Investigating Construction Courses within the US Civil Engineering Curricula – A Resource for Designing the Course

Construction courses in the civil engineering curriculum significantly contribute to the technical and professional knowledge, even if students do not follow a career in construction. Construction courses are offered during the junior or senior year of studies and meet several of the learning outcomes of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) Criterion 3. Additionally, the engineering topics covered are necessary for the successful completion of both the National Council of Examiners for Engineering (NCEES), Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) and Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exams. The study undertakes an online search and examines the construction courses offered by the civil engineering programs at major US universities. Information is imparted about the prerequisite courses, the credit hours, and the topics taught. The paper examines how well the topics taught align with the student outcomes of the ABET Criterion 3, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Body of Knowledge (CEBOK 3), and the FE and PE civil engineering exams. The paper recommends specific topics and strategies for improving the course content, or for creating new construction courses. The research concludes that undergraduate construction courses contribute significantly to the technical and professional knowledge of future civil engineers and need to be included in the curriculum.