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Session 2315

A Revised Civil Engineering Curriculum

Kristen L. Sanford Bernhardt, Brett W. Gunnink University of Missouri-Columbia

Abstract

In response to the ABET EC2000 criteria and the need to periodically review and update curricula, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Missouri- Columbia has recently revised its undergraduate curriculum. While the ABET 2000 criteria do not require a major curriculum revision, they provide an opportunity to leverage the accreditation process to improve our undergraduate education. Also, ABET EC2000 program criteria now dictate that civil engineering programs must demonstrate that graduates have proficiency in a minimum of four major recognized civil engineering areas.

This paper describes the old and new curricula, with a focus on how we expect the changes to improve undergraduate experiences and how we intend to assess the efficacy of the program. Of particular interest to other civil engineering programs is how we intend to develop and assess the proficiency of our students in four major civil engineering areas. As part of the revision process, we informally surveyed several peer institutions to determine what elements of our program were similar and to generate ideas for changes consistent with our institution mission and goals. The paper concludes with our plan for monitoring results and implementing change in the future.

1. Introduction

In response to the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology’s (ABET) Educational Criteria 2000 (EC2000)1 and the need to periodically review and update curricula, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at the University of Missouri- Columbia (MU) is currently revising its undergraduate curriculum. While the ABET EC 2000 criteria do not necessarily require a major curriculum revision, they provide an opportunity to leverage the accreditation process to improve our undergraduate education. In addition, students and employers expect that curricula will remain current and adjust to meet the needs of the market place.

ABET EC2000 program criteria now dictate that civil engineering programs must demonstrate that graduates have proficiency in a minimum of four major recognized civil engineering areas. Each civil engineering department will have to decide which four (or more) areas are most appropriate for students from that department. This will most likely be based on faculty expertise and major employers of graduates. More challenging, however, is how the departments will demonstrate that students have developed the proficiency. In other words, choosing the areas is easy, but proving that graduates are proficient is not.

Proceedings of the 2001 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright  2001, American Society for Engineering Education

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Gunnink, B., & Sanford Bernhardt, K. (2001, June), A Revised Civil Engineering Curriculum Paper presented at 2001 Annual Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 10.18260/1-2--9748