HIST1627

Making the Modern World: Design, Ethics & Engineering

This is a Complex Problem course and is open to FRESHMEN only. You must take ENGR1801 with this course. Together we will consider how engineers and other stakeholders navigate risks related to industrial and environmental disasters, balance financial, technological, and regulatory pressures associated with complex socio-technical problems, and negotiate technical and political liabilities surrounding artificial intelligence, surveillance, and climate adaptation. Engineering systems present pressing technical, ethical, and moral problems that we must grapple with as engaged global citizens. In this course, students will explore the social, cultural, and institutional history of engineering, learn foundational skills in quantitative analysis of real-world engineering designs, and understand the political, environmental, economic, and ethical tradeoffs associated with building the modern world. Students will collaborate on group design projects based on human-centered engineering.

Course overview

Department
History
School
MCAS
Credits
0

Requirements fulfilled

  • University Core: Cultural Diversity (All undergraduates)
  • University Core: History II (All undergraduates)

Requirement eligibility can vary by school, cohort, and section. Confirm the selected section in EagleApps or with an advisor.

Official evaluation summary

4.14 / 5

Based on 720 aggregate responses from BC Avalanche/Blue evaluations.

Data freshness

Course and evaluation data last updated 2026-07-23. Source details and limitations are documented in Data Sources and Methodology.

Instructors

Sections

  • Section 01
    Fall 2026 · Jenna A Tonn · 245 Beacon Street Room 107 TuTh 10:30AM-11:45AM · Offered
  • Section 02
    Fall 2026 · Siddhant Joshi · 245 Beacon Street Room 311 M 10:00AM-11:50AM · Offered
  • Section 03
    Fall 2026 · Siddhant Joshi · 245 Beacon Street Room 311 M 02:00PM-03:50PM · Offered
  • Section 04
    Fall 2026 · Siddhant Joshi · 245 Beacon Street Room 302 Tu 12:00 Noon-01:50PM · Offered
  • Section 05
    Fall 2026 · Siddhant Joshi · 245 Beacon Street Room 311 Tu 03:00PM-04:50PM · Offered
  • Section 06
    Fall 2026 · Jenna A Tonn · 245 Beacon Street Room 107 Th 06:00PM-07:15PM · Offered