Complementary courses: The public works management for civil engineers and the entrepreneurship for engineers, at the University of Florida

Abstract

Civil engineers need to understand in several skills to work with both public and private organizations. Civil engineering works in private practice include planning, designing, constructing as well as operating physical facilities, and in public practice involve city or regional planning and layout construction of highways. At the University of Florida, two graduate courses are examined: Public Works Management for Civil Engineers introduces civil engineering graduate students to the concept of public works by giving an overview of public works organizations, communications, equipment management, finance, planning issues, water resources, solid waste management as well as legal aspects. In addition, Entrepreneurship for Engineers aims to educate graduate students and select upper level undergraduate students about the concepts and practices of entrepreneurial thinking which major course themes include an introduction to entrepreneurship, idea generation and feasibility analysis, and business planning. The complementary relationship of the courses can link civil engineering students to better understand the overall knowledge using similar methods of combination of lectures, case studies, student-led discussions, teamwork and guest speakers. However, the courses provide the different contents of government and private sectors in various aspects. The classes teach real life skills that civil engineering students can use in their future careers.