ENGR 118 Impact of Culture on Engineering in China
Summer 2013 (May
06 – 30)
Click here for the program tentative itinerary for Summer 2013
Course professor: Xinli Wu, Ph.D., P.E.
Phone number: (814)863-1537
Fax number: (814)863-7229
E-mail address: Xinli@psu.edu
Course Number, Class Time, and Place: ENGR 118 Impact of Culture on Engineering in China,
travelling to various cities in China from May 06 - 30, 2013.
Office hours & location: By appointment only
Course
overview and objectives:
The course is to study engineering in the contexts of historical, cultural, societal, and environmental considerations to illustrate the relationship between Chinese culture and engineering-related projects and policies; The course will briefly introduce students to the basic scientific principles underlying their designs. This course is also designed to give students an overview of history, culture, society, and environment of China and their impacts on engineering. This will be done by studying some major engineering projects in China, such as the Three Gorges Dam, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway (with tracks built over permafrost and the highest in the world) in China, the Great Wall, the Dongtan Eco-city Project in Shanghai, etc. This course will be delivered in China for the Penn State students. Through guest speakers, field trips to some of the real engineering project sites, and some video documentaries, students will be integrated into the Chinese society to learn the topics and gain the first-hand knowledge of Chinese culture and traditions, and what roles they have played in engineering . Students will travel by air, train, cruise ship, and bus to experience the transportation systems in China. Students are required to document all the experiences they have and activities in which they participate while in China. By the end of the course, each student will be required to submit a term paper titled “The cultural impact on engineering in China”. This course will provide an example of the way in which engineering and engineering design can be affected by many factors and it can happen everywhere in the whole world.
A Brief Outline of the
Course Content:
A Listing of Major Topics to be covered:
The duration of the course in China is three to four weeks with daily relevant
preparatory material and activities, which depend on in-country travel
logistics. Prior to departure,
students are expected to attend preparatory meetings and to review orientation
material. Readings on the history and
culture of China are assigned and relevant online information are provided
before departure. The topics are covered
in an integrated manner (i.e., site visits and pre- and post-visit assignments).
As the lengths of stays in each location depend on local conditions, the length
of time that is spent on each major topic is variable.
1. Essential information and requirements for international travel to/from and
within China, such as documents and expected behavior, are presented early in
the semester prior to departure.
2. Introduction to Chinese history, politics, and cultural issues.
3. Introduction to Chinese geography, and policies affecting natural resources
and environment.
4. Chinese engineering innovations stemming from culture and history.
5. Demonstration and illustration of the impact of cultural components on the
size and scope of building projects.
6. Population policies and impact on engineering education, innovation,
manufacturing, and building.
7. Impact of climate, geography, economics, and population on transportation
systems and development of technologies.
8. The impact of Chinese culture on engineering globalization and collaboration.
Class Policies:
Punctual attendance is
mandatory for all the class periods. Course grade will be dropped to the next
lower grade for every class missed. All excused absences must be
supported by written documentation.
Academic Integrity:
Senate Policy 49-20
Academic Integrity
Definition and expectations:
Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and
responsible manner. Academic integrity is a basic guiding principle for all
academic activity at The Pennsylvania State University, and all members of the
University community are expected to act in accordance with this principle.
Consistent with this expectation, the University's Code of Conduct states that
all students should act with personal integrity, respect other students'
dignity, rights and property, and help create and maintain an environment in
which all can succeed through the fruits of their efforts.
Academic integrity includes a
commitment not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification,
misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of dishonesty violate the fundamental
ethical principles of the University community and compromise the worth of work
completed by others.
The
Related sites:
Grading System:
(1) Participation and appropriate behavior: 10%
(2) Homework assignments and observation log: 20%
(3) Presentations: 25%
(4) Final exam: 15%
(5) Final project and presentation: 30%
Total: 100%
Course inquiries: Xinli Wu, Ph.D., P.E.