Bachelor of Civil Technology and Civil Engineering Programs

This position paper, adopted unanimously by the Department Heads Council whose members represent the heads of the 222 civil engineering programs listed in the ASCE Official Register 1992, shows that the delineation between civil engineering practice and the practice of civil technology is not clear. The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) evaluates both engineering and technology programs, but the criteria are vastly different in four curriculum areas—mathematics and basic sciences, engineering (technical) science, design, and humanities/social sciences. Despite the major difference in the education of engineers and technologists, technologists can sit for the FE and PE exams in 41 states, and the American Society of Civil Engineers offers technologists membership at all society grades. This position paper argues that the present state of affairs does not serve to advance the safety and welfare of the public and urges ASCE to adopt the position advanced by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)—those who wish to be engineers should study engineering, and that a BS from an ABET/EAC accredited program be the minimum education requirement for professional engineering registration.