ABET, the national accreditation organization for engineering programs requires that accredited programs establish and regularly update Program Educational Objectives (PEOs) and related Student Outcomes. Program Educational Objectives address the defining characteristics, attributes and abilities that SCU civil engineering graduates demonstrate within the first three to five years of their professional careers. Student Outcomes describe the measurable characteristics (i.e. knowledge, skills and sensitivities) that the Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering Department expects to find in its students at the completion of their undergraduate program.
The current set of Program Educational Objectives for the Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering Program at Santa Clara University was developed using an iterative process that integrated the ideas of the departmental faculty, students and the department Advisory Board. The Advisory Board provides representation from alumni, local employers and the professional civil engineering community. The Program Educational Objectives reflect not only the professional needs of the Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering Program graduate but also the parent institution’s mission statement and related aspirations for all Santa Clara University graduates. Initial versions of the department Educational Objectives were drafted in 2001, and revised in 2003 and 2011. The Educational Objectives developed by the Department for its undergraduate program reflect our commitment to providing a program that produces graduates who, within five years of graduation, will:
- capably design, build, maintain, or improve civil engineering-based systems in the context of environmental, economic, and societal requirements
- serve the community as ethical and responsible professionals
- engage in lifelong learning for professional growth
Companion Student Outcomes listed below were developed specifically for the undergraduate civil engineering program to help ensure that the aforementioned Program Educational Objectives are met. The focus of these outcomes is consistent with the set of required educational outcomes identified in the ABET EC2000 accreditation guidelines. Minimum ABET requirements have been supplemented with Program/University-specific outcomes that address the uniqueness of a Santa Clara University Civil, Environmental, and Sustainable Engineering education.
The Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering Student Outcomes require that graduates receiving a BSCE degree from Santa Clara University demonstrate the following.
1.1 an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
1.2 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
1.3 an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
1.4 an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgements, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
1.5 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
1.6 an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
1.7 an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
2. Students will be able to include principles of sustainability and resiliency in design; explain basic concepts in project management, business, public policy, and leadership; analyze issues in professional ethics; and explain the importance of professional licensure.
3. Students will be able to apply their knowledge of four technical areas within the general discipline of civil engineering.
4. Graduates will develop an understanding of the mission of the University to produce graduates with competence, conscience, and compassion and its relation to professional engineering practice.
These Program Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes represent a formal manifestation of an educational philosophy and spirit that the Civil, Environmental, and Sustainable Engineering Department has operated under for many years.
Annual student enrollment and graduation data for this program are available at the Office of Institutional Research.
