assess the relevant ethical and social issues, and also the possibility and/or likelihood of the development of specific applications. (4 units)
ENGR 262. Nanomaterials**
Physics, chemistry, and materials science of materials in the nanoscale. Thin films, inorganic nanowires, carbon nanotubes, and quantum dots are examples covered in detail as well as state-of-the-art synthesis processes and characterization techniques for these materials as used in various stages of technology development. Also listed as ELEN 360. Prerequisites: ENGR 260 and ELEN 261. (2 units)
ENGR 271. Energy Conservation
It is by no means clear that the shortage of carbon-free energy can be resolved by identifying alternative resources. As a result, conservation must play a key role in the development of new energy policies, both locally and globally. This course explores how conservation and sustainability relate to each other, with special emphasis on the value of cost-effective, innovative water recycling, and strategies for reducing the use of electrical energy. (2 units)
ENGR 272. Energy Public Policy
The class will survey the types of energy used historically from traditional biomass, to coal, to natural gas, to nuclear and renewables, as well as the increasingly diverse possibilities for future use discussed in current policy debates. Coverage will also include a historical review of regulation and policy in the energy industry. The geographic scope will be international. The field of energy analysis and policy is inherently interdisciplinary. Prerequisite: ELEN 280/MECH 287. (2 units)
ENGR 273. Sustainable Energy and Ethics
This course explores the ethical implications of energy production, distribution and consumption, with the aim of understanding those normative considerations that motivate public, institutional and private bodies to develop sustainable energy policies and practices. Through examination of texts and case studies, students will learn to critically analyze, develop and defend ethical judgments and practices with respect to energy. Topics include considerations of environmental justice; tension between global and local spheres of ethical concern; the rights and interests of potential stakeholders, both human and non-human; our duties with respect to prevention or mitigation of harms and management of risk; our ethical obligations to future generations; and the role of personal, civic and professional virtues in guiding sustainable energy practices. (2 units)
ENGR 288. Co-op Education
Integration of classroom study and practical experience in a planned program designed to give students practical work experience relating to their academic field of study and career objectives. Alternates or parallels periods of classroom study with periods of training in industry and government. Work includes an overall report on assignment activities. Additional fees required. This course does not count toward the completion of a graduate degree. P/NP grading. (2 units)
ENGR 302. Managing in the Multicultural Environment
Provides practical, theoretical, and experiential tools to manage a multicultural workforce. Cases from Silicon Valley engineering environments will be studied. Topics will include: (1) insights to various cultures’ approaches to time, information, planning, decision making, relationships, power and change; (2) developing leadership, motivation, and participation in multicultural teams; (3) creating an environment that maximizes the benefits of diversity and retains workers from a variety of cultural backgrounds; (4) resolving conflict when there are different cultural approaches; and (5) the role of corporate culture for multicultural and global companies. (2 units)
ENGR 303. Gender and Engineering
Provides a foundation for managing the different worlds, the different cultural lenses and paradigms, and ultimately different competencies many women and men bring to an engineering workplace. Effective management of differences contributes to research, development, and marketing of products and processes, as well as increased advancement of both women and men. Students learn (1) how to eliminate blame and build understanding and trust; (2) how to develop tools to create your own solutions to gender issues; (3) new rationales for dealing with persistent obstructions to organizational effectiveness; and (4) how to acknowledge, adapt, and adopt for more effective communication. (2 units)
ENGR 304. Building Global Teams
Challenges of working virtually and globally. Building global teams. Working across cultures and distance; achieving goals while managing differences. Diverse approaches to managing task, time, and hierarchy. Social interactions and decision-making. Culture’s impact on teamwork. Global leader dimensions. Trust building. Empowering self and others. Business practices in China, India, Russia, and other countries. (2 units)
ENGR 310. Engineering Ethics
This course is designed to help students develop a set of effective tools for handling everyday ethical dilemmas and for developing their own vision of what it means to be a morally good engineer. Fundamental concepts from classical ethics theory will be used as the framework for discussing a range of topics that are of interest to the engineering profession. The class will include case studies that are related to recent technological advances, as well as issues that practicing engineers commonly encounter in their work. (2 units)
ENGR 330. Law, Technology, and Intellectual Property
Study of available legal provisions for establishing, receiving, preserving, and enforcing intellectual property rights in research, development, engineering, and marketing of products. Includes a study of patents, trade secrets, copyrights, mask works, trademarks, and employer-employee contracts regarding intellectual property. (2 units)
ENGR 331. Patent Law for Engineers
Study of invention, invention disclosure, patent application drafting, patent application assignment, patent application filing, patent prosecution, and foreign filing. Includes a discussion of patent case law, patent statutory law, patent rules, and the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP). (2 units)
ENGR 332. Emergent Human Systems
How does one model scientific and social understanding of the human person? This course examines emergent relationships in biological, neurological, psychological, social, and ethical systems; philosophical foundations of emergent human systems; and practical methods for incorporating scientifically and socially informed models into engineered systems and entrepreneurial business applications. (2 units)
ENGR 333. Forms of Nature
How does one model biological form? This course examines modeling of biological systems from philosophical, aesthetic, and cultural perspectives. A biological modeling process depends upon philosophical theories of nature, aesthetic decisions about design of models, and cultural values about features to emphasize. By increasing awareness of underlying influences, one can improve the quality and applicability of model design (as demonstrated in individual course projects). (2 units)
ENGR 334. Energy, Climate Change, and Social Justice
The field of climate ethics has emerged recently to negotiate the serious and complex ethical choices facing human society as we balance energy, environmental, and economic development needs. Social science and ethical lenses are used to examine energy use and climate disruption in light of the moral principle of social justice. This course gives graduate engineering students the background and skills to communicate these issues in several different modes. It consists of three main thematic parts: energy choices; social vulnerabilities; and difficult policy dilemmas. (2 units)
ENGR 335. Science, Religion, and Environmental Ethics
Religious environmental ethics draws from ancient teachings, and combines these with contemporary scientific ways of understanding the world and the global environmental crises. This course provides an introduction to the different ways in which the religions of the world have understood nature. Gives students an opportunity to reflect upon their own relationship with the natural world, and provides tools for analyzing and resolving environmental ethical dilemmas with religious dimensions, using scientific and moral reasoning. Most coursework will involve case studies, which are designed specifically to help students develop skills in moral analysis in partnership with scientific ways of knowing. (2 units)
ENGR 336. Engineering for the Developing World
How does one innovate products and services for developing countries? How can complex problems be tackled with simple technologies and low-cost business models? This course presents a framework of engineering design and management techniques that are appropriate for developing markets. Topics such as “ruggedization,” cost control, and local resource use will be explored through a variety of examples and case studies, which range from alternate energy and low-cost diagnostics to mobile applications and micro entrepreneurship. This course examines the potential social benefits that design, manufacturing, and business innovation can provide to address various challenges in the developing world. Students will be expected to participate in the Global Social Benefit Incubator (GSBI), which is held at SCU for two weeks each August. (2 units)
ENGR 337. Sustainability and Green Information Technology
The course is designed to give a thorough understanding of how IT infrastructure can be managed and optimized for maximum energy efficiency and minimum environmental impact. It also describes in some detail how IT leaders, data center operators, and other related sustainability advocates can benefit (and profit) from implementing energy efficient corporate IT infrastructure both inside and outside the data centers. Topics that will be covered include technologies and strategies for implementing green data centers, re-configuring existing infrastructure to ensure reduced energy consumption, managing air flow, and implementing sustainable IT asset disposal policies. (2 units)
ENGR 338. Mobile Applications for Emerging Markets
The mobile revolution is changing the lives of people across the globe, from Wall Street to Main Street to rural villages. This course will provide an overview of the technological innovation, including applications and instrumentation, which the mobile revolution is spawning, particularly in underserved communities globally. It will feature guest speakers from technology companies involved in Mobile R&D, look at market and beneficiary needs, and discuss how to innovate products and services for these customers and how to tackle complex ‘life’ problems with simple technologies, applications, and business models, using real-life case studies. (2 units)
ENGR 339. Storage Device Systems**
Energy storage systems play an essential role in the utilization of renewable energy. They are used to provide reserve power under different circumstances and needs such as peak shaving, load leveling, and ancillary services. Power electronics equipment converts the battery power into usable grid power. The course will survey batteries, pumped storage, flywheels, ultracapacitors, etc., with an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages, and uses of each. Also listed as ELEN 287. (2 units)
ENGR 340. Clean Energy for the Developing World**
Energy availability in the developing world is key to improving societal education, health, and standard of living. What are the opportunities and constraints of providing energy to these underserved populations? To uncover issues of energy generation, transmission and storage, students will conduct engineering assessments of clean-energy ventures from SCU’s Global Social Benefit Incubator (GSBI). For these case studies (ranging from bioenergy to micro-solar to cooking stove efficiency), students will develop engineering calculations to evaluate the technical basis of the cases. Students will also conduct a life cycle assessment, evaluating energy, mining, waste, water, air and other impacts. (2 units)
ENGR 371. Space Systems Design and Engineering I**
A review of the engineering principles, technical subsystems, and design processes that serve as the foundation of developing and operating spacecraft systems. This course focuses on subsystems and analyses relating to orbital mechanics, power, command and data handling, and attitude determination and control. Note: ENGR 371 and 372 may be taken in any order. Also listed as MECH 371. (4 units)
ENGR 372. Space Systems Design and Engineering II**
A review of the engineering principles, technical subsystems, and design processes that serve as the foundation of developing and operating spacecraft systems. This course focuses on subsystems and analyses relating to mechanical, thermal, software, and sensing elements. Note: ENGR 371 and 372 may be taken in any order. Also listed as MECH 372. (4 units)
** These ENGR courses are eligible for the technical stem in Engineering Management.
