Engineering - Civil

Professors Moses Tefe (Chair) and Tara Kulkarni; Associate Professors Nadia Al-Aubaidy, Jack Patterson, Alaina Roberts, Adam Sevi and Michael Gangone; Lecturer Mark Atwood.

Civil Engineering, the oldest branch of the engineering profession, utilizes knowledge of mathematics and science, while applying judgment, to design economic means for improving the well-being of humanity: by providing designs for community living, industry, and transportation; and by designing structures for the use of humankind. One of the rare historical records of civil engineering within academia is contained in the first catalog of this university, dated August 1821. Among the description of offerings to students in 1820 was . . . "Civil Engineering, including the construction of roads, canals, locks and bridges." This institution was thus the first private school in the United States where students were taught engineering as a separate branch of education. Two of its earliest alumni, Alfred W. Craven and Moncure Robinson, were prominent in the formation of the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1852.

The Civil & Environmental Engineering field encompasses planning, design, construction, and maintenance of structures, which often includes altering the natural geography to meet human needs. Civil Engineers plan, design, construct, and maintain suspension bridges, dams, tunnels, skyscrapers, the Interstate highway system, airports, ports, shopping centers, residential developments, water delivery and purification facilities, and irrigation systems. During their first two years, students learn the fundamental mathematical and scientific principles essential for engineering analysis and design. Principles of the design process are introduced in the first engineering courses and continually emphasized and practiced in the subsequent engineering courses. The last two years of the curriculum are devoted to providing a sound grounding in five major civil engineering sub-disciplines: water resources, structural, environmental, geotechnical, construction, and transportation. The design experience culminates in the senior year with a major design project. Because laboratory experience is deemed essential to learning, participatory laboratories reinforce principles learned in lectures and permit students to learn through inquiry. To this end, laboratory sections are kept small and require student participation. Use of the computer for both analysis and design is an integral part of the curriculum and the department maintains a computer laboratory for the exclusive use of civil engineering students. Software required for all courses and additional software for student inquiry is available. The curriculum is also strengthened by activities of the Norwich student chapters of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Chi Epsilon, Tau Beta Pi, and the Society of American Military Engineers.

Mission

The mission of the Civil Engineering Program is:

• Prepare students to excel in civil engineering and related fields.

• Make clear to students that above all else, the Civil Engineering profession is committed to bettering the world.

• Provide fundamental, laboratory-oriented (BSCE level only), hands-on education in the civil engineering field.

• Foster creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities and motivate students to consider the environmental consequences of their work.

• Enable students to be leaders in their profession, community, nation, and the world.

Learning Outcomes

At the time of graduation, students in the Civil Engineering Program are expected to have attained the following Student Outcomes:

• Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.

• Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.

• Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.

• Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.

• Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.

• Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.

• Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Goals

Graduates from the Civil Engineering Program are expected to have attained the following Program Educational Objectives within two to five years of graduation:

• A reputation for competence in applying the skills of engineering practice to conceive and analyze problems and execute solutions guided by ethical, societal, and global awareness.

• Successful employment as professionals in industrial, military, government, public works, and/or academic settings while advancing in positions of increasing responsibility or leadership roles.

• Recognition as an effective communicator and collaborator who can work in teams of diverse individuals, technical disciplines and management levels.

• Sustained engagement in continuing education and professional development.

Potential Careers

Graduates from this program manage varying job demands and requirements and are capable of adapting to rapidly changing technology. Graduates are also prepared for further formal study in graduate school where a student can specialize in a civil engineering sub-discipline. Whether working for a private engineering firm, construction firm, government agency, or industry, there are many areas in which civil engineers can focus. A few of the major specialties include:

• Structural (buildings, bridges, tunnels)

• Geotechnical (retaining structures, foundations)

• Water and wastewater (water supply, sewage disposal)

• Hydrology (river control, drainage)

• Transportation (highways, airports, railroads)

• Environmental (hazardous waste, air pollution, water quality)

The American Society of Civil Engineers is the largest professional organization that serves Civil and Environmental Engineers, as well as many other types of engineers in associated fields. To learn more about employment opportunities in Civil and Environmental Engineering, please visit: http://careers.asce.org.

Accreditation:

The Civil Engineering Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Civil Engineering.

There is no additional criteria to declare this major.