Integration of strategic highway research program 2 products within the entire civil engineering curriculum

Abstract

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rowan University, led by staff and faculty who teach classes in transportation engineering, modified and refined the current civil engineering curricula by incorporating several (i.e., 17) Strategic Highway Research Program 2 (SHRP 2) solutions and products. The basic philosophy of the authors was to incorporate the SHRP 2 products as next generation tools to address existing and future transportation issues in addition to teaching the fundamentals of relevant subject matter, which is in line with the department's mission to prepare the next generation of civil engineering professionals. Each selected SHRP 2 product has become an inherent part of the course module. These were taught immediately after the relevant theoretical content was presented in the course. Furthermore, the authors re-emphasized these concepts using SHRP 2 as a tool for a seamless transition from theory to practice. A pre-survey and post-survey were conducted to determine the impact of introducing SHRP 2 modules within the courses. The results of the pre-and post-survey are presented. A detailed framework on how to seamlessly integrate SHRP 2 products through the entire civil engineering curriculum in other institutions is also presented.