Legal studies flourish in engineering curriculum

Monday, February 18, 2008

By Chase Harvick

The creative process of engineering often conflicts with the regulatory nature of law practice, but an OSU engineering professor is working to bridge the gap between the two professions. Adopting the philosophy, “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,” Marty High completed a juris doctorate himself and created what is believed to be the nation’s only Legal Studies in Engineering curriculum.

High, associate professor of chemical engineering, was inspired during negotiations over a research contract with lawyers for one of the world’s largest petrochemical companies. The legal wrangling went on for months and required more time than the expected duration of the actual research project. The experience made High realize that engineers must possess at least a basic knowledge of the legal system.

“Sending engineering graduates out into the world with some knowledge of law might be as necessary as sending them out fully knowing calculus,” High said. “Law is that important.”
High developed a pilot course focusing on intellectual property in 2000. He has since added courses in general legal principles, product liability and environmental law.

“We set out not trying to make lawyers of engineers, but to give our students the vocabulary needed to participate in the process,” High said. “This will hopefully help engineering students in their careers by enabling them to communicate fluently with attorneys.

High said engineering students who go to work for large corporations are at risk of signing away all intellectual property to a company if they are unable to understand contracts.
“Intellectual property law is a major sticking point in the industry,” High said.

The courses do not carry engineering science designation so they are also open to non-engineering majors.

 “All the courses, and especially environmental law, have appealed to a diverse group of students, from zoology and computer science to political science and English majors,” he said. “OSU has a wealth of talented students, and getting more of our graduates conversant in legal issues can only help them in the future.”

High does more than profess the virtue of legal education. He completed a juris doctorate commuting and taking night classes for three years at the University of Tulsa’s School of Law. And in addition to his teaching and research responsibilities, High lends his services to OSU’s Office of Intellectual Property Management.  

He remains focused on ensuring the future of the legal studies program, and is working not only to get the courses designated as social sciences, but also as the foundation for a minor degree in Legal Studies in Engineering.

“The legal profession needs a more diverse knowledge base, and that’s what I’m trying to bring to it,” High said.