Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Design I
A sophomore-level MIT OpenCourseWare course that introduces engineering design through hands-on projects tied to the built and natural environments. Students work through design exercises emphasizing function and sustainability, choosing materials and processes that stay compatible with natural cycles and that use active or adaptive systems. The course builds practical skills in prototyping, testing, and iterating on designs, alongside teamwork and technical communication. Materials include the full set of project assignments and design briefs used in MIT's Civil and Environmental Engineering curriculum, published under a Creative Commons license for free use. There is no instructor interaction or certificate, but the course provides a complete framework for working through a design problem from concept to tested prototype, making it useful for self-directed learners wanting a structured introduction to engineering design thinking.