Academic Catalog

2023-2024

Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology Engineering Technology with a Major in Civil Engineering Technology (BSET)

Department website: https://ww1.odu.edu/engtech.html

Civil Engineering Technology

Michael Seek, Program Director

The Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology (BSET) degree program in Civil Engineering Technology (CET) is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org/.  The CET program courses at the senior level specializing in the areas of construction management, structural design, and site development.  Students in this program are prepared for employment in a wide range of professional and technical positions with the construction, consulting engineering, surveying and site development industries.  Graduates are eligible to take the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, the first step to licensure as a professional engineer. CET courses include topics such as computer-aided drafting, statics, strength of materials, materials testing, surveying, building construction, steel and concrete design, soils and foundations, and hydrology and drainage. Effective written, oral and graphic communications are practiced throughout the curriculum along with computer literacy. The program culminates in a senior project that integrates course work with a practical project assignment in the student's area of interest. To satisfy the upper-division general education requirements, students are encouraged to complete a minor in engineering management, business management, environmental health and safety, or mechanical engineering technology.

Civil Engineering Technology Program

Mission Statement

The mission of the Civil Engineering Technology (CET) program is to sustain a high quality undergraduate program of study leading to the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology degree. The program prepares graduates to become certified in their area of specialization. Civil engineering technology is a significant component of the University's commitment to science, engineering and technology, particularly in structural design, construction, site development and related fields, which are of major importance to civilization. Students around the world are enabled to expand opportunities to enhance their education and pursue baccalaureate level studies through ODUGlobal. Simultaneously, the program supports the general education components that yield a well-rounded graduate who is aware of and able to address societal needs and issues.

Typical technical problems that CET graduates will be able to address include: building and non-building type structures and construction operations. Typical technical tasks the CET graduates will be expected to perform include: planning and design, field testing and inspection, on-site technical coordination and control, and other tasks relevant to one's emphasis area.

Program Educational Objectives

The objective of the civil engineering technology program is to prepare graduates to establish themselves as successful professionals in structural design, site development, and construction management or related areas during the first few years of their careers by having demonstrated their ability to:

  1. Identify and solve increasingly complex technical problems, both theoretically and practically, as raised by continually evolving technologies and industry needs and practices.
  2. Make educated, responsible, and ethical decisions in response to the needs of the profession and society, with these decisions solidly grounded in science and engineering fundamentals.
  3. Work effectively as member or leader of technical teams and clearly communicate ideas leading to successful team outcomes.

Student Outcomes

The civil engineering technology program has adopted, after deliberations by its constituents, five student outcomes for the Bachelor of Science degree program in civil engineering technology. These outcomes are listed below.

  1. an ability to apply knowledge, techniques, skills and modern tools of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology to solve broadly-defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline;
  2. an ability to design systems, components, or processes meeting specified needs for broadly-defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline;
  3. an ability to apply written, oral, and graphical communication in broadly-defined technical and non-technical environments; and an ability to identify and use appropriate technical literature;
  4. an ability to conduct standard tests, measurements, and experiments and to analyze and interpret the results to improve processes; and
  5. an ability to function effectively as a member as well as a leader on technical teams.

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology - Civil Engineering Technology is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET www.abet.org. 

Graduates of CET programs typically analyze and design systems, specify project methods and materials, perform cost estimates and analyses, and manage technical activities in support of civil engineering projects. The curriculum provides instruction in the following curricular areas:

  1. utilization of principles, hardware, and software that are appropriate to produce drawings, reports, quantity estimates, and other documents related to civil engineering technology;
  2. performance of standardized field and laboratory tests related to civil engineering technology;
  3. utilization of surveying methods appropriate for land measurement and/or construction layout;
  4. application of fundamental computational methods and elementary analytical techniques in sub-disciplines related to civil engineering technology;
  5. planning and preparation of documents appropriate for design and construction;
  6. performance of economic analyses and cost estimates related to design, construction, operations and maintenance of systems associated with civil engineering technology;
  7. selection of appropriate engineering materials and practices; and
  8. performance of standard analysis and design in at least three sub-disciplines related to civil engineering technology.