Research Article
Oct 1971
To Practice Or Perish
Publication: Engineering Issues: Journal of Professional Activities
Volume 97, Issue 1
Abstract
Professional practice of engineering must include the responsibilities to serve society as well as technical competence. The education of engineers must lead to practice in its broadest sense or the profession will perish. Priorities must be reexamined, decision making must be reclaimed, and education must be reoriented toward professionalism, encompassing leadership of and involvement in societal affairs to help established political priorities. No optimum criterion is given, but survey data are presented and references cited to substantiate the observations. Professional schools of engineering, independent of university graduate schools and staffed with faculties whose experience is adequate, providing 6-yr curricula with meaningful industrial internships, are recommended, emphasizing engineering practice rather than engineering research. An alternate plan might necessitate the establishment of such programs by industry with National (Society) Specialty Boards to accredit them and examining those so educated.
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Published In
Engineering Issues: Journal of Professional Activities
Volume 97 • Issue 1 • October 1971
Pages: 131 - 146
Copyright
© 1971 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published in print: Oct 1971
Published online: Feb 10, 2021
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Dan H. Pletta, F.ASCE
University Prof. of Engrg. Mechanics, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg, Va.
George A. Gray, M.ASCE
Prof. of Civ. Engrg., Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg, Va.
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