Five Primary Goals & Outcomes
+
1. Knowledge & Scholarly Formation
UMD Learning Goal Category #1
Learning Goal #1: Graduates with a MS in Civil Engineering will have acquired a depth of knowledge in one of the following areas in civil engineering: geotechnical, structures, transportation and water/environmental.
Learning Outcome #1: Graduates with a MS in Civil Engineering will demonstrate a depth of knowledge in a minimum of one of the following concentrations: geotechnical, structural, transportation, water/environmental.
Evaluation process: This outcome will be evaluated through an overall assessment of the student’s thesis work. The potential for academic publication or potential for implementation in engineering practice will be evidence of success.
+
2. Research and Methodological Skills Relevant to Field
UMD Learning Goal Category #2
Learning Goal #2: Graduates with a MS in Civil Engineering will have acquired graduate level skills in civil engineering problem solving and/or civil engineering design.
Learning Outcome #2: Graduates with a MS in Civil Engineering will employ sound methodologies in developing solutions for the topics of interest to the profession and/or research community.
Evaluation process: This outcome will be evaluated through a combination of thesis/project proposal and final thesis/project. A rubric will be developed and applied to specifically address their competence in using effective methodologies to find solutions.
+
3. Communication Skills
UMD Learning Goal Category #3
Learning Goal #3: Graduates with a MS in Civil Engineering will have developed effective communication skills.
Learning Outcome #3a: Graduates with a MS in Civil Engineering will demonstrate sound written communication skills through reporting and sharing their research/project with the profession.
Evaluation process: This outcome will be evaluated through a combination of thesis/project proposal and final thesis/project with the evaluation focused on written communication effectiveness.
Learning Outcome #3b: Graduates with a MS in Civil Engineering will demonstrate sound verbal communication skills through reporting and sharing their research/project with the profession.
Evaluation process: This outcome will be evaluated through a combination of thesis/project proposal and final thesis/project with the evaluation focused on oral communication effectiveness.
A rubric will be used by the student’s adviser and committee to evaluate written and oral communication skills.
+
4. Leadership and Collaborative Skills
UMD Learning Goal Category #4
Learning Goal #4: Graduates with a MS in Civil Engineering will have developed professional leadership and collaboration skills.
Learning Outcome #4: Graduates with a MS in Civil Engineering will demonstrate effective collaboration with their colleagues, students and professors to fully participate in a rigorous educational experience that combines coursework with discovery in their scholarly formation.
Evaluation process: This outcome will be evaluated using the research thesis proposal (MS Plan A) or a project proposal (MS Plan B). Graduate students prepare the above in collaboration with their faculty advisor and present (in written or oral format, i.e., as a report or set of slides) one or more semesters in advance of delivering the final thesis or project. Alternatively, this outcome may also be evaluated through student participation (i) Graduate Professional Skills 1 (CE 8020) and (ii) Graduate Professional Skills 2 (CE 8030). Students will complete assignments in collaboration with each other in these courses.
+
5. Cultural Competence and Global Context Formation of the Field
UMD Learning Goal Category #5
Learning Goal #5: Graduates with a MS in Civil Engineering will have recognized the need for developing cultural competence and global context formation.
Learning Outcome #5: Graduates with a MS in Civil Engineering will recognize the need for developing cultural competence and gaining a global context to become a leader in their field while demonstrating advancement of their own skills in these areas.
Evaluation process: This outcome will be evaluated using the assignments in graduate professional Skills 2 (CE 8030). External speakers will be invited who will address topics related to ethics, cultural and global issues in engineering. Assignments completed by graduate students on the topics addressed in the presentation(s) will be assessed by the course instructor with a rubric to evaluate their cultural competence and global context formation.