From generative AI systems to the platforms that shape speech, mobility and economic opportunity, today’s technologies don’t just operate within policy frameworks—they help define them. As engineers design increasingly complex digital and cyber-physical systems, technical decisions are becoming policy decisions.
To explore this shift, the course Engineering Responsible Systems: Platform Governance, AI, and Global Technology Policy (EECS 290) introduces students from engineering, law, public policy, the social sciences and related disciplines to the governance structures shaping modern technology. Hosted by the CITRIS Tech Policy initiative, this course will cover platform governance, trust and safety engineering, generative AI, liability regimes and global regulatory approaches, with comparative case studies drawn from sectors such as transportation and aviation.
“Engineers are now building the systems that govern everyday life,” said faculty lead and CITRIS Executive Director Camille Crittenden. “If they’re not trained to understand policy, accountability and public trust, we risk embedding those decisions in ways that are invisible but deeply consequential.”
Through seminar discussions, case studies and guest lectures, students will examine how moderation systems are constructed, how AI models are evaluated and certified, and how regulatory strategies differ across jurisdictions. Drawing on lessons from more established industries, the course highlights how fields like aviation and autonomous systems manage risk, accountability and safety at scale.
“We want students to think beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries,” said David Evan Harris, who is co-leading the course. “This course is about solving some of the world’s most challenging technical and policy problems in ways that no individual discipline could teach us how to do alone. ”
Assignments emphasize applied systems thinking, challenging students to redesign governance architectures, assess safety tradeoffs and propose certification pathways for high-risk AI systems. By the end of the semester, participants will be equipped to integrate legal, institutional and geopolitical considerations into engineering design—and to contribute thoughtfully to the future of technology governance.
Apply now to join a select cohort of future tech policy leaders. Up to 30 students will be selected for participation, and permission codes to enroll will be distributed upon review. Applications will remain open until the semester begins and will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.