The Program
Anchored by a human-centered, inclusive approach and design-thinking methodologies, engineering study at Boston College will be bolstered by a global viewpoint, ethical underpinnings, and distinctive capstone projects that address real-world challenges.
Overview
The Engineering Department at Boston College is housed within the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences. The undergraduate Human-Centered Engineering (HCE) program integrates BC's core liberal arts curriculum with courses in foundational and advanced engineering that emphasize societal responsibility. Engineering majors can expect a confluence of classroom learning, reflection opportunities, and experiential learning that extends beyond the BC campus.
At a Glance
What degrees are offered?
Students will graduate from the program with a bachelor of science.
How many credits?
The program requires 124 credits with two thirds in engineering, mathematics, and science topics and one third in liberal arts and humanities.
How will I learn?
Through a combination of campus-based classes, reflection opportunities, and project-based experiences that extend beyond BC.
Are there opportunities to work in teams?
Yes! Students will have ample opportunities to collaborate with peers and faculty both within and outside of the program.
Where will I be on campus?
Based within the Integrated Science and Engineering Center, the HCE program will be in close proximity to Higgins Hall (Biology and Physics), the Merkert Chemistry Center, and the prestigious Carroll School of Management.
Curriculum
Students will be exposed to foundational and advanced engineering topics such as the following (list is subject to change):
- Introduction to Human-Centered Engineering and Design
- Human Factors in Engineering Design
- Engineering for Development
- Engineering Foundations Studio (includes topics such as Dynamics, Circuits, Transport phenomena, Thermodynamics, Environmental Systems)
- Introduction to Data Science and Machine Learning
- Advanced electives
- Collaborative Service Engineering Project
- Senior Impact Project
Engineering Foundations Studio
As sophomores, students will embark on a year-long exploration of central engineering topics—from statics to thermodynamics—before selecting an area of concentration. The 16-credit Engineering Foundations Studio course takes a distinctive project-based approach to learning, challenging students to collaborate and solve problems in theme areas such as energy, environment and health.
Solving complex problems requires interdisciplinary training and hands-on learning.
Experiential Learning
With its emphasis on equitable problem-solving practices, the HCE program challenges students to authentically integrate the needs of society into their engineering practice. Fundamental to this approach is stepping outside the classroom to interact with users in the real world. As juniors and seniors, students will have the opportunity to broaden their experiences internationally, either through their capstone projects or by collaborating with faculty on global research.
Distinctive Features
Human-centered Design
Students will learn to work with stakeholder groups, using design-thinking strategies to develop engineering solutions that work for real people.
Engineering Core
Before declaring a concentration, all students will gain a solid foundation in engineering topics through the Engineering Fundamentals courses.
Junior Collaborative Project Lab and Senior Impact Project
As juniors and seniors, students will step outside the classroom and apply their engineering skills to real-world, human-centered projects.
Reflection
During weekly reflection sessions, students will engage with the ethical dimensions of engineering by considering their training in the context of the needs of society.
Math and Science
As a foundation to their engineering studies, students must successfully complete basic math and science requirements including calculus and physics.
Liberal Arts Core
By taking liberal arts classes outside their major, engineering students will begin to stimulate rich interdisciplinary interactions with peers across the college.
Career Opportunities
A degree in human-centered engineering can lead to numerous career paths, such as the ones below.
Product Design Engineer in Healthcare Sector
Environmental Policy Consultant
Engineer at Alternative Energy Startup
Technical Analyst at Social Impact NGOs
Graduate studies in Engineering
Program Manager in High-Tech Sector
The following are the learning outcomes of the program:
Students will have a deep appreciation for the ways their actions impact human society and the environment at large.
Students will be able to apply a breadth and depth of appropriate engineering sciences knowledge, skills, and techniques from different fields to solve complex engineering problems.
Students will apply their skills and knowledge through creative problem solving.
Students will have an appreciation for engineering as an inherently human endeavor, and will take a human-centered approach as engineers.
Students will be lifelong learners who have the ability and confidence to acquire new skills and knowledge, using technologies yet to be developed, in order to address problems yet to be identified.
Students will work fluently as active contributors in multidisciplinary teams to identify and implement engineering solutions nested within complex problems.
Students will be able to effectively translate their ideas through written, oral, visual, and other forms of communication.
Students will be entrepreneurially-minded and will have the confidence and competence to realize ideas.