Professor of Electrical Engineering · Associate co-Dean for Mission, Culture and Inclusion
SCDI 4025-O · ☎ (408) 554-2394 · azecevic@scu.edu
Professor of Electrical Engineering · Associate co-Dean for Mission, Culture and Inclusion
SCDI 4025-O · ☎ (408) 554-2394 · azecevic@scu.edu
When I became Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in 2007, one of my first priorities was to introduce a Graduate Core, which represents a set of requirements that is common to all departments in the School of Engineering. The Core embodies the Jesuit approach to education, in the sense that it goes well beyond narrow specialization and emphasizes a global and societal orientation. The Graduate Core also reflects my belief that the challenges of an increasingly complex world can only be met by broadly educated individuals who are committed to the greater good. For a description of the Core and the associated courses (some of which are truly unique), visit the Graduate Core webpage.
In order to accommodate students who are interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the influence that engineering has on society (and vice versa), in 2010 I introduced a Graduate Minor in Science, Technology and Society (STS). This minor expands on the topics addressed by the Graduate Core, and is one of the distinctive features of our program. More information about the STS minor and a list of qualifying courses can be found at the STS minor webpage.
In 2014, I helped create a new Certificate in Frugal Innovation, which is another unique facet of our graduate program. The development of this certificate was driven by the recognition that emerging markets are expected to exceed 50% of the world’s GDP in the near future. In order to be successful in such an environment, Silicon Valley engineers will have to develop new skills that will enable them to address the needs of growing consumer bases in Africa, Asia and Latin America. For more information about this program, visit the Certificate Programs webpage.
In my new role as Associate co-Dean for Mission, Culture and Inclusion, I have been leading an initiative called “Ethics across the Curriculum”, whose main goalobjective is to introduce significant ethics-related content into the engineering curriculum. By systematically exposing engineering students to these questions throughout their four years at SCU, we hope to produce graduates who will be engineers of character, and leaders who will embrace a culture of moral and vocational discernment.
My work as Associate Dean has also involved developing collaborative programs with other universities. Some of the most notable ones involve the following schools:
