A methodology for curriculum modification applied to civil engineering mechanics

Abstract

Engineering curricula have traditionally had difficulty keeping pace with the rapid changes that take place in industry. Over the last twenty years, engineering curricula have changed little, especially with regards to core fundamental courses. While many concepts that comprise traditional courses must remain the same, the supplemental topics can evolve and the presentation of the material must be updated to address the ever-changing environment the undergraduate student encounters. The Villanova University Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, as part of their continuous improvement program, has undertaken the task to rethink its mechanics curriculum. Instead of looking at individual courses as a whole, a methodology that evaluates the individual topics within a curriculum was used and is described herein. Essentially a Body of Knowledge (BOK) is developed that is targeted towards rethinking a curriculum at the course, discipline, and department levels. The methodology's premise is built around a prioritized list of topics (each linked to an associated student learning outcome) that are utilized in upper level courses or in the practice of civil engineering. The steps involved in developing a BOK are: 1. Development of an all inclusive topic list containing topics traditionally taught as well as those that have been considered supplemental, 2. Development of a mechanism for all faculty to provide input on each topic, 3. Synthesis and evaluation of the data collected, 4. Creation of the prioritized topic list to be included in the curriculum, 5. Parsing of the BOK into logistical modules, and 6. Development of course format, sequence, and content to best fit the BOK. An example of the BOK methodology applied to a mechanics sequence within a civil engineering curriculum is presented. This methodology aided in converting six separate courses and labs into a cohesive three course mechanics sequence. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2009.