Ethics in Engineering from Coursera

Explore unique case studies in engineering ethics. In this four-week course, you’ll examine different historical case studies and understand how they led to classic engineering failures.

Though each case is unique and has a distinct context, they all share common themes; a backstory, a disastrous event, a post-event with ramifications, and outcomes.

For each case, you’ll watch and hear video lectures and explore foundational literature. You’ll also have the opportunity to discuss the case in detail and check your knowledge through quizzes and reflections on your understanding of the case. This format will help you develop a working knowledge of ethical foundations.

Delve into four case studies, including the VW emissions scandal, the failure of the Denver airport baggage system, the fatal case of the Therac 25 radiation machine, and the software failure of the Ariane 5 rocket launch.

With each case, you’ll identify key aspects that led to the engineering failures and discuss the outcomes of the failures.

You’ll also explore the significance of each case and how they led to corrective actions.

Develop your knowledge of engineering alongside experts in the industry. The course will help you reflect on engineering as a design discipline and its impact on humans.

You’ll be guided by Dr. David Chesney, an expert in both industry and academics with 20 years of experience at General Motors Corporation and 20 years working at the University of Michigan. Dr. Chesney’s background is in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Computer Science and he is the Toby Teorey Collegiate Lecturer in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan College of Engineering.

This course will be particularly useful for engineering students and professionals, although no prior experience is required.

What's inside

Syllabus

Week 1

Welcome to the Ethics in Engineering Course! Let’s get to know each other, meet Dr. Chesney, and get an overview of what we will learn.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Examines negative consequences of engineering failures, fostering responsible decision-making and ethical considerations

Led by Dr. David Chesney, renowned for his expertise in Mechanical, Biomedical, and Computer Engineering

Develops critical thinking through detailed case study analysis, enhancing learners' understanding of ethical implications in engineering

Covers diverse and relatable case studies, providing learners with a comprehensive perspective on ethical dilemmas in engineering

Suitable for students seeking to enhance their ethical decision-making skills in the engineering field

Course format combines video lectures and quizzes, fostering engagement and knowledge retention

Reviews summary

Engineering ethics through real-world cases

According to learners, this course offers a solid foundation in engineering ethics, primarily through its focus on real-world case studies like the VW emissions scandal and the Therac-25 machine. Many students highlight Dr. David Chesney as an excellent and insightful instructor, praising his ability to connect theory with his extensive industry experience. The content is often described as highly relevant and provides practical implications for engineering practice. While the course provides a well-structured overview and features helpful quizzes and reflections, some advanced learners have noted that the foundational material can be basic or that the pace felt fast at times. A few suggest a broader scope for emerging ethical dilemmas. Overall, it's considered a valuable learning experience, especially for those seeking an introduction or a refresher in the subject.

Provides a strong ethical foundation suitable for students and professionals.

"This course provides a solid foundation in engineering ethics through well-structured case studies."

"The quizzes and reflections helped solidify my understanding."

"The content is highly relevant to anyone working in engineering, regardless of discipline."

The course's use of specific engineering failures is highly effective and practical.

"I especially appreciated the deep dive into the Therac-25 and Ariane 5 incidents."

"This course provides a solid foundation in engineering ethics through well-structured case studies."

"I found the practical implications of each case study incredibly valuable. Understanding how these failures occurred..."

"Each case study is analyzed in surprising depth, which is great. It's not just a superficial overview."

Dr. David Chesney receives high praise for his clear explanations and industry background.

"Dr. Chesney's lectures are incredibly insightful, bringing the case studies to life with his industry experience."

"Dr. Chesney is a fantastic instructor."

"Dr. Chesney explains complex ethical dilemmas clearly using real-world examples."

"Instructor's insights are gold. I learned a lot."

A desire for discussion on emerging ethical dilemmas in modern engineering.

"I felt the scope could be broader, maybe touching on emerging ethical dilemmas in AI or biotech engineering."

"I wished for...perhaps some contemporary examples."

"I was looking for more advanced ethical frameworks."

Some learners found the pace fast, while others desired more advanced ethical frameworks.

"The historical case studies are informative, but I wished for more interactive elements beyond just quizzes or perhaps some contemporary examples."

"While the content is important, as an experienced engineer, I found some of the foundational material a bit basic."

"The course is informative, but the pace felt a little fast at times, especially when trying to digest the details of each case study."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Ethics in Engineering with these activities:

Review Engineering Fundamentals

Show steps

Refresh your understanding of core engineering concepts to strengthen your foundation for the course.

Browse courses on Thermodynamics

Show steps

Review textbooks or online resources on key engineering disciplines.
Solve practice problems.
Attend a refresher course or workshop.

Seek Mentorship from Industry Professionals

Show steps

Connect with experienced engineers who can provide guidance and share industry insights on ethical practices.

Show steps

Identify potential mentors who work in the field of engineering ethics.
Reach out to potential mentors and express your interest in learning from them.
Meet with your mentor regularly to discuss ethical challenges and best practices.

Read 'Engineering Ethics: Concepts and Cases' by Harris, Pritchard, and Rabins

Show steps

Gain insights into engineering ethics principles and real-world case studies.

View Engineering Ethics: Concepts and Cases on Amazon

Show steps

Read each chapter and take notes on key concepts.
Reflect on the ethical dilemmas presented in the case studies.
Participate in class discussions or forums on the book's content.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Case Study Analysis Drills

Show steps

Reinforce your critical thinking and problem-solving skills by analyzing engineering case studies.

Show steps

Identify key issues and failure points in the case study.
Analyze the ethical implications of the engineering decisions.
Propose alternative solutions or recommendations.

Participate in Ethics Discussion Groups

Show steps

Engage in discussions with peers to exchange perspectives and deepen your understanding of ethical issues.

Show steps

Join or start a study group focused on engineering ethics.
Prepare for discussions by reading assigned materials and considering ethical perspectives.
Actively participate in group discussions, sharing insights and listening to others' perspectives.

Develop an Engineering Ethics Poster

Show steps

Synthesize your understanding of ethical principles and create a visual representation of key concepts.

Show steps

Identify key ethical frameworks and concepts.
Design a visually appealing poster.
Summarize ethical principles and provide real-world examples.
Share your poster with peers for feedback.

Contribute to Open Source Projects on Ethics

Show steps

Get involved in open-source initiatives that promote ethical considerations in engineering.

Show steps

Identify open-source projects related to engineering ethics.
Review the project's documentation and codebase.
Identify areas where you can contribute your skills and knowledge.
Submit pull requests or report issues to contribute to the project.

Career center

Learners who complete Ethics in Engineering will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Engineering Manager

An Engineering Manager plans, organizes, and controls the operations within an engineering or technical department. This course may be useful in helping you learn how to identify and avoid engineering failures, which can be critical to success in this role. Additionally, the course can help you develop your knowledge of engineering ethics, which can be important for making decisions that are in the best interest of the public.

See salaries and explore the career path for Engineering Manager

Product Safety Manager

A Product Safety Manager develops and implements product safety programs, and ensures that products meet safety regulations. This course may be useful in helping you learn how to identify and avoid engineering failures, which can be critical to success in this role. Additionally, the course can help you develop your knowledge of engineering ethics, which can be important for making decisions that are in the best interest of the public.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Safety Manager

Quality Assurance Manager

A Quality Assurance Manager plans and executes quality assurance programs to ensure that products and services meet quality standards. This course may be useful in helping you learn how to identify and avoid engineering failures, which can be critical to success in this role. Additionally, the course can help you develop your knowledge of engineering ethics, which can be important for making decisions that are in the best interest of the public.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Manager

Design Engineer

A Design Engineer designs and develops products, systems, or components. This course may be useful in helping you learn how to identify and avoid engineering failures, which can be critical to success in this role. Additionally, the course can help you develop your knowledge of engineering ethics, which can be important for making decisions that are in the best interest of the public.

See salaries and explore the career path for Design Engineer

Systems Engineer

A Systems Engineer designs, develops, and integrates complex systems. This course may be useful in helping you learn how to identify and avoid engineering failures, which can be critical to success in this role. Additionally, the course can help you develop your knowledge of engineering ethics, which can be important for making decisions that are in the best interest of the public.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Engineer

Manufacturing Engineer

A Manufacturing Engineer plans and oversees the production of products. This course may be useful in helping you learn how to identify and avoid engineering failures, which can be critical to success in this role. Additionally, the course can help you develop your knowledge of engineering ethics, which can be important for making decisions that are in the best interest of the public.

See salaries and explore the career path for Manufacturing Engineer

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer designs, develops, and maintains software systems. This course may be useful in helping you learn how to identify and avoid engineering failures, which can be critical to success in this role. Additionally, the course can help you develop your knowledge of engineering ethics, which can be important for making decisions that are in the best interest of the public.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Chemical Engineer

A Chemical Engineer designs and operates chemical plants and processes. This course may be useful in helping you learn how to identify and avoid engineering failures, which can be critical to success in this role. Additionally, the course can help you develop your knowledge of engineering ethics, which can be important for making decisions that are in the best interest of the public.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chemical Engineer

Civil Engineer

A Civil Engineer designs and builds infrastructure projects. This course may be useful in helping you learn how to identify and avoid engineering failures, which can be critical to success in this role. Additionally, the course can help you develop your knowledge of engineering ethics, which can be important for making decisions that are in the best interest of the public.

See salaries and explore the career path for Civil Engineer

Electrical Engineer

An Electrical Engineer designs and builds electrical systems. This course may be useful in helping you learn how to identify and avoid engineering failures, which can be critical to success in this role. Additionally, the course can help you develop your knowledge of engineering ethics, which can be important for making decisions that are in the best interest of the public.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electrical Engineer

Mechanical Engineer

A Mechanical Engineer designs and builds mechanical systems. This course may be useful in helping you learn how to identify and avoid engineering failures, which can be critical to success in this role. Additionally, the course can help you develop your knowledge of engineering ethics, which can be important for making decisions that are in the best interest of the public.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mechanical Engineer

Nuclear Engineer

A Nuclear Engineer designs and operates nuclear power plants. This course may be useful in helping you learn how to identify and avoid engineering failures, which can be critical to success in this role. Additionally, the course can help you develop your knowledge of engineering ethics, which can be important for making decisions that are in the best interest of the public.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nuclear Engineer

Petroleum Engineer

A Petroleum Engineer designs and operates oil and gas wells. This course may be useful in helping you learn how to identify and avoid engineering failures, which can be critical to success in this role. Additionally, the course can help you develop your knowledge of engineering ethics, which can be important for making decisions that are in the best interest of the public.

See salaries and explore the career path for Petroleum Engineer

Biomedical Engineer

A Biomedical Engineer designs and builds medical devices and systems. This course may be useful in helping you learn how to identify and avoid engineering failures, which can be critical to success in this role. Additionally, the course can help you develop your knowledge of engineering ethics, which can be important for making decisions that are in the best interest of the public.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biomedical Engineer

Environmental Engineer

An Environmental Engineer designs and builds systems to protect the environment. This course may be useful in helping you learn how to identify and avoid engineering failures, which can be critical to success in this role. Additionally, the course can help you develop your knowledge of engineering ethics, which can be important for making decisions that are in the best interest of the public.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Engineer