Engineering Management and Leadership

Engineering Leadership
https://www.rcelconnect.org/
Abercrombie Lab
713-348-3181

C. Fred Higgs, III
Faculty Director
higgs@rice.edu

Kazimir I. Karwowski
Executive Director
kazimir.i.karwowski@rice.edu

The mission of the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL) is to educate and develop and inspire Rice Engineers to become ethical leaders in technology who will excel in research, industry, enabling (non-engineering) career paths, or bold entrepreneurship.

At the undergraduate level, RCEL programming enhances traditional education by developing skills that are not expressly covered by the traditional curricula from the School of Engineering. The undergraduate Certificate in Engineering Leadership is designed to familiarize undergraduate students with key leadership concepts and allow them to practice the skills necessary to function effectively in a variety of leadership roles in a global and national economy within a workplace, which is often increasingly diverse and multicultural. Through coursework, extracurricular activities, internship support, and community events, the Certificate in Engineering Leadership lays a foundation for leadership advancement within 3-5 years of graduation while also teaching students to envision their career impact beyond the 10-year horizon. RCEL programming covers a range of important competency domains, including such topics as creative problem-solving, conflict resolution, developing self-awareness, setting goals, project management, oral/written communication, teamwork, and ethics.

At the graduate level, the professional Master of Engineering Management and Leadership (MEML) allows engineers to plan their career path within a company along the engineering management and leadership track helping fulfill both organizational and personal goals. MEML programming covers a range of important competency domains, including such topics as creative problem-solving, conflict resolution, engineering project management, oral/written communication, and advanced technical teamwork. Engineering management covers the gap between engineering and management, namely the combination of technical decision-making with analytical skills, optimization capabilities, and technical product development.  

Additionally, the Center offers two standalone and stackable graduate Certificates of Engineering Management and Leadership (CEML), one in Engineering Project Management and the other in Product Management for Engineering Leaders. The CEML program allows talented technical professionals to enroll in graduate-level engineering courses and earn a transcripted credential without completing an entire master’s degree. Graduate certificate students can gain partial exposure to the high-quality Rice education, yet not make a full commitment to a full graduate degree all at once. However, the two CEML certificates are stackable, and graduate students who pursue a CEML certificate may decide to continue on, or return for a MEML degree.

Faculty Director

C. Fred Higgs, III, John and Ann Doerr Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Executive Director

Kazimir I. Karwowski

Associate Director

John Via

Professors in the Practice

Steve Gomez
Joshua Gray
James P. Hennessy
Sergio D. Kapusta
Tom Phalen
David A. Van Kleeck
John Via
Claudia Zettner

Lecturers

Edgar Avalos Guana
Uyiosa Abusomwan
Kazimir I. Karwowski
Jerlyn Mardis
Gayle M. Moran
Germaine Porche
George Webb
 

For Rice University degree-granting programs:
To view the list of official course offerings, please see Rice’s Course Catalog
To view the most recent semester’s course schedule, please see Rice's Course Schedule

Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL) 

RCEL 100 - SELF-AWARENESS AND THE ENGINEERING LEADER

Short Title: SELF-AWARENESS & THE ENGINEER

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory

Credit Hours: 2

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.

Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level

Description: The purpose of this course is to prepare students to become future leaders. Engineering leadership is an emerging innovation in both education and practice and our course will prepare students to being their development journey toward this goal. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for RCEL 100 if student has credit for ENGI 140/ENGI 218.

RCEL 200 - PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE ENGINEERING LEADER

Short Title: PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT ENG LEADR

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory

Credit Hours: 2

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.

Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level

Description: The purpose of this course is to prepare students to become future leaders. Engineering leadership is an emerging innovation in both education and practice and our course will prepare students to being their development journey toward this end. This is the second half of the initial RCEL leadership course. Recommended Prerequisite(s): RCEL 100 is recommended for Leadership Certificate candidates Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for RCEL 200 if student has credit for ENGI 140/ENGI 218.

RCEL 238 - SPECIAL TOPICS

Short Title: SPECIAL TOPICS

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Internship/Practicum, Laboratory, Lecture, Seminar, Independent Study

Credit Hours: 1-4

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.

Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level

Description: Topics and credit hours may vary each semester. Contact department for current semester’s topic(s). Repeatable for Credit.

RCEL 241 - INTERNSHIP PRACTICUM FOR ENGINEERING LEADERSHIP

Short Title: INTERNSHIP PRACTICUM FOR ENGI

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

Course Type: Internship/Practicum

Credit Hours: 0-1

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.

Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level

Description: RCEL 241 is an applied practicum and internship course that provides guided career and professional development for engineering students in a real-world industrial, academic, research, or other professional context. It prepares students to assimilate quickly and to exceed employer expectations during their internships. This course offers variable credit (0 or 1 credit). If you choose to take the course for 1 credit, you must indicate your intent with the instructor upon registration. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for RCEL 241 if student has credit for ENGI 241. Repeatable for Credit.

RCEL 242 - PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION FOR ENGINEERING LEADERS

Short Title: PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory

Credit Hours: 3

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.

Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level

Description: To be truly influential in their fields, engineers need to be able to communicate their thoughts and opinions to management, peers, clients, and the public. They need to communicate clearly and confidently in a variety of professional situations. This course gives you the opportunity to learn, practice, and improve essential communication skills with emphasis on oral presentations, professional writing, and interpersonal communication. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: RCEL 542.

Course URL: rcelconnect.org

RCEL 300 - DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH PERFORMING ENGINEERING TEAMS

Short Title: DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH PERFORMING

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory

Credit Hours: 2

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.

Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level

Description: The purpose of this course is to prepare students for engineering leadership and followership roles in engineering contexts. This course is required for our school’s certificate engineering leadership and includes a focus on practical skills and how these skills can be learned, developed, and applied in team situations. Recommended Prerequisite(s): For Leadership Certificate candidates, RCEL 200 recommended Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for RCEL 300 if student has credit for ENGI 219/ENGI 315.

RCEL 400 - LEADING HIGH PERFORMING ENGINEERING TEAMS

Short Title: LEADING HIGH PERFORMING ENGINE

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory

Credit Hours: 2

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.

Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level

Description: This course develops skills that are required for enterprise wide leadership positions. Topics include: managing and leveraging diversity, creative problem solving through intersectional thinking, ethical issue identification and resolution, risk management, performance management, development and communication of an enterprise wide vision, and development of a change management plan. Recommended Prerequisite(s): For Leadership Certificate candidates, RCEL 300 recommended Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for RCEL 400 if student has credit for ENGI 219/ENGI 315.

RCEL 410 - ENGINEERING LAUNCH PAD-RESEARCH

Short Title: ENG LAUNCH PAD-RESEARCH

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory

Credit Hour: 1

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.

Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level

Prerequisite(s): ENGI 100

Description: RCEL 410 is one of four RCEL courses intended to jump-start the next steps for aspiring engineering leaders. the other courses deal with industry, Alternative Pathways, and Entrepreneurship, while RCEL 410 is focused on developing an understanding of leadership principles applicable in a Research environment. Students will gain insights into managing ethical dilemmas, developing communication strategies, creating a vision and goals, and project management in either an undergraduate or graduate student level engineering discipline. Research in academia, government labs, and industry will be compared and contrasted.

RCEL 420 - ENGINEERING LAUNCH PAD-INDUSTRY

Short Title: ENGINEERING LAUNCH PAD-INDUST

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory

Credit Hour: 1

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.

Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level

Prerequisite(s): RCEL 300

Description: The purpose of this course is to prepare students for engineering leadership and followership roles in an industry context. This course is required for our school’s certificate in engineering leadership and includes a focus on the practical skills needed to thrive in an industry environment.

RCEL 430 - ENGINEERING LAUNCH PAD-NON-ENGINEERING PATHWAYS

Short Title: ENGINEERING LAUNCH PAD-PATHWAY

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory

Credit Hour: 1

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.

Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level

Description: Engineering students explore alternative professional paths, including policy, law, medicine, industry consulting, and other viable career options beyond industry and research. Students will identify a focus career track and complete a series of assignments designed to increase familiarity and competency in that discipline. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: RCEL 530.

RCEL 436 - INTRODUCTION TO PATENTS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY FOR FUTURE ENGINEERING LEADERS

Short Title: INTRO TO PATENTS & INTELL PROP

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hour: 1

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.

Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level

Description: RCEL 436 introduces undergraduate students to the fundamentals of intellectual property. Through class discussion, assignments, and guest speakers, the course provides a foundation for recognizing, evaluating, and leveraging IP opportunities and limitations in both research and industry, and thus equips students for the many encounters with IP that are likely to occur in their careers. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: RCEL 536.

RCEL 440 - ENGINEERING LAUNCH PAD-ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Short Title: ENGINEERING LAUNCH PAD-ENTREPR

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory

Credit Hour: 1

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.

Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level

Description: This course will focus on identifying the value proposition a potential venture has for a specific customer segment, and who those customers are and why. Students will be forced to “get out of the building” and interview potential customers to help refine their assumptions based on data. The goal is to help the teams create a scalable and repeatable business model for their venture.

RCEL 450 - ENGINEERING PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP ACTION LEARNING

Short Title: PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND LEADERS

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory

Credit Hours: 2

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.

Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level

Description: RCEL 450 combines project management and a practicum experience allowing students to practice leadership skills in an applied context utilizing a project. During the semester, each student will serve in a primary leadership capacity for a project. In addition to facilitating the project management of the project, each student will participate in an individualized action learning based model of leadership. Recommended Prerequisite(s): For Leadership Certificate candidates, RCEL 200 recommended Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for RCEL 450 if student has credit for ENGI 317.

RCEL 477 - SPECIAL TOPICS

Short Title: SPECIAL TOPICS

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Internship/Practicum, Seminar, Lecture, Laboratory

Credit Hours: 1-4

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.

Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level

Description: Topics and credit hours may vary each semester. Contact department for current semester's topic(s). Repeatable for Credit.

RCEL 501 - ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP THEORY AND APPLICATION

Short Title: ENGINEERING MGMT & LEADERSHIP

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students. Enrollment limited to students in a Graduate Certificate, Master Materials Sci & NanoEng, Master of Bioengineering, Master of Chemical Eng, Master of Civil & Env Eng, Master of Comp & Appl Math, Master of Comp Sci & Eng, Master of Computer Science, Master of Data Science, Master of Electrical Comp Eng, Master of Eng Mgmt & Leadershp, Master of Industrial Eng, Master of Mechanical Eng or Master of Statistics degrees.

Course Level: Graduate

Description: Technology-based innovation is the grand driver of economic progress, which hinges on strong technical leadership guiding engineering teams in mid-to-large corporate organizations and startup to small companies. By surveying and learning about the different type of EML approaches, this course outlines a framework for engineering professionals to progress from engineering manager to engineering executive (e.g., Vice President of Engineering, Chief Technology Officer). Practical methods from the engineering management literature that addresses technology-based innovation issues that have engineering management implications will be introduced. Seminal technology management principles, such as disruptive innovation, leaderless technology development, and digital platform strategy, found in companies ranging in size from start-up to large, will be examined. In order to enroll in an online section of this course, you are expected to have a working camera and microphone. During class sessions, you must be able to participate using your microphone and you are expected to have your camera on for the duration of the class so that you are visible to the instructor and other students in the class, just as you would be in an in person class.

RCEL 502 - ENGINEERING PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Short Title: ENGINEERING PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students. Enrollment limited to students in a Graduate Certificate, Master Materials Sci & NanoEng, Master of Bioengineering, Master of Chemical Eng, Master of Civil & Env Eng, Master of Comp & Appl Math, Master of Comp Sci & Eng, Master of Computer Science, Master of Data Science, Master of Electrical Comp Eng, Master of Eng Mgmt & Leadershp, Master of Industrial Eng, Master of Mechanical Eng or Master of Statistics degrees.

Course Level: Graduate

Description: Engineering Project Management is targeted for professionals with 0 to 5 years experience. Content will provide instruction on the tools, techniques, and leadership characteristics required to successfully execute Agile and predictive projects. The course will address the project from business case, through all phases of project execution, and value delivery. The course is designed to use a combination of case studies, project related exercises and simulations. In order to enroll in an online section of this course, you are expected to have a working camera and microphone. During class sessions, you must be able to participate using your microphone and you are expected to have your camera on for the duration of the class so that you are visible to the instructor and other students in the class, just as you would be in an in person class.

RCEL 503 - ENGINEERING PRODUCT MANAGEMENT IN INDUSTRY 4.0

Short Title: ENGINEERING PRODUCT MANAGEMENT

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students. Enrollment limited to students in a Graduate Certificate, Master Materials Sci & NanoEng, Master of Bioengineering, Master of Chemical Eng, Master of Civil & Env Eng, Master of Comp & Appl Math, Master of Comp Sci & Eng, Master of Computer Science, Master of Data Science, Master of Electrical Comp Eng, Master of Eng Mgmt & Leadershp, Master of Industrial Eng, Master of Mechanical Eng or Master of Statistics degrees.

Course Level: Graduate

Description: The fourth and latest industrial revolution, Industry 4.0, is comprised of intelligent automated machines and devices being developed by unconstrained manufacturing technologies (e.g., 3D printing), which can give them unprecedented sensing and communication capabilities. The internet of things (machines and sensors and the ‘big data’ they output) is creating new avenues for the remote collection of data from these new products. Engineering leaders will have a unique opportunity to guide engineering teams to create products that can leverage and evolve based on data from the supply chain to customer usage. In order to enroll in an online section of this course, you are expected to have a working camera and microphone. During class sessions, you must be able to participate using your microphone and you are expected to have your camera on for the duration of the class so that you are visible to the instructor and other students in the class, just as you would be in an in person class.

RCEL 504 - ETHICAL-TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP

Short Title: ETHICAL-TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students. Enrollment limited to students in a Graduate Certificate, Master Materials Sci & NanoEng, Master of Bioengineering, Master of Chemical Eng, Master of Civil & Env Eng, Master of Comp & Appl Math, Master of Comp Sci & Eng, Master of Computer Science, Master of Data Science, Master of Electrical Comp Eng, Master of Eng Mgmt & Leadershp, Master of Industrial Eng, Master of Mechanical Eng or Master of Statistics degrees.

Course Level: Graduate

Description: Technology-based companies are powered by teams of engineers who create products and services that create value and competitive advantages for organizations that can turn into profits. However, the matrices of technical and user related decision paths that engineering leaders make to guide the team are not always constrained by ethics in a formal way. This course will help students understand the impact of ethics on engineering and technology in order to apply ethics concepts to decision making on issues that emerge in the workplace during one’s career. In order to enroll in an online section of this course, you are expected to have a working camera and microphone. During class sessions, you must be able to participate using your microphone and you are expected to have your camera on for the duration of the class so that you are visible to the instructor and other students in the class, just as you would be in an in person class. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for RCEL 504 if student has credit for COMP 604.

RCEL 505 - ENGINEERING ECONOMICS FOR ENGINEERING LEADERS

Short Title: LEADING ENGINEERING ECONOMICS

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students. Enrollment limited to students in a Graduate Certificate, Master Materials Sci & NanoEng, Master of Bioengineering, Master of Chemical Eng, Master of Civil & Env Eng, Master of Comp & Appl Math, Master of Comp Sci & Eng, Master of Computer Science, Master of Data Science, Master of Electrical Comp Eng, Master of Eng Mgmt & Leadershp, Master of Industrial Eng, Master of Mechanical Eng or Master of Statistics degrees.

Course Level: Graduate

Description: This course will explore economic analysis of capital expenditure decisions, financial mathematics, microeconomics, and decision-making under risk and uncertainty. Topics covered in this course include time value of money, analysis of alternatives using net present value and internal rate of return, depreciation, taxes, and inflation. Computational approaches, such as probabilistic design in engineering designs, which connect randomly varying design parameters to economic impact, will sometimes be considered based on course composition. Engineering ethics case studies that involve engineering economics will be explored as well. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for RCEL 505 if student has credit for CEVE 322/CEVE 528/ENGI 303/ENGI 528.

RCEL 506 - APPLIED STATISTICS AND DATA SCIENCE FOR ENGINEERING LEADERS

Short Title: STATS & DATA FOR ENGINEERS

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students. Enrollment limited to students in a Graduate Certificate, Master Materials Sci & NanoEng, Master of Bioengineering, Master of Chemical Eng, Master of Civil & Env Eng, Master of Comp & Appl Math, Master of Comp Sci & Eng, Master of Computer Science, Master of Data Science, Master of Electrical Comp Eng, Master of Eng Mgmt & Leadershp, Master of Industrial Eng, Master of Mechanical Eng or Master of Statistics degrees.

Course Level: Graduate

Description: Data Science has taken the world by storm. Examples of great success can be seen everywhere. This has opened the way for myriad industries and sectors to try to develop their own best practices. Especially since the COVID pandemic, data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and other computational technologies have grown rapidly during the past couple of years. However, not everyone knows which, how, when, or why to implement these techniques. Many engineers, for example, oversee or work with daily streams of data and want to use them in the most efficient way possible. The main objective of this course is to provide a comprehensive introduction to statistical and computational methods for modern data problems faced by engineers and engineering managers. By using statistical frameworks and data science as main drivers, the student will survey and compare algorithms for various data applications, learning how to select the most suitable according to real life scenarios. In order to enroll in an online section of this course, you are expected to have a working camera and microphone. During class sessions, you must be able to participate using your microphone and you are expected to have your camera on for the duration of the class so that you are visible to the instructor and other students in the class, just as you would be in an in person class.

RCEL 507 - MASTER'S IN ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP CAPSTONE

Short Title: MEML CAPSTONE

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students. Enrollment limited to students in a Graduate Certificate, Master Materials Sci & NanoEng, Master of Bioengineering, Master of Chemical Eng, Master of Civil & Env Eng, Master of Comp & Appl Math, Master of Comp Sci & Eng, Master of Computer Science, Master of Data Science, Master of Electrical Comp Eng, Master of Eng Mgmt & Leadershp, Master of Industrial Eng, Master of Mechanical Eng or Master of Statistics degrees.

Course Level: Graduate

Description: This course represents the capstone of the MEML program. It is a project-based and discussion- based course where students develop economically-sustainable, technological solutions to society’s most complex grand challenges using the methods and competencies taught in the MEML program. Students are expected to devise Industry 4.0 relevant solutions, with mechanisms for continuous learning and improving the solution from end-user data, while bounding all approaches with a demonstrable ethical-technical framework. In order to enroll in an online section of this course, you are expected to have a working camera and microphone. During class sessions, you must be able to participate using your microphone and you are expected to have your camera on for the duration of the class so that you are visible to the instructor and other students in the class, just as you would be in an in person class.

RCEL 530 - ENGINEERING LAUNCH PAD-NON-ENGINEERING PATHWAYS

Short Title: ENGINEERING LAUNCH PAD-PATHWAY

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory

Credit Hour: 1

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.

Course Level: Graduate

Description: Engineering students explore alternative professional paths, including policy, law, medicine, industry consulting, and other viable career options beyond industry and research. Students will identify a focus career track and complete a series of assignments designed to increase familiarity and competency in that discipline. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: RCEL 430.

RCEL 536 - INTRODUCTION TO PATENTS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY FOR FUTURE ENGINEERING LEADERS

Short Title: INTRO TO PATENTS & INTELL PROP

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hour: 1

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.

Course Level: Graduate

Description: RCEL 536 introduces graduate (non-law) students to the fundamentals of intellectual property. Through class discussion, assignments, and guest speakers, the course provides a foundation for recognizing, evaluating, and leveraging IP opportunities and limitations in both research and industry, and thus equips students for the many encounters with IP that are likely to occur in their careers. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: RCEL 436.

RCEL 541 - INTERNSHIP PRACTICUM FOR ENGINEERING LEADERS

Short Title: MEML INTERNSHIP PRACTICUM

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

Course Type: Internship/Practicum

Credit Hour: 1

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students. Enrollment limited to students in a Graduate Certificate, Master Materials Sci & NanoEng, Master of Bioengineering, Master of Chemical Eng, Master of Civil & Env Eng, Master of Comp & Appl Math, Master of Comp Sci & Eng, Master of Computer Science, Master of Data Science, Master of Electrical Comp Eng, Master of Eng Mgmt & Leadershp, Master of Industrial Eng, Master of Mechanical Eng or Master of Statistics degrees.

Course Level: Graduate

Description: RCEL 541 is an applied practicum and internship course that provides guided career and professional development for engineering students in a real-world industrial, academic, research, or other professional context. RCEL 541 prepares students to assimilate quickly and to exceed employer expectations during their internships. Students will develop a functional awareness of the vision, mission, strategy, and objectives of the organization, such that they may identify how their interests and skills align with the needs and culture of the company.

RCEL 542 - PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION FOR ENGINEERING LEADERS

Short Title: PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory

Credit Hours: 3

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.

Course Level: Graduate

Description: To be truly influential in their fields, engineers need to be able to communicate their thoughts and opinions to management, peers, clients, and the public. They need to communicate clearly and confidently in a variety of professional situations. This course gives you the opportunity to learn, practice, and improve essential communication skills with emphasis on oral presentations, professional writing, and interpersonal communication. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: RCEL 242.

Course URL: rcelconnect.org

RCEL 610 - ETHICS FOR ENGINEERS

Short Title: ETHICS FOR ENGINEERS

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Applied Physics/Bioengineering, App Phys/Chem-Biomolecular Eng, Applied Physics/Electrical Eng, Applied Physics/Mechanical Eng, Appl Phys/Materials Sci NanoEn, Applied Physics/Statistics, Bioengineering, Computational & Applied Math, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Computational Science & Eng, Electrical & Computer Eng., Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science & NanoEng, Systems/Synthetic/Phys Biology or Statistics. Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.

Course Level: Graduate

Description: Engineers can encounter a variety of ethical issues and dilemmas in fulfilling their professional responsibilities. Ethical problems can be considered somewhat analogous to engineering design problems: both involve significant complexities, high degrees of uncertainty, a number of boundary conditions and constraints, conformance with criteria, identification and evaluation of alternatives responses, and deciding on the best solution or action. This course will prepare engineering students to understand the ethical issues related to their profession, analyze the various options and alternative course of actions, and implement the solutions to their ethical problems.

RCEL 677 - SPECIAL TOPICS

Short Title: SPECIAL TOPICS

Department: Center Engineering Leadership

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Internship/Practicum, Lecture, Laboratory, Lecture/Laboratory, Seminar, Research, Independent Study

Credit Hours: 1-4

Course Level: Graduate

Description: Topics and credit hours vary each semester. Contact department for current semester's topic(s). Repeatable for Credit.

Description and Code Legend

Note: Internally, the university uses the following descriptions, codes, and abbreviations for this academic program. The following is a quick reference: 

Course Catalog/Schedule

  • Course offerings/subject code: RCEL

Department (or Program) Description and Code

  • Rice Center for Engineering Leadership: RCEL 

Undergraduate Certificate Description and Code

  • Certificate in Engineering Leadership: CEL 

Graduate Degree Description and Code

  • Master of Engineering Management and Leadership: MEML

Graduate Degree Program Description and Code

  • Degree Program in Engineering Management and Leadership: ENML

Graduate Certificate Descriptions and Codes

  • Certificate in Engineering Project Management: EPM
  • Certificate in Product Management for Engineering Leaders: PML

Graduate Degree Program Option Description and Code*

  • Degree Program Option - Online (MEML degree only): OMEML

Graduate Certificate Program Descriptions and Codes*

  • Certificate Program Option - Online (EPM certificate only): OEPM
  • Certificate Program Option - Online (PML certificate only): OPML

CIP Code and Description1

  • ENML Major/Program: CIP Code/Title: 15.1501 - Engineering/Industrial Management
  • CEL Certificate: CIP Code/Title: 52.0213 - Organizational Leadership
  • EPM Certificate: CIP Code/Title: 15.1501 - Engineering/Industrial Management
  • PML Certificate: CIP Code/Title: 15.1501 - Engineering/Industrial Management