Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering Mission Statement,
Program Educational Objectives and Program Outcomes
Introduction
In the United States, accreditation is a non-governmental, peer-review process that assures the quality of the postsecondary education students receive. Educational institutions or programs volunteer to undergo this review periodically to determine if certain criteria are being met. However, accreditation is not intended or used as a ranking system. Rather, it provides simply assurance that a program or institution meets established quality standards.
ABET, Inc., (www.abet.org) is responsible for the specialized accreditation of educational programs in the fields of applied science, computing, engineering, and technology. (More general information about accreditation is available at www.chea.org.) ABET accredits postsecondary degree-granting programs housed within regionally accredited institutions. ABET accreditation is assurance that a college or university program meets the quality standards established by the profession for which it prepares its students. For example, an accredited engineering program must meet the quality standards set by the engineering profession.
ABET accredits programs only, not degrees, departments, colleges, or institutions. All programs seeking accreditation from the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET must:
- demonstrate that they satisfy all General Criteria established by EAC,
- demonstrate that they satisfy all specific Program Criteria established by EAC in collaboration with the lead professional society associated with the program area (for
- civil engineering, this is the American Society of Civil Engineers, ASCE), establish Program Educational Objectives that are consistent with the mission of the institution, the needs of the program’s various constituencies (employers, alumni, etc.) and EAC criteria, and
- establish specific Student Outcomes that consistently support the program educational objections.
These program educational objectives establish professional career abilities and accomplishments expected for the program’s graduates within a few years following graduation. In contrast, the Student Outcomes represent are skills and abilities obtained and demonstrated by the student during their academic career and represent the body of knowledge they have obtained by the time they graduate.
At Mississippi State University, the program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org. The Program Educational Objectives and the Student Outcomes for this program are presented below.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Mississippi State University is to provide students in the civil engineering program with the knowledge and skills needed to enter professional practice, or continue their studies at the graduate level, and develop a sense of personal responsibility to the needs of society and the profession.
Program Educational Objectives
Graduates of the civil engineering program should, within the a few years after graduation:
- Demonstrate a broad knowledge of the principles and fundamentals of civil engineering and their applications through their successful practice as professional civil engineers, their pursuit of graduate or professional degrees, or their engagement in other professional careers that involve the application of the engineering method.
- Achieve success in the multidisciplinary environment of the 21st century and demonstrate their ability to adapt to emerging and evolving technologies, social conditions, professional standards, and career opportunities by attaining leadership, managerial, administrative, supervisory, or other positions of responsibility.
- Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the ethical, societal and professional responsibilities of a civil engineer through professional registration and active membership in professional organizations.
- Demonstrate an appreciation for lifelong learning and for the value of continuing professional development in maintaining their professional competence through participation in graduate and continuing education activities.
Program's Student Outcomes
During the course of study in civil engineering, the student should:
- Demonstrate a strong foundation in and the ability to apply fundamental knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering.
- Demonstrate an ability to design and conduct experiments and to analyze and interpret experimental data.
- Demonstrate an ability to design civil engineering systems within realistic constraints.
- Contribute to and effectively function in team undertakings, in leadership as well as non-leadership positions.
- Demonstrate an ability to analyze and solve civil engineering problems.
- Demonstrate an appreciation for professional ethics and for personal integrity and responsibility.
- Demonstrate proficiency in oral and written communications.
- Demonstrate an ability to understand the impact of civil engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context.
- Demonstrate the independent study skills required for lifelong learning.
- Demonstrate an appreciation for contemporary societal issues.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the use of techniques and tools relevant to civil engineering practice.
