Course Name 
Philosophical and Methodological Issues of Science and Engineering
Course Overview 
Level of study	Master Degree	
Workload	ECTS: 3
Total Hours: 96
Contact Hours: 32
•	Lectures: 16
•	Labs:
•	Seminars: 16	
Course Code	
	
Semester	WS 	
Prerequisites	Basics of Philosophy	
Course Objectives	Subject Specific Intellectual:
Having successfully completed the course, students will know methodology of research work and knowledge cognition, philosophy and methodology of science and engineering.
Transferable and Generic:
Having successfully completed the course, students will be able to apply scientific methods of solving engineering problems, select efficient ways of solving engineering problems of interdisciplinary nature.
Subject Specific Practical:
Having successfully completed the course, students will be able to apply the scientific frame of mind for understanding interconnections in the natural world, use techniques of creative problem-solving in the context of engineering.	
Learning Outcomes	As a result of mastering the course, students should know major philosophical schools, tendencies and concepts of scientific research; 
sources of new knowledge and techniques of their processing and evaluation.

As a result of mastering the course, students should be able to use philosophical approach for comparing and contrasting similarities and differences in the development of materials, technologies and engineering devices; be capable of analyzing logical considerations and statements;
set objectives and select methods of investigations, evaluate, interpret and present the results of scientific research.

As a result of mastering the course, students should experience to have the complex scientific view of the natural world, demonstrate abilities to analyze, generalize and acquire information, set objectives and find ways of achieving them; demonstrate philosophical and methodological bases for investigations and technological research in the area of electrical engineering aimed at solving actual problems; apply scientific methods of hypothesis defining and testing, critical thinking and outcomes predicting.	
Syllabus	•	Philosophy of science and engineering: definition, concepts. Francis Bacon and his classification of sciences. 
•	Thomas Kuhn and his philosophical heritage. 
•	Hypothesis generation and hypothesis testing: methods and approaches.
•	Engineering design process: aims, problems, solutions, consequences.
•	Professional profile of modern engineers. Engineer as a key personality in the process of technological and social progress.
•	Societal and global impact of engineering solutions. Engineering ethics and its main principles. 
•	Entrepreneurship in engineering: philosophical aspect. Evolution in science and engineering as a means of social progress.
•	Project management: definition, objectives, activities, procedure. Interdisciplinary projects: from innovative ideas to profitable outcomes.
•	Environmental issues and engineering solutions: sustainability and efficiency.
•	Communication in science and engineering: key soft skills and competencies
•	Humanities as a branch of science and scientific cognition. Liberal arts and engineering: aesthetics vs. practicality.	
Labs	-	
Projects	-	
Assessment	Current assessment:
Self-assessment questions and mini-projects individually and in groups on particular units and parts of the course.
Final assessment:
Credit Test (Pass/Fail).	
Resources	Main references:
1.	Gorokhov V.G. Concepts of modern science and engineering. Moscow: 2002.
2.	Ruzavin G.I. Philosophy of science. Moscow: UNITY-DANA, 2005. 400 p.
3.	Styopin V.S., Gorokhov V.G., Rozov M.A. Philosophy of science and engineering. Moscow, 1996.
4.	Modern philosophical issues in natural, engineering and social sciences/Ed. by Doctor of Philosophy V.V. Mironov. Moscow: Gardariki, 2007. 639 p.
5.	History and philosophy of science/ Ed. by S.A. Lebedev. Moscow: Academic Prospect, Alma-Mater, 2007.

Supplementary references:
6.	http://www.raeng.org.uk/societygov/philosophyofeng/pdf/abstract_papers.pdf
7.	http://sammelpunkt.philo.at:8080/1274/1/MITCHAM.pdf
8.	http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/190219/epistemology
9.	http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/epistemology/
10.	http://www.iep.utm.edu/epistemo/
11.	http://www.rep.routledge.com/article/P059
12.	Thornton, Stephen (2006). "Karl Popper". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/popper/. Retrieved 2007-12-01.
13.	Popper, Karl (2004 reprint). The logic of scientific discovery. London & New York: Routledge Classics. ISBN 0-415-27844-9.
14.	www.abet.org
15.	www.engc.org.uk
16.	Australian Engineering Competency Standards. Engineers Australia, Engineering House, 11 National Circuit Barton ACT 2600. ISBN: 0 85825 771 8
17.	http://temp.onlinethics.org/cases/robot/article- 1.htm/
18.	http://iprojectideas.blogspot.com/2011/04/solar-powered-air-conditoner.html
19.	http://www.engineeringdaily.net/top-10-most-impressive-engineering-projects/
20.	http://www.ehow.com/how_5095767_write-technical-essay.html
21.	http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/business/ talkingbusiness/unit3presentations/1opening.shtml	
Instructors	Cand.Sc., A/Prof. Inna A. Cheremisina Harrer
http://portal.tpu.ru:7777/SHARED/c/CHEREMISINA