CVEN 4110 – Seminar

Fall 2005 Semester

2006-2008 Catalog Data:         CVEN 4110: Seminar. Discussion of ethical, professional and technical topics related to the practice of civil engineering. Presentation of oral and written reports. Prerequisites: Senior Standing.

Textbook:                                 M.W. Martin and R. Schinzinger, Ethics in Engineering, 2^nd/3^rd Edition, McGraw-Hill, 1996.

References:                               Civil Engineering; American Society of Civil Engineers

Technical and Professional Division Journals; American Society of Civil Engineers

Texas Civil Engineer; Texas Section ASCE

Texas Professional Engineer; Texas Society of Professional Engineers

Engineering Times; National Society of Professional Engineers

Modern Steel Construction; American Institute of Steel Construction

ENR; Engineering News-Record

Ethical Issues in Engineering; Johnson

Engineering Ethics; Harris, Pritchard, and Rabins

Issues in Professional Engineering Practice; Bucknam

Instructor:                                 Dr. Enno “Ed” Koehn, Professor of Civil Engineering

Goals:                                       (1) This course is designed to reinforce the student’s awareness of the importance of ethical and professional concepts in engineering. Current items of concern in Civil Engineering are utilized for the various topics under consideration. In addition to ethics and professionalism, global and social issues as well as economic factors, safety, reliability, aesthetics, legal and social impact are discussed as related to civil engineering. (ABET Outcomes # f and h)

(2) Oral and written presentation of case studies involving ethics in the design and construction of civil engineering systems. Economic, safety, reliability, aesthetics, and ethical as well as social impacts are discussed, as applicable. (ABET Outcomes # d and g)

Prerequisites by Topic:  None- Senior Standing Required

Topics:

1.                Professionalism (2 classes)

2.                Truesteel Affair (1 class)

3.                Gilbane Gold (1 class)

4.                Incident at Morales (1 class)

5.                Introduction to Engineering Ethics (1 class)

6.                Moral Reasoning (1 class)

7.                Engineering as Social Experimentation (1 class)

8.                The Engineer’s Concern for Safety (1 class)

9.                Professional Responsibility and Employer Authority (1 class)

10.            Rights of Engineers (1 class)

11.            Global Issues (1 class)

12.            Career Choice and Professional Outlook (1 class)

13.            Overview and Conclusions, Sample Codes (1 class)

14.            Examination and or discussion (1 class)

Computer usage: Utilization of word processing software is required for preparation of written reports.

Contribution of course to meeting the professional component:

This course contributes to the engineering science and engineering design component.

ABET category content as estimated by faculty member who prepared this course description:

                        Engineering Topics: 1 credit or 100%