Engineering Law: Explore the online MEng program’s course that equips students to make informed business decisions
The University of Illinois Chicago’s online Master of Engineering with a focus area in AI and Machine Learning (MEng) program empowers engineers to create ethical solutions and informed decisions in accordance with legal standards.
Maurine Neiberg, J.D., an adjunct lecturer at UIC, teaches the online MEng program's MENG 400: Engineering Law course. Emphasizing discussion, Ms. Neiberg connects students' life and professional experiences to the legal concepts covered. Providing a foundation in American Law, her goal is to enable students to comprehend the functioning of laws, empowering them to make informed business decisions and recognize when to seek legal counsel.
Discover more about the MENG 400 course, including insights into collaboration within the course and trending issues that will be discussed, such as open-source software.
Who is the MENG 400 instructor? Heading link
Who is the MENG 400 instructor?
Meet Maurine Neiberg, J.D., UIC College of Engineering Adjunct Lecturer. With an M.S. in Computer Science from Brown University and a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School, Ms. Neiberg uses her experience to teach the MENG 400: Engineering Law course. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Ms. Neiberg worked as a software engineer in applied research in artificial intelligence.
What will you learn in the MENG 400 course? Heading link
What will you learn in the MENG 400 course?
MEng students will gain a foundation in American law, enhancing their understanding of legal operations. They will delve into the legal and ethical foundations influencing their careers, whether as employees or entrepreneurs. The curriculum emphasizes the identification of potential legal issues that may impact engineer’s personal and professional lives, plus how the law infrastructure impacts how technology can develop, such as the Biden’s administration’s AI policy. Students will also learn when to seek legal counsel, how to engage with attorneys, and acquire the skills to make informed business decisions rooted in a solid understanding of the legal framework.
Does the course cover any trending issues, such as open-source software? Heading link
Does the course cover any trending issues, such as open-source software?
“The MENG 400: Engineering Law class covers any issues relevant to the practice of MEng students. The use of open-source software (OSS) is a copyright and licensing issue and has been on the radar of intellectual property lawyer’s radar for a while. Since it’s a licensing problem, there are contract issues. The course also addresses the issue of copyright law and how it will address the utilization of copyrighted materials as training examples for machine learning systems, which is a focal point within the online MEng program. It’s evolving where the law for open-source software has really settled there.”
What is the collaboration like within the MENG 400 course? Heading link
What is the collaboration like within the MENG 400 course?
MENG 400 is a discussion-based class which allows a free flow of information and gives students the space to express their points of view. Ms. Neiberg places a strong emphasis on linking students’ life experiences and professional experiences to the legal concepts covered in the course.
What kind of real-world applications can students look forward to in the course? Any examples? Heading link
What kind of real-world applications can students look forward to in the course? Any examples?
“I aim to equip my students with the skills to engage in conversations with their peers, acknowledging that they may be interacting with various professionals such as software engineers, AI and ML engineers, and others in the field. It’s very reminiscent of what they’ll need to do in their businesses. The focal point of our discussions revolves around the legal underpinnings of their professional endeavors.
In a recent class session, we delved into the topic of non-compete agreements, and how these agreements are one of the ways businesses try to maintain their trade secrets. Software engineers are knowledge engineers. They hold their employer’s valuable secrets in their minds. To safeguard these secrets, companies restrict employees from revealing them by imposing limitations on where these engineers can work next. This practice impacts workers who are limited in their job choices. A national discussion on non-compete agreements is ongoing, with California standing out for not enforcing them. Our classroom discussion focused on the fairness of non-compete agreements, and I found it interesting that my students took both sides considering the employer and employee standpoints.”