Name of Academic Department: Civil Engineering

Degree(s) or Program(s) covered by this report:     Master of Engineering and Master of Engineering

                                                                                    Science in Civil Engineering

Date Submitted: June 28, 2006

Submitted by (Departmental Assessment Representative): Xing Fang and Mien Jao

For each outcome identified in your IE Plan, describe the assessments used to gather data, summarize the results (data gathered), describe how the results have been reviewed, and describe actions (changes or improvements) planned or accomplished to improve student learning or program effectiveness:

Outcome 1 – Student Learning

State the outcome:

For the non-thesis option students (Master of Engineering Degree): ability to complete 3 core courses (9 credit hours); for the thesis option students (Master of Engineering Science Degree): ability to complete 1 core course (3 credit hours)

Assessment(s) conducted:

Core course are classified into three categories: Mathematics/Statistics (including ENGR 5304, ENGR 5347, and ENGR 5305), Optimization/Management (including ENGR 5308, ENGR 6388, ENGR 6339, and ENGR 5320), and Simulation/Control (including ENGR 5324, ENGR 6332, ENGR 5327, and ENGR 5351).  Students are required to complete three core courses in order to graduate.

Actual results (data gathered):

During the FY05-06, all students in this degree program completed required core courses.  The passing rate is 100 %.

How review of results was conducted:

The review was conducted by the program coordinator (Dr. Jao) in the degree program.

Outcome 2 - Student learning

State the outcome:

For the non-thesis option students (Master of Engineering Degree): ability to pass the comprehensive examination in three subjects in Civil Engineering Topics after 36 credit hours of coursework.

Assessment(s) conducted:

Three close-book comprehensive exams were conducted in the fall semester and spring semester, and in summer II session. Each comprehensive exam will test a minimum of three engineering design subjects. Students are required to pass all three subjects in order to graduate.

Actual results (data gathered):

During the FY05-06, all students in this degree program passed the comprehensive exam.  The passing rate is 100 %.

How review of results was conducted:

The review was conducted by the program coordinator in the degree program using the statistics of the comprehensive exams.

Actions planned or accomplished for improvement:

The current plan seems working well, except that we need more faculty members to strengthen the degree program and offer more advanced courses in the Department

Outcome 3 - Student learning

State the outcome:

For the thesis option students (Master of Engineering Science Degree): ability to formulate and draft a master thesis and pass the oral defense in a civil engineering research area in addition to 24 hours of credit hours of coursework.

Assessment(s) conducted:

Students are required to perform independent research in a civil engineering topic and draft a master thesis based on the research performed. The contents of the thesis must include Introduction, Literature Review, Research Methodology, Results and Discussion, and Conclusions and Recommendations. The student must perform a technical presentation and defend for his/her thesis work. 

Actual results (data gathered):

During FY 05-06, there are two (2) thesis students in the degree program. One student is expected to defend for the thesis in Summer 2006, and the second in Fall 2006.

How review of results was conducted:

The review of results was conducted by the MS Candidates’ advising committee which is comprised of 3-4 faculty members from the College of Engineering. The committee has a chair person who is supervise the students’ research work, and the committee members help the supervisor to evaluate the student’s independent study ability and performance.

Actions planned or accomplished for improvement:

We are attempting to secure the resources to hire more civil engineering faculty and encouraging the existing faculty to perform funded research to support thesis students in the degree program.

Outcome 3 - Student learning

State the outcome:

Successfully pass

Assessment(s) conducted:

Actual results (data gathered):

How review of results was conducted:

Actions planned or accomplished for improvement:

Outcome 4 (optional)

State the outcome:

Assessment(s) conducted:

Actual results (data gathered):

How review of results was conducted:

Actions planned or accomplished for improvement:

Outcome 5 (optional)

State the outcome:

Assessment(s) conducted:

Actual results (data gathered):

How review of results was conducted:

Actions planned or accomplished for improvement

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