Program Educational Objectives

The program educational objectives for the civil engineering program reflect the mission of the Department of Civil Engineering. They are important for successful professional practice and the ability to pursue advanced degrees. The Civil Engineering graduates from the University of Kentucky will be prepared to:

• Use technical, teamwork, and communication skills, along with leadership principles, to pursue civil engineering careers in areas such as structural, transportation, geotechnical, materials, environmental, construction, and water resources engineering, and/or other fields.
• Pursue graduate degrees in civil engineering and other fields.

• Function ethically in their professional civil engineering roles.
• Pursue professional licensure.
• Engage in life-long learning through independent study and by participating in professional conferences, workshops, seminars, or continuing education.

Program Outcomes

Civil engineering education focuses on outcomes rather than simply on input.  As part of the preparation process, the Civil Engineering Department Faculty, students, and industry advisory board have adopted the Engineering Criteria outcomes and have defined specific outcomes to be achieved by the civil engineering students at the University of Kentucky.  These outcomes are:

1. An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering.
   1. Graduates can apply math, science, and engineering knowledge to civil engineering problems.
2. Ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data.
   1. Graduates are able to set up and conduct engineering experiments.
   2. Graduates are able to present experimental results through appropriate graphical display.
   3. 3.   Graduates are able to select and apply appropriate statistical methods for basic data analysis.
3. An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.
   1. Graduates have design competence.
4. An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams.
   1. Graduates are able to articulate teamwork principles.
   2. Graduates are able to work with a multi-disciplinary team.
5. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.
   1. Graduates are able to solve defined and open-ended engineering problems.
6. An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
   1. Graduates understand the principles of ethical decision making and can interpret the ASCE Code of Ethics.
   2. Graduates will understand the proper use of the work of others (e.g., plagiarism, copyrights, and patents).
   3. Graduates will understand the special duty they owe to protect the public’s health, safety and welfare by virtue of their professional status as engineers in society.
7. An ability to communicate effectively.
   1. Graduates are able to produce engineering reports using written, oral and graphic methods of communication.
8. The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context.
   1. Graduates have a background in social science and humanities that provides them with a foundation for understanding the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context.
   2. CE courses will include information on how engineering solutions affect the quality of life and the physical environment.
9. A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning.
   1. Graduates realize that a BSCE degree is the beginning of their professional education.
   2. Students will be encouraged to be active members in professional societies.
10. A knowledge of contemporary issues.
    1. Students are aware of emerging technologies and current professional issues.
11. An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.
    1. Graduates are able to use computers to solve engineering problems and to evaluate solutions.
    2. Students are aware of current techniques in civil engineering practice.
    3. Civil engineering graduates must also meet the additional program outcomes:
12. Graduates can explain basic concepts and problem solving processes used in management.
13. Graduates can explain basic concepts and problem solving processes used in business, public policy, and business administration.
14. Graduates can explain the role of a leader, leadership principles, and attitudes conducive to effective professional practice of Civil Engineering.

As students in the civil engineering program, you will be expected to demonstrate competence in these outcomes.

Further ABET curriculum requirements are:

• curriculum culminate in a major design experience,
• one year of mathematics and basic sciences (32 semester credit hours),
• one and one-half years of engineering topics (48 semester credit hours), and
• general education component consistent with program objectives.

In addition, Civil Engineering programs must demonstrate that graduates can apply knowledge of mathematics through differential equations, calculus-based physics, chemistry, and at least one additional area of basic science, consistent with the program educational objectives; can apply knowledge of four technical areas appropriate to civil engineering; can conduct civil engineering experiments and analyze and interpret the resulting data; can design a system, component, or process in more than one civil engineering context; can explain basic concepts in management, business, public policy, and leadership; and can explain the importance of professional licensure.