%%html
<style> table {margin-left: 0 !important;} </style>
0. Syllabus#
Catalog Description#
CE 4200 Professional Engineering Practice Issues (2:2:0). A study of engineering body of knowledge topics to prepare students for engineering practice: topics include the FE Exam, licensure, leadership, ethics, and others.
Prerequisites:#
Must be within two long semesters of graduation.
Course Sections (in this syllabus)#
Lesson time, days, and location:
CE 4200 Section 001; CRN xxxx; 2000-2050 T,TH ; CE 205
Course Instructor:#
Instructor: Theodore G. Cleveland, Ph.D., P.E., M. ASCE, F. EWRI
Email: theodore.cleveland@ttu.edu (put 4200 in subject line)
Office location: CE 203F
Office hours: TBD
Teaching assistants:#
Assistant: none
Email : NA
Office location: NA
Office hours: NA
Required Reading(s)#
ASCE (2019). Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge for the 21st Century: Preparing the Civil Engineer for the Future. Third Edition. DRAFT. American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Reston, VA. ISBN (PDF): 9780784481974 (Free to download from ASCE) Local Copy (this server)
NCEES (2018). FE Supplied-Reference Handbook, Edition 9.5, Version for Computer-Based Testing. National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), Clemson, SC. Fifth Printing June 2018.
NCEES (2020). FE Reference Handbook, Edition 10.0.1. National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), Clemson, SC. Third Printing July 2021. ISBN: 978-1-947801-11-0. https://account.ncees.org/exam‐prep/416 or Local Copy (this server)
Lindeburg, Michael R. (2017). FE Civil Review. Professional Publications, Inc., Belmont, CA. ISBN: 978-1-59126-529-0. https://ppi2pass.com/
Course Description:#
This required course is to addresses selected civil engineering body of knowledge topics including preparation for the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam, the importance of licensure, leadership and management, public policy, business aspects of engineering, and others. It integrates technical, professional, and social issues and contributes to the preparation of senior BSCE students to enter professional practice.
During this course the student will
Explore and explain key concepts framing the civil engineering profession including body of knowledge topics such as leadership, business and public administration, and public policy
Explore and explain engineering aspects beyond the technical realm including safety, public health, sustainability, global and cultural aspects of project delivery
Explain the purpose, scope, and value of licensure.
Explore the current nature of the NCEES FE Exam as it relates to licensure
Apply resources and strategies to prepare for the FE Exam
Work FE Exam-like questions in selected topics using the FE Supplied Reference Handbook and subject matter expert supplied tools
ABET Program Outcomes#
This course specifically addresses the outcomes listed below. Only the primary outcome is assessed as part of the CECE Continuous Improvement Program.
Primary Outcomes#
(2.)an ability to 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.
(4.) an ability to 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
(7.) An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Secondary Outcomes#
none
Note
About ABET EAC Criteria
The outcomes above (primary and secondary) are a subset of those prescribed in ABET EAC General Criteria for Bacculerate Programs as described in ABET (2024) Criteria for Accrediting ENGINEERING PROGRAMS. ABET, 415 North Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201
Criteria 3, Student Outcomes: The program must have documented student outcomes that support the program educational objectives. Attainment of these outcomes prepares graduates to enter the professional practice of engineering. Student outcomes are outcomes (1) through (7), plus any additional outcomes that may be articulated by the program.
The primary outcomes (above) are assessed as part of the CECE Continuous Improvement Program that is prescribed in ABET EAC General Criteria for Bacculerate Programs as described in ABET (2024) Criteria for Accrediting ENGINEERING PROGRAMS. ABET, 415 North Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201
Criteria 4, Continuous Improvement: The program must regularly use appropriate, documented processes for assessing and evaluating the extent to which the student outcomes are being attained. The results of these evaluations must be systematically utilized as input for the program’s continuous improvement actions. Other available information may also be used to assist in the continuous improvement of the program.
Assessment Methods and Data Management
Outcome 2 is assessed through a weighted composite of quiz and final examination scores corresponding to the instructional modules designated as “Beyond the Technical.” These instruments collectively assess students’ ability to recognize and integrate non-technical factors relevant to professional engineering practice.
Outcome 4 is assessed using a weighted aggregate measure comprising class attendance, the Ethics quiz, and performance on ethics-related items in the final examination. This combination captures both engagement and demonstrated understanding of ethical principles in engineering contexts.
Outcome 7 is assessed by the normalized difference between quiz and final examination scores from the modules titled “Licensure and FE Exam Preparation.” A Wilcoxon signed-rank test is applied to determine whether the observed differences indicate a statistically significant improvement in student performance over the duration of the course.
These assessment data are collected and maintained on the department’s ABET server using the standardized course assessment forms, and the resulting summaries are utilized for both formal ABET accreditation documentation and the department’s annual continuous improvement program self-assessment process.
Brief List of Topics#
Selected body of knowledge topics from the foundational, technical, and professional areas of civil engineering
Engineering licensure requirements
FE Exam specifications and format
Selected FE Exam topics from mathematics, engineering probability and statistics, computational tools, ethics and professional practice, engineering economics, statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, fluid mechanics
Selected FE Exam civil discipline specific session topics from surveying, hydraulics and hydrologic systems, geotechnical engineering, environmental engineering, transportation engineering, structural analysis, structural design, construction, materials
Institutional Syllabus Statements#
Course Assessment and Grading Criteria:#
There will be multiple quizzes and one final exam for the course.
Late assignments will not be graded.
Grades will be based on the following components; weighting is approximate:
Assessment Instrument |
Weight(%) |
|---|---|
Attendance |
10 |
Homework |
20 |
Quizzes |
30 |
Exam |
40 |
Overall total |
100 |
Letter grades will be assigned using the following proportions:
Normalized Score Range |
Letter Grade |
|---|---|
≥ 90 |
A |
80-89 |
B |
70-79 |
C |
55-69 |
D |
< 55 |
F |
Schedule#
date |
topic |
presenter |
evaluation instrument |
|---|---|---|---|
26 Aug 2025 |
Introduction |
Dr. Cleveland |
|
28 Aug 2025 |
Framing the Profession: |
Dr. Cleveland |
Quiz |
02 sep 2025 |
Beyond the Technical: |
Dr. Cleveland |
Quiz |
04 Sep 2025 |
Beyond the Technical: |
Dr. Cleveland |
Quiz |
09 Sep 2025 |
Beyond the Technical: |
Dr. Cleveland |
Quiz |
11 Sep 2025 |
Beyond the Technical: |
Dr. Cleveland |
Quiz |
16 Sep 2025 |
No Class (Job Fair) |
Proof of Job Fair Attendance |
|
18 Sep 2025 |
Licensure and FE Exam Preparation: |
Dr. Cleveland |
Quiz |
23 Sep 2025 |
Licensure and FE Exam Preparation: |
Dr. Cleveland |
Quiz |
25 Sep 2025 |
Licensure and FE Exam Preparation: |
Dr. Cleveland |
Quiz |
30 Sep 2025 |
Licensure and FE Exam Preparation: |
Dr. Fei |
Quiz |
02 Oct 2025 |
Licensure and FE Exam Preparation: |
Dr. Fei |
Quiz |
07 Oct 2025 |
Licensure and FE Exam Preparation: |
Mr. Spears |
Quiz |
09 Oct 2025 |
Licensure and FE Exam Preparation: |
Mr. Spears |
Quiz |
14 Oct 2025 |
Licensure and FE Exam Preparation: |
No SME available |
Quiz |
16 Oct 2025 |
Licensure and FE Exam Preparation: |
Mr. Spears |
Quiz |
21 Oct 2025 |
Licensure and FE Exam Preparation: |
No SME available |
Quiz |
23 Oct 2025 |
Licensure and FE Exam Preparation: |
Ms. Gurley |
Quiz |
28 Oct 2025 |
Licensure and FE Exam Preparation: |
Dr. Cleveland |
Quiz |
30 Oct 2025 |
Licensure and FE Exam Preparation: |
Dr. Cleveland |
Self-Study |
04 Nov 2025 |
Licensure and FE Exam Preparation: |
Dr. Gray |
Quiz |
06 Nov 2025 |
Licensure and FE Exam Preparation: |
Dr. Won |
|
11 Nov 2025 |
Licensure and FE Exam Preparation: |
Dr. Lu |
Quiz |
13 Nov 2025 |
Licensure and FE Exam Preparation: |
Dr. Shankar |
Quiz |
18 Nov 2025 |
Licensure and FE Exam Preparation: |
Dr. Gugssa |
Quiz |
20 Nov 2025 |
Licensure and FE Exam Preparation: |
Dr. Cleveland |
Quiz |
25 Nov 2025 |
No Class (Self-study) |
||
02 Dec 2025 |
Review |
Dr. Cleveland |
|
08 Dec 2025 |
Final Exam |
Exam |