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Objectives and Outcomes

Program Objectives

The Civil Engineering Department measures the achievement of civil engineering program educational objectives through alumni, employer and graduating student surveys and questionnaires.

WVU Tech civil engineering program graduates will:

  1. Obtain employment in the civil engineering field and will hold positions having significant professional responsibility.
  2. Obtain professional registration.
  3. Be prepared academically and those who choose to pursue advanced studies will be successful.
  4. Be equipped to learn new skills as they progress in their careers and, as a result, will possess the capabilities to move to positions having increased leadership, mentoring and management responsibilities.
Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Problem Solving: Students will attain an ability to identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics.
  2. Engineering Design: Students will attain an ability to 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.
  3. Effective Communication: Students will attain an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  4. Engineering Responsibilities: Students will attain an ability to 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.
  5. Teamwork: Students will attain an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives.
  6. Engineering Experimentation: Students will attain an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  7. Learning: Students will attain an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

These program outcomes are achieved through a solid grounding in mathematics, chemistry and physics along with a strong understanding of basic engineering principles. Students also receive broad exposure to the humanities and social sciences and an extensive development of the fundamentals of material science, environmental, geotechnical, hydrotechnical, structural and transportation engineering. Specialization in one or more branches of civil engineering is possible by a selection of civil engineering and technical electives during the junior and senior years.