Academics

Through its innovative, cross-disciplinary educational approach, LPE prepares the next generation of leaders to bring together knowledge from engineering, law, and policy together to address complex societal issues.

Carefully crafted interdisciplinary programs with representation from the College of Engineering, Penn State Law at University Park, and the School of International Affairs provide Penn State undergraduate and graduate students with the necessary cross-cutting knowledge to fill a known gap and lead this transformative discipline.

Graduate Programs

Master of Engineering in Engineering, Law, and Policy

Based in the School of Engineering Design, Technology, and Professional Programs, the master of engineering in engineering, law, and policy combines expert research and education from the College of Engineering, Penn State Law at University Park, and the School of International Affairs. Seen as an alternative to the MBA degree, the 30-credit master's degree focuses on policy and law systems and the way emerging technologies interact with and enter into these and other existing systems.

Graduate Minor in Engineering, Law, and Policy

Available as part of the engineering, law, and policy (ELP) graduate program, the ELP graduate minor is offered through the School of Engineering Design, Technology, and Professional Programs (SEDTAPP) in the College of Engineering. Students with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics backgrounds interested in enhancing their educational, research, and engagement opportunities and understanding the convergence between technology, law, and policy for the successful development and implementation of technology-based strategies and solutions, are encouraged to apply

With a variety of technical elective focus areas to choose from across the College of Engineering, the School of International Affairs, and Penn State Law, the ELP minor can help students excel at careers in consultancy, industry, government, startups, academics, non-profits, and more.

Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate Degrees

There are a number of different industries and careers in which students may choose to enter, some of which may be in the international context or have international elements. Given the interdisciplinary nature of these evolving engineering and technical fields, an interdisciplinary program can help to prepare students for their future careers and prepare the next generation of engineers to work in an increasingly globalized context.

A partnership between the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the School of International Affairs provides students with an opportunity to complete both a bachelor of science degree and a master of international affairs in five years.

In the fields of computer engineering, computer science, and electrical engineering there are a number of different industries and careers in which students may choose to enter, some of which may be in the international context or have international elements. Given the interdisciplinary nature of this evolving field, an interdisciplinary program can help to prepare students for their future careers and prepare the next generation of computer engineers to work in an increasingly globalized context.

Degrees

Integrated bachelor of science in computer engineering and master of international affairs in international affairs
Integrated bachelor of science in computer science and master of international affairs in international affairs
Integrated bachelor of science in electrical engineering and master of international affairs in international affairs
Integrated bachelor of science in aerospace engineering and master of international affairs in international affairs

Courses*

LPE 851: Foundations in Public Law (3 credits)

A foundation course for engineers and other non-law graduate students on how public law regulates engineering, science, and technology policy: how the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government interact to form science and technology policy, how administrative agencies and regulations implement that policy, and how the judicial review of legislation and regulation affects policies, regulations, and systems.

LPE 852: Foundations in Private Law (3 credits)

A foundation course for engineers and other non-law graduate students on how engineering, science, and technology are affected by private law; including employment/labor, mergers and acquisitions, antitrust, intellectual property, torts, financial instruments, fiduciary duties, and criminal law.

LPE 853: Engineering, Law, and Policy Systems (3 credits)

An interdisciplinary course providing a broad exploration of the relationship between engineering, policy, and law. From driverless cars to AI-powered systems, engineering is transforming public and private spaces. This course identifies the legal and political constraints engineering solutions must satisfy to be implemented within complex engineering systems.

LPE 854: Engineering, Law, and Technology Policy Practicum (3 credits)

This course addresses current pressing issues in innovation, technology policy, and law through the eyes of policymakers. Students work on public-facing projects in interdisciplinary teams applying strategic technology policy, regulatory concepts, and systems thinking to real-world policy issues to assist relevant policymakers in their policy decision-making process.

ENGR 497: Design4Justice (3 credits)

Using human-centered design principles, interdisciplinary teams of students will work in a lab/studio virtual environment. Students will work to develop innovative digital tools and data-driven solutions at the intersection of technology and public interest to help improve legal services delivery, access to the civil justice system, and/or enhance stakeholder participation through open innovation practices in public policy. Projects will be selected in collaboration with the legal clinics at Penn State Law at University Park, local government, and/or non-governmental organizations where technology can be developed and used for the public good fostering greater access, inclusion, empowerment, and social justice.

ENGR 497: Biomedical Engineering, Law, and Policy (3 credits)

This seminar course explores ethical, legal, and policy issues relevant to biomedical engineering and precision health. Through directed readings, students will gain an understanding of disruptive innovations in medicine—the technological innovations and the corresponding changes in ethical, legal, and regulatory frameworks that apply to them. Topics to be covered include, e.g., biohacking, citizen science, and civil rights; medical device regulations and consumer protections for mobile health apps, trackers, wearables, implantables, and AI/ML algorithms; governance of human genome editing; bioprinting, equity, transhumanism, and One Health; information privacy and biomedical data governance; biases, discrimination, accountability, and fairness in precision medicine; the learning healthcare system; and more. This course is offered as part of the Law, Policy, and Engineering initiative. This course was designed and offered by Dr. Jennifer Wagner.

ENGR 497: Datafied Cultures and Privacy Law (3 credits)

This seminar course explores ethical, legal, and policy issues relevant to biomedical engineering and precision health. Through directed readings, students will gain an understanding of disruptive innovations in medicine—the technological innovations and the corresponding changes in ethical, legal, and regulatory frameworks that apply to them. Topics to be covered include, e.g., biohacking, citizen science, and civil rights; medical device regulations and consumer protections for mobile health apps, trackers, wearables, implantables, and AI/ML algorithms; governance of human genome editing; bioprinting, equity, transhumanism, and One Health; information privacy and biomedical data governance; biases, discrimination, accountability, and fairness in precision medicine; the learning healthcare system; and more. This course is offered as part of the Law, Policy, and Engineering initiative. This course was designed and offered by Dr. Jennifer Wagner.

LPE 497/ENGR 497 Genetics Law (3 Credits)

Human genetic and genomic technologies have made considerable advances within the last 20 years, but with those advances have come several challenging legal and ethical issues. This course will take an advanced look at human genetic/omic technologies and the diverse areas of law implicated by their application. This course was designed and offered by Dr. Jennifer Wagner.

LPE 597 Engineers and Scientists Shaping Policy (3 Credits)

Policy influences and is influenced by science and technology. This course is intended to provide students with knowledge and skills to integrate policy implications into their engineering and scientific research design and to prepare students to be effective agents of change, as engineers and scientists, in both public and private policy. This course was designed and offered by Dr. Jennifer Wagner.

New one-credit 'hot topic' short courses for spring 2024:

LPE 497.002 FemTech and Digital Health Privacy
LPE 497.003 Introduction to U.S. Biometrics Law
LPE 497.004 Emerging Law & Ethics for Biomedical AI

For more information about these short courses, contact Dr. Jennifer Wagner.

Looking for a course for summer 2024?

Consider AMD 500 Legal Issues in Additive Manufacturing (2 credits; June 27 – August 7)

*New law, policy, and engineering courses are continuously being developed.