Objectives:
The objectives of the undergraduate programs in Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering are to graduate engineers who have a solid educational foundation with broad experiences in engineering, the sciences, and the humanities; and who are prepared to enter graduate school, other professional training, or the workplace as effective professionals. These graduates will understand the significance of life-long learning and the importance of ethical conduct and will be qualified to assume roles of leadership in business, community, government and the engineering profession and contribute significantly to global society as a whole.
Outcomes:
Graduates with a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Utah State University will have:
- Proven themselves proficient in mathematics, the sciences, and the structures, geotechnical, hydraulics, and transportation areas of civil engineering.
- Demonstrated the ability to solve engineering problems, utilizing fundamental engineering principles as well as the latest technologies and engineering tools, in the process of engineering analysis and design. They will have done this as individuals and as members of multi-disciplinary teams.
- Shown a capacity for investigation and experimentation into physical (engineering) phenomena along with the ability to analyze and interpret engineering data in at least two of the following areas of civil engineering: structures, geotechnical, hydraulics and transportation.
- Demonstrated the capability to communicate verbally, in writing, and through the use of engineering communication media. They will also have shown the capacity to present the outcomes of their problem solving and design projects to groups of engineers and lay persons.
- Exhibited an understanding of the role civil engineering plays in our modern global society, that much is to be learned from the past and applied to the present, and that a responsible engineer is ethical and will continue to increase his/her knowledge throughout his/her lifetime.
- Knowledge of basic science and engineering principles fundamental to the practice of environmental engineering including: mathematics, biology, chemistry, soil science, physics, fluid and solid mechanics, hydrology, and engineering economics.
- Knowledge of environmental engineering practice in the areas of water supply and treatment: environmental systems dynamics; environmental chemistry and analysis; wastewater, air quality, and solid and hazardous waste management; and public health and industrial hygiene.
- Advanced knowledge of science and engineering principles in two of the following program emphasis areas: water, solids, natural systems, and public health.
- Integration of advanced science and engineering principles in a multi disciplinary team environment for the solution of a comprehensive design problem in one of the program emphasis areas incorporating: applicable design standards; state-of-the-practice design tools; real-life economic, social, regulatory, political, ethical, and business design constraints; and applicable considerations for contemporary issues such as product manufacturability, process sustainability, health and safety concerns, and system constructability.
- Experience in written and oral communication using state-of-the-practice presentation methods throughout the course of their Professional Program in Environmental Engineering which include: laboratory reports and presentations, research paper presentations, design proposal and progress reports and presentations, and final design project presentations to both technical and lay audiences.
- Experience in one of the environmental engineering practice areas in the design and conduct of experiments; collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; and modeling and representation of experimental results and presentation of experimental findings.
The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department uses a continuous improvement process to assess the degree to which we are meeting the program outcomes described above. This process is decribed in detail here.
