Courses & Services

In response to recent reports from the National Academy of Engineering, the National Research Council, the National Science Foundation, and the OSU studies of general education, it is clear that the College has a responsibility and opportunity to contribute further to the general education of both engineering and non-engineering students, primarily in the area of technological literacy. The EED will meet this responsibility through a development of courses and services in several key areas:

  1. Engineering Law
  2. Minors appropriate to non-engineers
  3. Entrepreneurship courses
  4. Technical writing assistance
  5. Engineering history courses
  6. Leadership and teamwork courses
  7. Service-Learning
  8. Humanitarian Engineering

Engineering Minors

The EED currently offers an Engineering Sciences minor. Please see the minors section of the website for more information on the opportunities offered for non-engineering searching for a technical background in their education.

Technical Writing

Engineering students are required to fulfill a second writing requirement beyond a basic English course. The EED has developed a writing course geared towards students in any major that are interested in learning about technology. This course, ENGR 2367, helps improve a student's writing, reading, and thinking skills within the context of technology and engineering. The EED is proud to offer a course that satisfies both the GE second writing and GE American diversity requirements.  The course is delivered by professional writing instructors from the Technical Communications Resources Center (TCRC).

History of Engineering Courses

To fill an unmet need for courses which present a historic perspective of engineering and technology, the EED has developed two new courses, Engineering 2361, History of Ancient Engineering, and 2362, History of American Technology. These were first offered in AY08-09. Each course has been designated as a GEC History Studies course and provides a broad chronological overview with special attention to the interrelationships of change between engineering and technology. Each course meets the learning objectives of the historical thought category of general education curriculum model.

Leadership and Teamwork Courses

Working in teams is a key component of being an engineer. This is why the EED offers two courses to help students become better leaders and team members. The skills that students learn through these courses translate to the classroom, to group projects, and to each student's future.

Service - Learning

The EED is proud to offer a course designed for those students who are looking to make a difference in the world through community service. The main community service project involves going to Honduras to offer technological assistance to a variety of areas during spring break.

Humanitarian Engineering

“Humanitarian” has been defined as “concerned with or seeking to promote human welfare” (Apple dictionary), which is quite a bit broader than typical interpretations of this word (e.g., it does not just apply to disasters or international work, but local/domestic work). 

Humanitarian engineering is the creation of technology to promote human welfare.

Prerequisites:  Undergraduates who have taken ENGR 1182 or ENGR 1282, graduate student standing, or permission of instructor.

Visit the website for Humanitarian Engineering:  https://osuhe.engineering.osu.edu/