Engineers will be increasingly called upon to help devise solutions to the tremendous problems of poverty, inequality, and social and environmental dislocation that afflict major parts of the globe in the 21st century. Working as an engineer in this context involves negotiating highly complex social, economic, and political realities and dealing with a wide range of institutions and actors, including national and local governments, multilateral lenders such as the World Bank, diverse non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and local communities. It also increasingly involves working in interdisciplinary teams with social scientists, public health and medical workers, humanitarian aid workers, bankers, politicians, and the like. “Sustainable” development implies a development path that is socially equitable, culturally sensitive, and environmentally appropriate over a multi-generational time frame.
The value of this program will be enhanced by some form of hands-on experiential project, whether at a field site in a developing country, in support of field workers in other divisions of the university, or in distressed communities in Baltimore. This experience is not required for the minor. It might take one of the following forms:
- Fieldwork in collaboration with Engineers Without Borders.
- Providing technical support to “clients” at Johns Hopkins (for example, at the School of Public Health) who are engaged in field projects in developing countries. This might involve, for example, developing dedicated software for data management, devising robust and easy-to-use test kits for environmental toxins or medical conditions, or facilitating interactive analysis and project planning between researchers in Baltimore and the field personnel.
- Participating in programs being developed by the JHU Center for Social Concern, with its growing service-learning component. This would allow students to work on projects in Baltimore which offers an ample field for identifying and responding to social and environmental problems.
The minor in Engineering for Sustainable Development exposes engineering students to some of the key issues related to development, methods of information-gathering in diverse and difficult settings, and working effectively with non-engineers on complex problems. The minor is open to undergraduates in any of the engineering disciplines in the Whiting School of Engineering. Students in Arts & Sciences may also pursue the minor with the permission of the program director.
For further information, please contact the minor advisor, Dr. Shere Abbott.
The information below describes the academic requirements for students entering JHU as degree-seeking students in Fall 2024. Students who entered JHU as degree-seeking students prior to Fall 2024 should view the appropriate archived catalogue.
The minor in Engineering for Sustainable Development requires 21 credits. A grade of C- or higher is required. No Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grade will be accepted. With the approval from the minor advisor, students who participate in a study abroad program for a semester can use the experience to count in place of one of the required courses.
MINOR REQUIREMENTS
Introductory Course
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EN.570.367 | Sustainability Science and Policy: The Threat of Climate Change (preferred) 1 | 3 |
| or AS.271.401 | Environmental Ethics | |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
- 1
Although both courses are acceptable, EN.570.367 Sustainability Science and Policy: The Threat of Climate Change is recommended.
Methods Course
A methods course must cover methods of gathering and evaluating information in a development context. It should be selected in consultation with the minor advisor.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| One course is required. Recommended course: | 3 | |
| Research Methods for the Social Sciences | ||
| Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Geospatial Analysis | ||
| Public Health Biostatistics | ||
| Fundamentals of Epidemiology | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Concentration Courses
The concentration courses should be selected in consultation with the minor advisor. They must be grouped around a specific theme, region, or within a specific discipline. Themes might include, for example, public health, environment, or economic development. Regions include Africa, Latin America, or Asia. Disciplinary concentrations might be in Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Public Health, or Sociology.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Two courses at any level | 6 | |
| Three courses at the 300-level or higher | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |