THE ENGINEERING CURRICULUM

The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) lists the fol-lowing minimum accreditation requirements for a baccalaureate degree in engineering:

One year of an appropriate combination of mathematics and basic sciences One and one-half years of engineering topics

One-half year of humanities and social sciences¹

Studies in mathematics must be beyond trigonometry and must include dif-ferential and integral calculus and difdif-ferential equations. ABET encourages additional mathematics work in one or more subjects of probability and statis-tics, linear algebra, numerical analysis, and advanced calculus.

Studies in basic sciences must include both general chemistry and calculus-based general physics with at least a two-semester sequence in either area.

Additional work in life sciences, earth sciences, advanced chemistry, or physics may be used to satisfy the basic science requirement.

The basic sciences serve as the foundation of an engineering education. On this foundation, a sequence of courses referred to as engineering sciences is added.

These courses include solid and fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, electrical and

4.3 THE ENGINEERING CURRICULUM

89

1Beginning with the 2001–2002 accreditation cycle, instead of the humanities and social sciences requirement, ABET specifies the inclusion of a general education component that complements the technical content of the curriculum and is consistent with the program and institution objectives.

electronic circuits, materials science, and computer science (not computer pro-gramming). Such courses are strongly rooted in basic science and mathematics, providing a bridge between these basic subjects and engineering design.

Typically, in the third and fourth year of an engineering education, course work in engineering is introduced. These are highly specialized courses intended to equip the student for practice in his or her chosen specialty.

ABET requires that each accredited program include a meaningful, major engineering design experience that is based on the knowledge and skills acquired in earlier course work and that includes engineering standards and realistic constraints such as economic factors, safety, reliability, ethics, and social and environmental impact.

Essential ingredients in any engineering program of study are the humani-ties and social sciences. Such courses include literature, philosophy, history, economics, psychology, and sociology. Courses in the humanities and social sciences help the student understand and appreciate the impacts of engineer-ing works on society and the natural environment.

Engineering students usually acquire training in other specialized areas dur-ing their undergraduate studies, includdur-ing ways to effectively communicate with their clients, fellow workers, and the public. Many engineering students take elective courses in accounting, management, statistics, and law

Beginning with the 2001–2002 accreditation cycle, ABET requires that engi-neering programs have in place detailed published educational objectives, a curriculum, and processes that assure the achievement of those objectives, including a system of evaluation and assessment. ABET requires that each engineering program demonstrate that their graduates have:

Figure 4.3 The pursuit of academic success requires motivation and dedication to the task. (Courtesy of Institute Communications and Public Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology.)

An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering;

An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data;

An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs;

An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams;

An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems;

An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility; and An ability to communicate effectively.

The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context includes:

A recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning;

A knowledge of contemporary issues; and

An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools nec-essary for engineering practice.

Table 4.1 shows a typical freshman engineering curriculum. Such a curricu-lum does not tend to vary significantly among colleges and universities or engi-neering disciplines.

Table 4.2 gives an example of an engineering curriculum beyond the first year for students in civil engineering. Note that the curriculum described in Tables 4.1 and 4.2 adheres to the requirements of ABET. That curriculum is based on the semester system. Many universities operate on the quarter system, in which the academic year is divided into three periods of about 12 weeks duration. A quarter-based curriculum would, of course, be “packaged” differ-ently but would be similar to one based on the semester system.

4.3 THE ENGINEERING CURRICULUM

91

TABLE 4.1 Typical Freshman Engineering Curriculum

Semester Hours Credit

Freshman Year Courses 1st Semester 2nd Semester

MATH 1501—Calculus I 4 —

MATH 1502—Calculus II — 4

CHEM 1211—General Chemistry 4 —

ENGL 1101—English Composition I 3 —

ENGL 1102—English Composition II — 3

CS 1301—Computer Science I 3 —

Elective in History, Political Science,

or International Affairs 3 —

ME/CEE 1770—Engineering Graphics — 3

PHYS 2211—Physics I — 4

HPS 1040/1061—Wellness — 2

TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS 17 16

TABLE 4.2 Example Curriculum for Students in Civil Engineering Semester Hours Credit

Sophomore Year Courses 1st Semester 2nd Semester

MATH 2401—Calculus III 4 —

PHYS 2212—Physics II 4 —

CEE 2000—Applications Probability/Statistics 1 —

CEE 2010—Computational Modeling 3 —

ISYE/MATH 3770—Introduction to Probability/Statistics 3 —

Humanities/Social Sciences Elective 3 3

MATH 2403—Differential Equations — 4

BIOL 1510—Biological Principles — 4

CEE 2020—Statics and Dynamics — 3

ECON 2100—Economic Analysis — 3

TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS 18 17

Semester Hours Credit

Junior Year Courses 1st Semester 2nd Semester

CEE 3000—CE Systems 3 —

CEE 3020—CE Materials 3 —

CEE 3030—Strength of Materials 3 —

EAS 2601—Earth Processes 4 —

ME 3322 or CHE 2100—Thermodynamics or

Chemical Processes 3 —

CEE 3010—Geomatics — 3

CEE 3040—Fluid Mechanics — 3

CEE 3050—Structural Analysis — 3

PST 3109—Ethics — 3

Engineering Elective — 3

TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS 16 15

Semester Hours Credit

Senior Year Courses 1st Semester 2nd Semester

CEE 4100—Construction Engineering 3 —

CEE 4200—Hydraulic Engineering 3 —

CEE 4300—Environmental Systems 3 —

CEE 4400—Geosystems Engineering 3 —

CEE Elective 3 3

Approved Elective 3 3

CEE 4600—Transportation Planning and Design — 3

CP 4030—City and Technology — 3

CEE Elective (Design) — 3

TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS 18 15