How can I tell whether an engineering education will teach me not only what I can build, but what I should build?
To judge this, check whether the curriculum and syllabi address engineering ethics, safety, environmental sustainability, laws and regulations, and effects on society. In design work, look for opportunities to identify users and stakeholders, compare alternatives, and assess consequences—not just technical performance. Course assignments, student projects, assessment criteria, and questions to faculty can reveal whether students are asked to explain why something should be built as well as how.
Key points
- Check for learning on engineering ethics, safety, the environment, laws and regulations, and social impact.
- See whether design and laboratory work considers users and stakeholders, cost, risk, sustainability, and alternatives.
- Use assignment examples, student work, and grading criteria to see whether the justification and effects of a design matter alongside its technical performance.
Things to check
- Course titles alone may not show the depth or practical approach, so also check syllabi, assessment methods, and assignment examples, and ask faculty or attend information sessions when possible.
- Content and whether it is required can vary by university, faculty, program, and academic year; confirm the latest official information.