(587f) The Case for a Legal Studies Curriculum in Engineering

A novel curriculum has been designed involving the legal aspects of engineering as they apply to technology practice. The purpose of the curriculum is two-fold: 1) to make technical professionals aware of how engineering practice relates to an organization's legal duties and 2) to encourage those professionals to engage in policy debates that shape business regulation and the common law.

This paper will briefly outline the overall program which involves four courses, and focus on the content of one of those courses, Intellectual Property Law for Technical Professionals. From an educational perspective, the curriculum is a logical extension of traditional science and engineering education in that it demonstrates the practical and economic importance of applying sound technical skills. More importantly, it provides business with technologists who recognize the economic value of intellectual property and the steps required to protect that property.