Ritter appointed Engineering Design 100 course chair

08/21/18

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Sarah Ritter, assistant teaching professor in the School of Engineering Design, Technology, and Professional Programs (SEDTAPP), has been appointed as the course chair for Engineering Design (EDSGN) 100: Introduction to Engineering Design.

In this role, Ritter will be responsible for coordinating the course and leading curricular updates University-wide. EDSGN 100 is taught annually to more than 3,500 students at 20 campuses, including more than 50 sections annually at University Park.

“I am passionate about engineering education and am excited to collaborate with others to bring new ideas to EDSGN 100 to ensure that the course continues to be exciting and relevant and that it positively impacts our future engineers,” she said. “In this role, my priorities include working towards better consistency of skill development across all sections of EDSGN 100 and continued updates to the course to enable students to meet the needs of both the engineering curricula and industry.”

Many of the current course updates have been supported by a grant from the Leonhard Center for Enhancement of Engineering Education.

As many students’ first engineering course, EDSGN 100 provides students with a foundation for engineering design through hands-on team-based projects that address specific design opportunities. The concepts and skills taught in the course help students recognize the roles that engineers have in improving the health, safety, and welfare of the global community.

“I am excited to have Professor Ritter take on this very important role within SEDTAPP and the College,” said Sven Bilén, head of SEDTAPP. “Her passion for teaching this class is infectious, and her rapport with students is amazing. She will take what is already a great course to the next level in providing a solid ‘cornerstone’ design experience for engineering students.”

“EDSGN 100 is foundational to developing key engineering design and problem-solving skills. Engineering requires not only strong technical skills but also professional skills, such as teamwork and communication, which are highlighted in EDSGN 100,” Ritter said. “Further, EDSGN 100 is uniquely suited to showcase the role of engineering in society and to inspire the next generation of engineers.”

Students are exposed to a range of design tools and techniques in EDSGN 100. In addition to learning the engineering design process, critical thinking skills and engineering concepts, students develop and practice professional skills such as communication, collaboration and ethical decision making in the course.

“Engineering problems do not typically have one ‘right’ answer and are not solved without diversity of thought, systems thinking, multidisciplinary teams, and creative problem solving – all of which are foundational to EDSGN 100,” Ritter said.