MEDIA, Pa. — Penn State Brandywine’s engineering program allows students to take what they learn in the classroom and apply it to real-world solutions that benefit the community, while also developing strong technical and interpersonal skills.
Cornerstone Engineering Design (EDSGN 100) is a three-credit course where students work in teams to find solutions to nearby problems that relate to health, safety and welfare. Throughout the semester, they prepare by taking part in lessons and discussions.
“We’re practicing soft skills and technical skills that all engineers need to be successful,” said Megann Hedgecock, lecturer in engineering.
She explained that beyond mastering the fundamentals of engineering, success begins with strong communication, teamwork, ethical behavior and leadership skills.
Students also focus on the major steps of the design process to equip them with the tools to become successful engineers.
“We’re doing technical hand drawings, computer-aided design, some work in Microsoft Excel, and we bring it all together in a team design project that is most of the semester long,” said Hedgecock.
Each year, the project is based on a real, legitimate problem that Brandywine engineering students are asked to help solve.
Hedgecock emphasized that they begin the design process by empathizing with the user, audience and stakeholders — understanding their priorities, constraints and project objectives — before developing a solution.
Next, students develop their ideas and bring them to life by creating prototypes and designs through basic crafting materials to represent their idea. After testing and surveying with stakeholders, they find new ways to improve their design.
This semester, the team design project focuses on the First Presbyterian Church in Lansdowne, which is experiencing flooding in its parking lot due to a clogged underground downspout. Since digging up the pipe is not an option, the teams must explore different ways to manage the overflow.
“We will work on possible solutions and present them to the church,” said Hedgecock.
Projects like this come to Penn State students through University Park’s Sustainable Communities Collaborative. Hedgecock explained that the church reached out to the program, presenting the issue as an educational opportunity. From there, it was time to get to work.
In previous years, EDSGN 100 students have designed watering systems and compost tumblers for Brandywine’s campus garden.
At the end of the year, each team presents its work at the Student Engagement Expo on campus. The event highlights what students have learned in class and how they have applied those skills to real-world challenges.
When asked about the overall goal of the course, Hedgecock responded, "There's no one right answer — it’s practicing all these steps, showing up and trying.”