Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Elective Option

Students pursuing the MEAM DEI Elective Option must complete 4 course units, most of which also fulfill the MEAM BSE Electives requirements: Social Science (SS), Humanities (H), and Technology, Business, and Society (TBS) courses, and/or some of the Professional Elective (PE) courses. Therefore, the Option does not require students to take additional CUs to complete their undergraduate degrees, unless they choose to, or if they choose DEI Elective Option approved courses that are not also approved as MEAM General or Professional Electives.

Students who successfully pass the courses in the MEAM DEI Elective Option will receive a letter of completion from the MEAM Department upon graduation.

Courses and Requirements

Students pursuing the DEI Elective Option must complete 4 course units in the following categories:

Requirement 1: Impact of Technology (1 Course Unit)
Requirement 2: Community Impact (1 Course Unit)
Requirement 3: Depth (2 Course Units)

All courses taken to satisfy the MEAM DEI Elective Option must be taken for a grade. Courses may only be counted once within the DEI Elective Option (i.e. courses may not count towards more than one Requirement category). Students may petition to include a course not listed in the pre-approved list by filling out a MEAM DEI Elective Option Petition Form.

Requirement 3: Depth

• This requirement allows students to look into a wide range of departments that will expose them to people, identities, and cultures outside of their own.
• Two (2) course units are required within the areas below.
• Students may count up to one (1) course unit per area.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

Language Courses: Language courses may be counted towards a maximum of 1 CU in the Requirement 3: Depth category. These courses will be permitted on a case-by-case basis through the Petition process (link for the Petition form below). Language courses to be counted should incorporate some exploration of how language and cultures are related, and have students learn about how language can inform them about different cultures.

Paideia Program Courses: While these courses change regularly, we recommend that students look at the courses approved by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Paideia Program. Many of these courses could be counted towards Requirement 3: Depth. Students interested in counting one of these courses should submit a Petition. Students should also consult the MEAM Undergraduate Coordinator to check if and how these courses will count towards their undergraduate degrees.

Counting MEAM 0099: Independent Study towards the Impact of Technology Requirement: Students must formulate a proposal to learn established knowledge, and/or perform research to help establish new knowledge, related to DEI issues and engineering, science, or technology under the guidance of a MEAM faculty advisor. The proposal will then be submitted for review and approval by the MEAM DEI Task Force. Following that, the usual process for MEAM Independent Study credit will be followed, namely, the proposal will be submitted for approval to the MEAM Undergraduate Chair and final approval by OAS.

Counting MEAM 0099: Independent Study towards the Community Impact Requirement: Students must formulate a proposal to perform service work in the community that applies engineering principles and practice under the guidance of a MEAM faculty advisor. Assessment, research, or other academic study related to that service experience would also be required. The proposal will then be submitted for review and approval by the MEAM DEI Task Force. Following that, the usual process for MEAM Independent Study credit will be followed, namely, the proposal will be submitted for approval to the MEAM Undergraduate Chair and final approval by OAS.

ACTION FORMS:

Declare Your Intent to Pursue the MEAM DEI Elective Option. Fill out this form to declare your intent to pursue the MEAM DEI Elective Option. You can also use this form to formally withdraw from the Option.

• MEAM DEI Elective Option Formal Notice Form

Request Additional Courses. Students may submit a petition to count a course outside of the approved list towards the MEAM DEI Elective Option. Petitions are reviewed and approved by the MEAM DEI Task Force and the MEAM Department.

• MEAM DEI Elective Option Petition Form

Request Letter of Completion. Students who have completed the DEI Elective Option must submit this form by the deadline to apply for graduation in their final semester.

• MEAM DEI Elective Option Letter of Completion Request Form