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The Mission, Objectives, and Outcomes of UI's Civil Engineering Program of Undergraduate Education

Mission

The Program's mission in undergraduate education is to serve the citizens of Iowa and the nation by disseminating and developing technical information aimed at improving the physical infrastructure and environmental well being of society. The Program aims to provide a well-rounded and superior engineering education that graduates talented and creative engineers. In so doing, the Program draws upon the broad resources of a comprehensive university that has strong programs in liberal arts and sciences, that offers a wide range of professional programs, and that aspires to be among the best research universities.

Objectives

The Program's mission infers the following set of Education Objectives:

1. Produce graduates who integrate and build on the Program's core curricular concepts in the pursuit of professional leadership, teamwork, life-long learning, and career advancement.

The core concepts include:
- design and process-modeling experience
- open-ended problem solving
- teamwork and project management skills
- oral, written, and graphical communication skills
- contemporary computer usage
- multi-disciplinary experience
- ethical, professional, social and global awareness

2. Provide appropriate technical proficiency in the sub-disciplines of structures and materials, water-resources engineering, transportation, and environmental engineering;

3. Enhance graduate design expertise by offering curricular design experiences that include projects involving the professional community;

4. Instill appreciation for the importance and benefits of professional licensure and continuing education;

5. Nurture graduate interest in engineering research, by offering research opportunities for undergraduate involvement with on-campus research entities. The research entities include IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering (IIHR), the Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research (CGRER), the Public Policy Center (PPC), the Center for Computer Aided Design (CCAD), the Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing, and the Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination (CHEEC);

6. Ensure graduates value the Program's personalized, supportive, and small-college environment; and,

7. Produce graduates enriched by opportunities to experience cultural and gender diversity, as well as by opportunities for international and experiential learning.

Outcomes

The Outcomes attributes sought for students graduating from the Program are as follows:
(i). the ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering in their chosen fields within civil engineering.
(ii). the ability to design and conduct experiments, and to analyze and interpret experimental results.
(iii). 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.
(iv). the ability to work as members of multidisciplinary project and/or research teams, and have an understanding of leadership in teams and organizations.
(v). the ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.
(vi). an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility and the value of mentorship and peer support.
(vii). the ability to communicate effectively in written, oral, and graphical forms.
(viii). an education that is supportive of a broad awareness of the diversity of the world and its cultures, and that provides an understanding of the impact of engineering practice in the global community.
(ix). understand the importance of updating and maintaining their technical skills and continuing their education throughout their professional careers, and understand the importance and responsibilities of professional licensure.
(x). understand the role of civil and environmental engineering in developing and maintaining society's physical infrastructure.
(xi). the ability to use the principles, techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for successful engineering practice and/or research in their chosen fields associated with civil and environmental engineering.
(xii). a base-level competency in four specialized areas of civil engineering (environmental; hydraulics & hydrology; structures, mechanics & materials; transportation).
(xiii). an understanding of the elements of project management, construction, and asset management.
(xiv). an understanding of business, public policy and administration fundamentals.
(xv). an understanding of the role of the leader and leadership principles.
(xvi). an appreciation of the role of research in civil engineering practice.

The University of Iowa College of Engineering