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Minor in Global Engineering Leadership

Register for the Minor

Clark School of Engineering students on study abroad pose in front of bridge in Sydney, Australia.The engineering industry requires leadership to be exercised at all layers of an organization and today’s engineering leaders need to lead with a global vision and be knowledgeable of how to effectively lead global teams. The minor will position students to be more competitive in the job market and help students develop the skills necessary to be an effective leader and manager.

The minor in global engineering leadership is designed to develop the skills necessary to lead with a global vision, work effectively with others to address social issues, and engineer solutions that improve communities and organizations.

Students may earn the minor and a notation on their official transcript by successfully completing coursework which focuses on developing the following:

  • An understanding of leadership theories and current best practices for leading within engineering industry
  • A personal approach to leadership grounded in one’s strengths
  • A global perspective of leadership and an ability to effectively manage global teams and global projects
  • A deep understanding of cultural dimensions and an understanding of business practices and effective approaches to negotiation around the world
  • Organizational theories and effective practices for leading change within organizations

The minor requires the following 16 credits:

Required Courses

  • ANTH265. Anthropology of Global Health (DSHS, DVUP, SCIS) 
  • ANTH266. Changing Climate, Changing Cultures (DSHS, DVCC, SCIS)
  • ANTH298B. Special Topics in Anthropology; Selected Musical Cultures of the World
  • ANTH310. Method & Theory in Medical Anthropology and Global Health
  • AREC345. Global Poverty and Economic Development (DSHS, DVUP)
  • AREC365. World Hunger, Population, and Food Supplies (DVUP)
  • BSST240. Understanding The Principles and Perils of CBRN Weapons
  • BSST331. Innovations in Counterterrorism
  • BSST334. States of Emergency (DSHS, SCIS) 
  • BSST335. Innovations in Countering Violent Extremism (DVCC)
  • BSST340. Oral Communication for National Security Careers (FSOC)
  • ECON317. Global Economic Policies
  • ENES269Z. Germany: A Green Giant? Environmentalism and Technology in Germany, Today and Yesterday
  • FMSC100. Families and Global Health (DSHS, DVCC)
  • GBHL200. Introduction to Global Health
  • GBHL310. Introduction to Global Health Literacy
  • GBHL449A. Advanced Global Health Global Classroom; The Impact of Climate Change on Water and Food Security in Cameroon
  • GEOG330. As the World Turns: Society and Sustainability in a Time of Great Change (DSHS, DVUP, SCIS) 
  • GEOG331. Introduction to Human Dimensions of Global Change
  • GEOG333. The Social Geography of Metropolitan Areas in Global Perspective
  • GVPT200. International Political Relations (DSHS, DVUP)
  • GVPT203. The Challenge of Authoritarianism (DSHS, SCIS)
  • GVPT204. Uncertain Partners: US and China in a Changing World (DSSP)
  • GVPT273. Introduction to Environmental Politics (DSSP)
  • GVPT280. The Study of Comparative Politics
  • GVPT282. The Politics of Global Development (DSHS, DVUP)
  • GVPT306. Global Environmental Politics
  • GVPT354. International Development and Conflict Management
  • GVPT368A. Special Topics in Government and Politics; U.S Foreign Policy and the Arab-Israeli Conflict
  • GVPT409H. Seminar in International Relations and World Politics: Multi-Track Diplomacy and Conflict Transformation
  • GVPT409W. Seminar in International Relations and World Politics: Workshop in Multi-Track Diplomacy
  • GVPT411. Conflict in the International System
  • GVPT457. American Foreign Relations
  • GVPT459G. Seminar in Comparative Politics; Dictators and Dictatorships: Comparative Perspectives
  • GVPT459H. Seminar in Comparative Politics; Race and Ethnic Politics in Comparative Perspective
  • Global Classrooms Signature Courses. See the list at http://globalmaryland.umd.edu/content/global-classrooms
  • HGLO397. Exploring Global Challenges and Solutions in Panama (DVCC)
  • HIST142. Looking at America through a Global Lens (DSHS, SCIS)
  • PLCY288W. Introduction to Public Policy Topics; Global Action and Problem Solving
  • SOCY340. Globalization’s Winners and Losers (DSHS, SCIS)
  • SOCY443. Towards a China-Dominated 21st Century? 

For permission for courses in the other Global Minor Programs, please contact:

Minor Course Prefix

Contact for Course Permission
Global Poverty Minor AREC

Permission not required
Global Terrorism MInor BSST

education-start@umd.edu
Minor in International Development and Conflict Management GVPT

midcminfo@umd.edu

Courses listed below are EXAMPLES of electives; this list is not exhaustive, and courses other than those listed below can count towards the elective requirement. The spirit of the minor elective is to take an additional course in leadership that complements your other minor coursework. You can identify another course you believe has a connection to leadership and request to your minor advisor to be counted as your elective. Students will choose one three-credit elective in consultation with the minor advisor.

  • A course taken abroad that has connections to leadership
  • BMGT360. Strategic Management of Human Capital
  • BMGT363. Leadership and Teamwork in Organizations
  • BMGT364. Managing People and Organizations
  • BMGT390H/ENED390. Designing Innovative Systems (Restricted to Quest)
  • BMGT392. Introduction to International Business Management
  • BMGT395. Principles of Management for Non Business Majors
  • BMGT397/ENES397. Mentoring Multidisciplinary Teams (Restricted to Quest)
  • CPSP279T/LASC269T UMD-Winter: Ecuador: Technology, Education and Society: Ecuador in Context (DSSP & DVCC) (Study Abroad)
  • COMM324. Communication and Gender
  • ECON414. Game Theory
  • ENCE320. Introduction to Project Management
  • ENCE325. Introduction to Construction Management
  • ENCE421. Legal Aspects of Engineering Practice
  • ENCE422. Project Cost Accounting and Economics
  • ENCE424. Communication for Project Managers
  • ENEE200/ENES200. Technology and Consequences: Engineering, Ethics, and Humanity (DSHU, SCIS)
  • ENES140. Discovering New Ventures (DSSP)
  • ENES210. Entrepreneurial Opportunity Analysis and Decision-Making in 21st Century Technology Ventures (DSSP, SCIS)
  • ENES401/ENME401. Entrepreneurial Design Realization
  • ENES461. Advanced Entrepreneurial Opportunity Analysis in Technology Ventures
  • ENES466. Leading and Financing the Technology Venture
  • ENME426/BMGT385. Operations Analytics
  • ENME466. Lean Six Sigma
  • ENME489Q. Managing for Innovation and Quality
  • GEMS208. Special Topics in Leadership and Team Development (Restricted to students in Gemstone)
  • HESI318A. Applied Contextual Leadership; Leadership in Film
  • HESI318J. Applied Contextual Leadership; Exploring Leadership and Sport
  • HESI418V. Special Topics in Leadership; Global Leadership in a Virtual Context 
  • IDEA Courses (Students can take a combination of IDEA courses to fulfill the 3-credit leadership elective requirement; e.g. IDEA247 (2 cr) + IDEA200 (1 cr))
  • LEAD305. Leadership and Ethics
  • LEAD315. Leadership in Groups and Organizations
  • LEAD321. Social Action Seminar
  • PLCY201. Public Leaders and Active Citizens (DSHS or DSSP, SCIS)
  • PLCY203. Liberty and Justice for All: Ethics and Moral Issues in Public Policy
  • PLCY213. Foundations of Nonprofit Leadership and Social Innovation
  • PLCY214. Leading and Investing in Social Change: Redefining and Experimenting with Philanthropy (DSSP, SCIS)
  • PLCY215. Innovation and Social Change: Creating Change for Good
  • PLCY310. Nonprofit Leadership and Social Innovation in Action
  • PLCY311. Women and Leadership
  • PLCY380. Innovation and Social Change: Do Good Now (DSSP, SCIS)
  • PLCY388N. Special Topics in Public Policy; Advancing Justice Through Leadership and Public Service (restricted to Rawlings Undergraduate Leadership Fellows Program)
  • PSYC334. Psychology of Interpersonal Relationships
  • PSYC361. Survey of Industrial and Organizational Psychology
  • SOCY325. The Sociology of Gender
  • Other leadership course approved by minor director

Alum Spotlight: Madelaine Lebetkin

Madelaine Lebetkin graduated from UMD with a Bachelor’s in Aerospace Engineering and a Minor in Global Engineering Leadership in 2023.

Q: What are you currently doing?

A: Shortly after graduation, I moved to West Texas. I work at Blue Origin in the New Shepard Program: a commercial space flight program that essentially sends everyday people, like you and me, to space for 10 minutes.

I am a launch vehicle test engineer specific to the propulsion module. I definitely work more on the maintenance side. My team is in charge of vehicle refurbishment, as well as pre- and post-launch power verifications and operations. I was part of the launch crew that sent Mihi Benhouse, the first wheelchair user who flew to space!

Q: Is there a time you recently used a lesson or skills you learned in the Minor?

A: For our final project in ENES317, we had to make an argument for one of the leadership theories we learned, and really go all in: defend it as the best leadership practice there is. I chose authentic leadership.

I think a lot about stigma and stereotypes. The only way to break those down is to be authentic to yourself. Especially in Texas…I'm working with people from wildly different backgrounds and life experiences, and who may have never been exposed to a young woman in an engineering position. Suddenly, they are being challenged on what they believe a leader looks like. Had I not gone in with the perspective of authentic leadership, I definitely would have been…shaking in my boots a little bit more.

Q: What is something you want current Minor students to know?

A: I felt it was so important to seek the Minor out, because engineers–not all, but a lot–really struggle with communication. When I'm showcasing and highlighting myself, especially to a hiring manager, I want them to know I’ve thought about that. I've spent time on my own leadership style, who I want to be, and what I want to represent when I'm in the workplace, or in front of a team as the task lead.

As an engineer, having that perspective going in–it makes for better teams.

Portrait of MADELAINE LEBETKIN
Connect with Madelaine on Linkedin

Nuts & Bolts: Past Editions

Nuts & Bolts header

Nuts & Bolts is the bi-semesterly newsletter of the Global Engineering Leadership Minor. It aims to share the happenings of the Global Engineering Leadership Minor and cultivate community between current students and alums.
 
Past editions are archived here.
 
Current Minor students are automatically subscribed. If you would like to subscribe, contact Christina (cyang227@umd.edu).
 
SEP 2025 Edition NOV 2025 Edition FEB 2026 Edition APR 2026 Edition

Contact Information for Minor

Dr. Darren Pierre (dpierre@umd.edu)

Lecturer & GEL Minor Advisor
Office of Global Engineering Leadership
A. James Clark School of Engineering | University of Maryland

Christina Yang (cyang227@umd.edu)

Administrative Coordinator
Office of Global Engineering Leadership
A. James Clark School of Engineering | University of Maryland


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