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Courses - Spring 2025
CPSS
College Park Scholars-Science, Technology and Society
Open Seats as of
12/21/2024 at 10:30 PM
CPSS340
College Park Scholars: Infrastructure and Society
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
GenEd: DSSP
Restriction: Must be currently enrolled in a College Park Scholars program.
Credit only granted for: CPSP349T or CPSS340.
Formerly: CPSP349T.
One of the most important, and underappreciated, aspects of our society is its infrastructure (roads, buildings, communication systems, water delivery systems, sanitation systems, energy systems, etc.). We often take for granted the services infrastructure bring us. As a consequence, the United States, which at one time was a world leader in creating infrastructure, is experiencing an infrastructure crisis. Furthermore, not everyone experiences this issue equally. This course is designed to identify the root causes of the crisis. You will explore emerging social, political, legal, cultural, and social justice issues associated with the building and maintenance of infrastructure from the perspective of Science and Technology Studies (STS) and engineers. You will work with a volunteer corps of professional engineers from a variety of disciplines on a service-learning project designed to assess the safety and vitality of infrastructure.