B.S. in Appropriate Technology

As developed nations increase their aid to less developed countries, there is a growing recognition that high-tech solutions to problems of underdeveloped nations are no longer satisfactory. Instead, a more appropriate, or less sophisticated, technological level is necessary for these developing nations. To successfully transfer technological knowledge of this type to the Third World, a profound understanding of the mores, beliefs, and needs of the people of these nations is vital. However, it is equally important that the person involved in this transfer be highly trained in technical matters so that appropriate creative designs can be turned into practical devices. Drexel's appropriate technology major offers a unique opportunity to combine an engineering degree with practical experience in helping improve the living conditions of people in rural areas of Africa, Asia, and Latin American, as well as in poorer regions of the United States.

Features that distinguish Drexel's Appropriate Technology major are the following:

A Unique Program
Drexel's is the only undergraduate engineering-based appropriate technology major in the United States, and one of few such programs offered anywhere in the world.

Part of a Nationally Known Model Curriculum
The Drexel Engineering Curriculum (tDEC) is recognized nationally as a model that reshapes studies to meet the demands of the engineering professions. In fact, when the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, the accrediting body for all engineering programs nationwide, created a new award for educational innovation in 1990, Drexel was honored as the first recipient. All Drexel engineers participate in tDEC, foundation courses with an emphasis on teamwork and design skills. Students begin working in real engineering projects from their first term on campus. From then on, each class and project builds on the last. By their senior year, students are ready for a major, year-long project that requires true, professional-level engineering skills.

An International Focus
Most appropriate technology students complete some or all of their co-op work experience in another country. This international experience is an invaluable asset for students seeking careers in international development agencies or multinational engineering firms.

The appropriate technology program incorporates a broad-based engineering curriculum with a strong liberal education in international studies, including economics, political science, history, and anthropology. This broad perspective enables the graduate to gain a strong understanding of the culture in which he or she will be required to participate in the performance of an appropriate technology project.

Within the context of the interdisciplinary "Drexel Curriculum," students also pursue focused studies in their major. The appropriate technology coursework falls into two general categories-liberal studies and engineering studies as shown by these two lists of sample courses.

Appropriate Technology and Engineering Design
Solid and Fluid Mechanics
Engineering Geology
Basic Thermodynamics
Materials
Hydrology
Construction Materials
Soil Mechanics
Hydraulics

The Twentieth-Century World (History)
Economic Development
Politics of Developing Nations
Approaches to Intercultural Behavior
Developing Nations and the International Division of Labor
Societies in Transition: Modernization in the Third World

Because appropriate technology is an interdisciplinary program, students in the major take courses from various engineering departments and from such areas as history, business, and sociology. The program's director, Dr. Richard Rosen, holds degrees in both mechanical engineering and the history of science and technology. Dr. Rosen teaches the introductory appropriate technology course and assists students with locating co-op positions. Additional Appropriate Technology courses are taught by members of the sociology and anthropology staff. Several of these professors have had vast experience in development projects in various countries of the world.

Additional Information