Reiners Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
The Reiners Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers the following undergraduate degree:
The civil engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.
The civil engineering profession provides for our basic needs: housing, cities, commerce, transportation, education, recreation, clean air, water, environmental projects, and energy production. Civil engineers plan, design, construct and maintain safe and purposeful civic facilities that add to the quality of life.
Today, civil engineers explore the frontiers of high technology for solutions to global needs. They deal with the techniques of modern computer-integrated design, as well as perform research for new methods and materials of construction. They design and conduct experiments to study the wind effects on tall buildings and the hydrodynamic effects on offshore structures. They use computer simulations to predict hydrologic events, assess flood damage, and manage transportation systems. They employ computers to monitor treatment facilities, lasers for precision surveying, and remote sensing technologies for geodetic surveying.
Based on this vision of the future, the Reiners Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, with the support of the Allen School of Engineering and Computing and Trine University, will excel in the education of individuals uniquely prepared for the practice of civil engineering at the professional level.
Civil engineering is comprised of many important engineering disciplines including structural engineering, water resources engineering, geotechnical engineering, environmental engineering, highway and transportation engineering, materials science, urban planning, and construction engineering. Civil engineering projects require a combined knowledge of many of these areas, as well as managerial skills, which include the ability to make decisions that are based not only on sound engineering principles, but also on an understanding of the social, ethical, and economic makeup of society. Therefore, it is essential that students receive a broad foundation in the areas of mathematics, physical and engineering sciences, analytical and design methods, communication skills, the social sciences and humanities, and several, if not all, of the civil engineering disciplines mentioned above.
Civil engineers find career opportunities with architectural and engineering firms, construction corporations, material manufacturers, material testing services, utility corporations, and the petroleum and aircraft industries. As many civil engineering projects involve public infrastructure such as highways, bridges, dams, land reclamation and water distribution systems, belong to the public sector, a significant proportion of civil engineers work for local, state and federal governments, as well as the Army Corps of Engineers, the Air Force and the Navy. Those who pursue advanced degrees often enter teaching and research careers in universities.
Mission
The mission of the Reiners Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is to develop work-ready engineers through active learning opportunities, hands-on laboratories and projects, and real-world experiences in a nurturing educational community.
Objectives
The following educational objectives have been developed for the civil engineering program at Trine University.
- Graduates will effectively prepare and present written and verbal proposals, design reports, drawings and other technical information to a diverse audience.
- Graduates demonstrate the importance of teamwork and leadership in executing projects, including their role within the team and their impact on the scope, budget, and schedule of the project.
- Graduates can effectively use state of the practice engineering tools.
- Graduates can analyze and design a structure, system or process, taking into consideration the legal, ethical and other societal impacts of the design.
- Graduates take an active role in professional development and community outreach, including achieving professional licensure, active participation in professional societies and service to their community.
- Graduates are engaged in business aspects of the profession, including marketing, budgeting, client and public interaction, and contracting.
Outcomes
As specified by the accrediting body, engineering programs assure that their students will be able to:
- identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics;
- apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors;
- communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
- recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts;
- function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives;
- develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions;
- acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Purposes
The Reiners Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Trine University fulfills its mission by providing a dedicated and enhanced learning environment featuring the following components:
- curriculum: rigorous, but carefully shaped to provide a path to success;
- faculty: committed to an excellent undergraduate learning experience;
- classrooms: sized and equipped to promote personal attention;
- laboratories: equipped to provide an engaging and educational laboratory experience through numerous hands-on experiments with direct guidance from full-time faculty;
- mentoring: promoted at all levels – faculty to student, upperclassman to underclassman, and through the services of the Trine Learning Center;
- peer interaction: fostered by team assignments in classes and active membership in student organizations.