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Instructor: Rob Martello

Credits: 4   

Course Description: Engineering, science, technology, and math are fundamentally human endeavors, socially constructed and society-shaping. The dialogue between humans, humanity, and the technical world we have created is endlessly complex and fascinating. Each Engineering in Context student will select a technical course they are concurrently taking, and will use that course to explore its larger STEM discipline through lenses such as its ethical, environmental, and societal (historical, political, economic...) contexts and impacts. We will engage in readings, discussions, and projects that build a critical thinking toolkit for historical and contextual study, and students will also explore their chosen technical course individually or in small groups. This course represents a novel approach towards interdisciplinary integration: you get to choose the course we’ll connect with, and all of us will deepen the connection. And as a relatively new offering still open to modifications, we have many opportunities to work together to improve this learning experience throughout the semester. Join the fun and let’s build something exciting!

Instructor: Gillian Epstein

Credits: 2  Hours: 4-0-8

Registration Notes: Session 1 (January 21 - March 6)

Wonder how to write an email to someone you don’t know on LinkedIn that will get a response? Cover letters making you run for cover? Wish your online bio did you justice? Want to write an application essay or scholarship essay that makes your reader pay attention? Then come join an exciting 6-week adventure focused on upping your game in day to day professional writing that can open doors and create connections. Each of our four modules will feature a fundamental professional writing challenge (emails, cover letters, bios, and personal statements); specific writing skills and habits of mind that will help your writing stand out; a fun (yes, fun!) focused writing assignment embedded in your real world practice; specific expertise and examples from one or more additional teaching partners across our �������� faculty and staff; and lots of time in class for audience feedback and revision! Come do the writing you need with the support you want!

Instructor: Nguyen, Dyllan



Credits: 4   Hours: 4-2-6

Recommended Requisite: Design Nature

Course Description: In this studio art course, we'll explore topics in contemporary art and create works using wood as a primary medium. We'll develop a foundational understanding of wood as a material, learn to safely operate a variety of tools, and consider the context of each individual’s work in the field of sculpture and contemporary art more broadly. Lectures and demonstrations will be complemented by readings, screenings, student presentations, and studio practice. Assignments will be structured so students may choose to work on teams or independently. Assessment of projects will be based on rubrics provided when assignments are set and will seek to balance the conceptual and technical development of each student, with an emphasis on process engagement.

Instructor: Horgan, Leah

Credits: 4    Hours: 4-0-8

Prerequisite: AHS Foundation

Course Description: Data is world-making and deeply affects our everyday lives. In this course we’ll trace the evolution of data and technology design as a tool of control used in governance, surveillance, science, and industry -- from early empires to our current era of big data. We will explore how data practices have been instrumental in shaping major disasters of our lifetime; the rise and fall of empires; the (mis)functioning of modern nation-states; our collective conceptions of the body, health, gender, sexuality, race, class, labor, and expertise; and the way we address complex social problems ranging from poverty to environmental crises. Through critical analysis of key readings and real world examples, students will gain a deep understanding of the intricate relationship between data, politics, and the potential for data-driven technologies to either empower or oppress. While this course is focused on reading and discussion, students will have the opportunity to develop a final project using speculative design approaches.

Instructors: Victoria Dean; David Shuman, Claire Rodgers and Alessandra Ferzoco

Credits: 4 ENGR    Hours: 4-0-8 

Pre-requisites: One of the following: ENGR2360, <ENGR2355 and ENGR2365>,  MTH2131, MTH2135, MTH2188A, ENGR3525, or <MTH2137 and ENGR3537>, or equivalent experience to one of the above with instructor approval.

Course Description: This impact-centered learning experience is aimed at improving ��������’s building automation and HVAC systems through projects around fault detection and energy efficiency. Throughout the year, groups will work on sub-projects with different topics/goals, including visualization and interpretation of campus data, machine learning on campus data, thermal modeling of campus buildings, software infrastructure to get data on and off of the HVAC control servers, and more. 

Instructor: Deb Chachra

Credits: 4

Registration Notes: Design Depth (must have taken or be currently taking Collaborative Design), Experimental Grading

Course Description: From a single material artifact, archaeologists can infer an enormous amount about the society that produced it. In this course, students will turn that inside-out: instead of using an object from the past to learn about the culture around it, students will engage deeply with futures we want to live in, and will design and fabricate artifacts to embody that understanding – in effect, bringing a small, concrete piece of that future into the present day. We now have most of the technologies we need for everyone to thrive within our planetary boundaries of energy and matter. It’s time to imagine what that world might be like, so we can do the work of building it.

Instructor: Arnet, Beat

Credits: 4   Hours: 4-4-4

Registration Note: ISIM and Circuits strongly recommended; junior or senior standing; interested sophomores should contact the instructor to discuss enrollment options.

Course Description: In this course, the student will learn the fundamentals of power electronics with a focus on different types of DC-DC converters.

The theory is taught in a hands-on fashion through simulation-based analysis and lab work.

Topics covered include power converter topologies, selection of power semiconductors, loss modeling, gate driver design, magnetics design, cycle-cycle current control, as well as debugging and testing techniques.

Student Instructors: Isa de Luis, Dan Park, Jess Brown

Faculty Advisor: Steve Matsumoto

Credits: 4

Registration Notes: This is a student-led course.

Pre-Requisites:  ENGR2510 Software Design

In this course, you will be introduced to the common data structures and algorithms that will enable you to grow as a programmer and problem solver. You will learn how to do mathematical analysis of data structures and algorithms, including run time analysis and proof of correctness. But you will also be practicing how to implement these concepts and evaluating performance in practice. By the end, you should feel comfortable approaching a computational problem from start to finish: writing pseudocode, choosing appropriate data structures, designing algorithms, and analyzing your program.

Instructor: Riccardo Puccella

Credits: 4, E:C Elective

Course Description: This is an introduction to database systems. Topics covered include:  the relational model, SQL-based querying, transactions, data structures, as well non-relational database models. The approach will be hands-on: rather than write code to interface to existing databases, we will write code to implement simplified versions of various database models and their query systems. 

Student Instructors: Rucha Dave, Anmol Sandhu, Aditi Vinod, Maya Cranor

Faculty Advisor: Victoria Preston 

Credits: 4: 2 ENGR and 2 MTH  Hours: 4-0-8

Registration Notes: This is a student-led course. This course was originally listed as ENGR 3599A, Advanced Algorithms. At the request of the student leaders and with the approval of the ARB, the course title and code have been changed, and the credits have changed from 4 ENGR credits to 2 ENGR & 2 MTH credits .

Pre-requisites: Software Design or Discrete Math 

Advanced Algorithms and Math will provide an in-depth look into certain advanced algorithms that are beyond the scope of a traditional data structures and algorithms course. The topics this course would cover are: network flow, linear programming, NP-completeness, heuristic algorithms, integer programming, SAT, and approximation algorithms. Throughout this course students will: develop and iterate on an approach to solving software engineering problems, learn to communicate and collaborate on advanced algorithm application and implementation, understand why specific advanced algorithms are used, and effectively and efficiently solve problems by using advanced algorithms

Instructor: Adams, Sarah Spence 

Credits: 4   Hours: 4-0-8

Prerequisites: QEA 1 and QEA 2

Registration Note: This class is approved as advanced math for ME and E:Robo.

Course Description: In this second offering of this course, students will design their own learning goals, including content goals related to linear algebra, abstract algebra, or other algebraic structures, and then coordinate with a small group to design their own projects/experiences to achieve those goals. This structure will allow students to improve their self-directed learning skills, develop quantitative knowledge related to algebraic structures, and apply their new learnings to applications relevant to their major or personal interests.

Short introductions to key content or applications in linear/abstract algebra will occur, particularly during the first several weeks of the course as students are deciding what to learn and how to learn it. There will be a small amount of homework on these common lessons, however, most of the work in this course will require students to take initiative to articulate their learning goals and craft projects/experiences to achieve those goals.

This class is a great match for students who have finished QEA 1 and 2 and are motivated to significantly challenge themselves to design experiences to learn advanced technical material. Based on student feedback from the first iteration of this course in Spring 2024, seniors going into graduate school or careers in technical fields are particularly encouraged to experience this course.

Instructor: Fannon, Michael

Credits: 4   Hours: 4-4-4

Course Description: The course will cover the biological fundamentals and introduce them to the practical application of principles in the growing biotech field. Students in a laboratory setting will work on tissue culture, recombinant DNA techniques, use of hydrogels, and microscopy. Students will be required to learn of new technologies through outside reading and occasionally make presentations to the class. A focus of the course will also discuss the ethical and societal issues that these technologies raise.

Instructor: Jean Huang

Credits: 4

Curriculum Role: E: Sust Intro (taken as ENGR), or Foundation Biology (taken as SCI)

Course Description: This project-based course invites students to collaborate on real-world sustainability challenges with faculty and industry partners. Working in multidisciplinary teams, students will engage with external liaisons to analyze and develop solutions to current sustainability challenges with external partners.  Students will apply skills in engineering, science, teamwork, sustainability, biology, and systems thinking.  Through this hands-on experience, students will gain insights into real-world sustainability problem-solving and apply systemic thinking for analysis and design. For Spring 2025, SIRC partners are the Wellesley Department of Public Works and Town of Wellesley Sustainability, and Green Mountain Technologies (Seattle, WA).  Students with backgrounds in Mechanical Engineering are encouraged to join the course based on the specific scope of projects for Spring '25.