4H03: Engineering: Its History, Philosophy, and Workings

Term l - 2006/2007

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INSTRUCTOR:
Professor. A. A. Harms
Office Hours: 3:00 to 4:00, T to F, or by appointment

OBJECTIVE:
To aid the students in acquiring an understanding of engineering in terms of (i) its history, (ii) its cultural embedding, and (iii) its continuing emergence.

CONTENT:
Introduction, progressions, prehistoric/ancient/medieval engineering, renascent/
expansive/modern engineering, engineering-civilization mutualism, contemporary perspective on engineered devices (risk, failure, innovation, reliability….), aspects of professional practice (intellectual property, professional ethics, projections in time, historical illustrations,…).

TEXT:
A.A. Harms, et al, Engineering in Time, Imperial College Press (2004)

Text/References:
The following books have been placed on Reserve Reading in the Thode Library:

• Basalla, G., The Evolution of Technology, Cambridge (1998)
• Cardwell, D.S., Fontana History of Technology, Fontana (1994)
• Carlson, W.B., Technology in World History, Oxford (2005)
• Harms, A.A., et al, Engineering in Time, Imperial (2004)
• Pacey, A., The Maze of Ingenuity, MIT (1992)
• Pool, R., Beyond Engineering, Oxford (1997)
• Rae, J., et al, The Engineer in History, Lang (1993)
• Student Term Papers (from previous years)

SCHEDULE:
Three lecture hours/wk, Term 1

PREREQUISITE:
Registration in Level IV or V of any Engineering Program

ANTIREQUSITE:
Engineering 4A03

GRADING:

TERM DATES:

The instructor and university reserve the right to modify elements of the course during the term. The university may change the dates and deadlines for any or all courses in extreme circumstances. If either type of modification becomes necessary, reasonable notice and communication with the students will be given with explanation and the opportunity to comment on changes. It is the responsibility of the student to check their McMaster email and course websites weekly during the term and to note any changes.