1. Learning Objectives:

The curriculum in Civil Engineering is designed to cultivate and promote among our undergraduates high levels of scholarship, desire to seek understanding, a solid foundation in professional and personal responsibility, desire for service, and an ability/willingness to serve as leaders within both the engineering profession and society.

This curriculum results from the following program objectives. The graduates of our program will:

Understand the principles and practices of physics, chemistry, biology, geology, mathematics and engineering science on which engineering research and practice are based

Possess the ability to identify, formulate and execute solutions to multidisciplinary problems encountered in the practice of civil engineering using modern engineering tools in combination with insight gained from related fields in science and engineering and informed by study of the humanities and social sciences.

Be prepared to communicate effectively in both the professional and public domain.

Be prepared to enter the engineering profession through advanced study and/or professional practice

Understand personal, professional and ethical responsibility.

Recognize the impact of engineering on society and the natural and built environments.

Understand the need for life-long learning.

Seek opportunities for service in both the professional and private realm.

Understand the importance of professional engineer (PE) licensure.

2. Learning Outcomes

The Learning Objectives outlined above will be assessed through a series of specific learning outcomes. These outcomes are listed below, associated with the specific learning objective they will address:

1. Understand the principles and practices of physics, chemistry, biologiy, mathematics and engineering science on which engineering research and practice are based

Graduates will:

• demonstrate proficiency in mathematics (through differential equations), probability and statistics, calculus-based physics, and general chemistry

• demonstrate knowledge of the principles of engineering design

• complete projects involving design, performance and assessment of experiments

• demonstrate proficiency in the collection and analysis of data sets

1. Possess the ability to identify, formulate and execute solutions to multidisciplinary problems encountered in the practice of civil engineering using modern engineering tools in combination with insight gained from related fields in science and engineering and informed by study of the humanities and social sciences.

Graduates will:

• demonstrate proficiency in finding feasible solutions to open-ended engineering problems

• demonstrate the ability to combine technical and non-technical (e.g., economic, societal, ethical, and/or scheduling) constraints in selecting from among feasible solutions

• demonstrate the ability to solve problems in both the individual and team environments

• demonstrate the ability to work in multidisciplinary teams

• demonstrate proficiency in the process of engineering design

• complete at least one major design, research, or engineering in public service project

• demonstrate an appreciation for the contribution of information technologies to the future of the engineering profession

• demonstrate an understanding of the role of case studies in guiding engineering practice

• demonstrate proficiency in integrating theoretical and applied engineering principles in engineering analysis, engineering design, and construction

1. Be prepared to communicate effectively in both the professional and public domain.

Graduates will:

• complete receive training in technical writing

• complete multiple written laboratory and project reports for both individual and team efforts

• complete multiple oral presentations of project results

• use modern technologies (such as powerpoint, Matlab simulation, etc.) in these oral and written communications

1. Be prepared to enter the engineering profession through advanced study and/or professional practice

Graduates will:

• demonstrate the engineering skills necessary to compete successfully for jobs or graduate studies

• understand professional practice issues (such as procurement of work, bidding versus quality-based selection, and interaction between design and construction professionals)

• be prepared to make educated career choices following graduation

• have opportunities to complete specialization classes in select subdisciplines of civil engineering

• demonstrate proficiency in use of library, electronic, and archive resources to locate critical information required in engineering practice

1. Understand personal, professional and ethical responsibility

Graduates will:

• demonstrate a firm foundation in the humanities and/or social sciences

• demonstrate the ability to recognize the role of personal, professional and ethical responsibility in engineering practice

• understand the opportunity to express personal and professional responsibility through public service projects

• demonstrate the ability to consider professional, economic, political, societal and/or ethical responsibilities as significant constraints on engineering solutions

1. Recognize the impact of engineering on society and the natural and built environments.

Graduates will:

• recognize, through case studies, the impact of engineering design on society and societal constraints on design

• demonstrate the ability to consider non-engineering constraints as potentially critical constraints on the class of feasible solutions

• demonstrate understanding of engineering in a societal context

• recognize the value in, and opportunities for, international study

1. Understand the need for life-long learning

Graduates will:

• demonstrate critical thinking skills and an ability for independent study needed to engage in life-long learning

• develop the habit of reading technical literature related to their primary subdiscipline

• recognize the value of life-long learning as reflected in presentations to the Notre Dame community by senior engineers

1. Seek opportunities for service in both the professional and private realm..

Graduates will:

• demonstrate a recognition of the role of service to the local, national, and international communities as a critical component of the engineering profession

• participate, as appropriate, in service oriented projects and seminars

1. Understand the importance of professional engineer (PE) licensure.

Graduates will:

• recognize the impact engineering failures, i.e. the cost in terms of life,environmental degradation, financial loss, and loss of respect for the profession

• understand the role of the professional engineer (PE) in minimizing the probability of damage to the public health, safety, and welfare.

• understand the process of professional licensure and the importance of this lciensure