TECHNICAL PAPERS
Apr 1, 2008

Civil Engineering Education and Complex Systems

Publication: Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 134, Issue 2

Abstract

Civil engineering is an interdisciplinary field, and most of the projects designed and built represent very complex systems, both during the construction phase and in the built phase. This research describes how a course in land development that included engineering design elements, lectures that also touched on other related fields, and a field journal assignment at a “green” (sustainable) construction site facilitated students’ understanding of complex systems. Results suggest that this course design facilitates the development of students’ proficiencies in several skill sets, and can increase students’ understanding of the complexity involved in civil engineering projects.

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References

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Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 134Issue 2April 2008
Pages: 186 - 192

History

Received: Feb 16, 2007
Accepted: May 10, 2007
Published online: Apr 1, 2008
Published in print: Apr 2008

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Authors

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Liv M. Haselbach, Ph.D., M.ASCE [email protected]
P.E.
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of South Carolina, 300 Main St., Columbia, SC 29208 (corresponding author). E-mail: [email protected]
Michelle Maher, Ph.D. [email protected]
Associate Professor, Dept. of Educational Leadership and Policies, College of Education, Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208. E-mail: [email protected]

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