From Henry V To Starman: Linking The Humanities And Social Sciences To Engineering

ABET criteria require engineering programs to demonstrate that their graduates have, among other things, “the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context” and “a knowledge of contemporary issues.” These outcomes are usually addressed with curriculum requirements for courses in the humanities and social sciences. However, without additional mechanisms for making a connection between these courses and the engineering profession, it is doubtful that most students will fully realize the relevance and value of the material. This paper describes efforts to link the humanities and social sciences to traditional engineering courses through the use of brief vignettes based on historical events, plays, songs, movies, and other forms of art. The vignettes are chosen to introduce or highlight selected engineering topics and/or demonstrate the impact of engineering on individuals and/or society. In addition to helping students understand the relevance of the humanities and social sciences in their work as engineers, the vignettes can also serve to demonstrate real world applications of engineering principles, increase the appeal of the engineering profession for some students, provide active learning opportunities, promote efficient use of instructional time, and add an element of fun to the classroom. Examples based on the movie Starman, Shakespeare’s play Henry V, and the song The Wreck of the Old 97 are included.