New Course Offerings - Spring 2009

Title: Introduction to Energy Systems 21st Century

Number: ISEN 210

Time: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday, 1-1:50

Description: This survey course provides an overview of energy issues in the context of climate change and global sustainability. Energy demands for industrial, transportation, housing, and commercial uses are presented, and strategies for demand reduction are discussed. Energy supply is presented from the points of view both of largely mature technologies (fossil and nuclear fuels, hydro power) and of upcoming renewable sources (solar, wind, geothermal, wave and tidal, and biofuels). Issues associated with energy storage (batteries) and transport (smart net) are discussed, with particular emphasis on the hydrogen economy. While this course will address many technical and scientific aspects of energy, no prerequisite technical courses are required from students. Guest lecturers will present other non-technical facets of the energy topic, including social, legal, and economic issues.

Prerequisites: none - freshmen and non-majors are very welcome

Title: Social Networks 101

Number: EECS 395 Hartline/Immorica

Time: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday, 2-2:50

Description: Did you know the winner of Americas Next Top Model is at most a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of yours? Why do the rich get richer and the poor get poorer? Is the electoral-college system broken? How can the government use subpoenaed phone call logs from AT&T, Verizon, and BellSouth to find terrorists without eavesdropping on the calls? How can Google answer your questions without understanding them? Why was 80's one-hit-wonder Rick Astley performing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in 2008? How did the virtual disease Corrupted Blood infect the entire population of the online role-playing game World of Warcraft during a single day? How do you make the most money selling your used textbooks on ebay?

Prerequisites: None

Title: Engineering Forensics

Number: CIV_ENG 395 - 0, Section 20

Time: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday, 1-1:50

Description: An overview of the practice of forensic engineering - an analytical and investigative field of engineering that lies at the intersection of fundamental components of modern society: technology, the law, and economics. Students will be exposed to many areas of forensic engineering, including: materials science, electrical and systems forensics, fire investigation, structural engineering failures, industrial facility accidents, automotive accident reconstruction, biomechanics, nuclear engineering accidents, aerospace and rail accidents, and human factors.

Prerequisites: Requires completion of engineering analysis (EA) sequence or equivalent, and standing in McCormick as a graduate student or junior or senior undergraduate. Students of all engineering fields are invited to take the course.