Are you considering a career in engineering? Are you curious about how cutting-edge science is used by engineers to make our lives better?

This six-week online course challenges students to apply engineering concepts and principles as they learn how to address both theoretical and real-world problems. Among the challenges you will investigate:

• The demand for energy is expected to grow 30 percent by 2030. What role can engineers play in developing renewable energy sources?
• In what ways can engineers help solve some of the most pressing medical challenges, including the national shortage of organs for transplantation?
• What is nanotechnology and how is it being used to develop the materials to bring the concept of an elevator to space into reality?

Build your skills and prepare for success:

• Interpret data and use mathematics and science to solve complex engineering problems.
• Evaluate problems and their solutions within economic, manufacturing, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, and sustainability constraints.
• Practice effective communication and problem solving while also learning how to work in teams.
• Analyze engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental and social contexts.

How you will learn:

• Team design projects
• Individual and group problem-solving labs
• Self-paced online training modules and self-check quizzes
• Online instructor-led discussion groups
• Readings and graded writing assignments

An online course developed by Brown’s expert Engineering faculty

Karen Haberstroh
Dr. Haberstroh's research addresses the use of novel nano-structured polymeric materials in soft tissue engineering applications. In addition to her research accomplishments, Dr. Haberstroh is dedicated to engineering and science education, and especially focuses on novel methods of education geared toward increasing the percentages of females and minorities in various physical science fields.

Thomas Webster
Dr. Webster directs the Nanomedicine Laboratory which designs, synthesizes, and evaluates nanomaterials for various implant applications. Nanomaterials are central to the field of nanotechnology and are materials with one dimension less than 100 nm.

Christopher Bull
Dr. Bull’s research interests include: alternative transportation, sustainable design, neural recording and stimulation systems, and experimental mechanics. He is especially interested in building intelligent systems that incorporate environmental and occupant information to achieve greater building and vehicle efficiency. Dr. Bull directs the Mechanical Testing Facility for the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center and is the co-editor of, "Field Guide of Appropriate Technology" (2002).

Is this course right for you?

Students who have completed Algebra 1 are best prepared to participate in this course. This course also includes basic concepts from Trigonometry. Supporting materials will be provided, but an understanding of these concepts is suggested prior to enrollment.
During each week of this six-week course you will spend about five hours completing your course assignments. The majority of your course time will be spent completing interactive self-study programs, participating in virtual activities with your student group, or in communication with your classmates and instructors.

Technical requirements for this online course:

• All coursework must be submitted in .doc or .pdf format
• High speed internet access
• Headphones or speakers
• Microphone
• Adobe Flash Player v10
• DVD player (TV or computer)
• Browser requirements:
  • Windows 2000 or later with Internet Explorer 7.0 or higher or Firefox 2.0 or later
  • Mac OS 10 with Firefox

Course Dates:

February 13 – March 27, 2010

Tuition and fees for this six-week non-credit online course:

• Students registered through November 30, 2009: $1,850
• Students registered December 1, 2009 – February 12, 2010: $1,950
• Course books and supplies: approximately $50