Engineers in Technical, Humanitarian Opportunities of Service-Learning (ETHOS)

About the Program

ETHOS is founded on the belief that engineers are more apt and capable to serve our world more appropriately when they have experienced opportunities that increase their understanding of technology's global linkage with values, culture, society, politics, and economy.

ETHOS seeks to provide experiential learning through service-learning internships, student organization activities, collaborative research and hands-on classroom projects that support the development of appropriate technologies for the developing world, locally and globally. Such experiences expose students to alternative, non-traditional technologies that are based on fundamental science and engineering principles, but have tangible and immediate impacts on improving the lives of those who use them. ETHOS maintains as its educational objective to challenge students to think creatively and independently, to work as a team and communicate effectively, and address issues of appropriate technology, environmental ethics, social responsibility, and cultural sensitivity. Such exposure, both inside and outside the classroom, allows students to recognize the far-reaching effects, positive and negative, of engineering and technology and thus the responsibilities of being an engineer in our ever-increasing global society.

Students will apply for admission to the two-part program, which begins with an Appropriate Technology course in the spring, followed by a summer overseas or domestic technical immersion placement.

Students will be placed at an internship site in South or Central America, Africa, or Asia as part of a small group. Students are directly supervised by their host organization.

Curricular Options

EGR 330 Engineering Design and Appropriate Technology is a required course for participation in the ETHOS Program. It is a 1-3 credit hour course offered in the spring semester. EGR 330 is an experiential course in appropriate technology and engineering design which spans the spring and summer semesters and includes language preparation, cultural immersion, selected readings, and discussions on appropriate technology, and a ten week summer service-learning experience focused on technical or engineering related work in a developing country. Prerequisite(s): Sophomore, Junior or Senior status; permission of instructor.

Program Contact

Wyatt Elbin, ETHOS Coordinator

Eligibility

Participants must have at least sophomore status prior to their technical immersion. Students must be in good academic and disciplinary standing. This program is open to both engineering and business students. Students from other majors may participate by permission.

Cost and Refund Policy

Students are responsible for $1,000 of the program costs. Students are eligible for a refund of monies until airline tickets are purchased for participants, which usually occurs by April 1 each spring semester. See budget sheet for specific cost information and the refund policy for this program.

Additional Information

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