Enhancing The Capstone Design Experience In Civil Engineering

This paper documents efforts in and outcomes from a two-semester sequence senior design experience to address some of the programmatic needs and accreditation criteria established by ABET. The capstone design course sequence described herein was enhanced based on an evaluation by the department faculty that included internal and external feedback on the previous structure. The paper documents the process implemented to help address several program specific accreditation criteria and objectives. Key criteria addressed include demonstrating the ability to work on design projects, to work on teams, to communicate effectively, to manage resources, and to work on complex projects. The paper documents details regarding the course background, course content, course administration and management (including schedules, deliverables, and grading considerations). It describes the methods used to form student teams, select projects, roles of faculty and client advisors / mentors, specific expectations of the student teams. Instruments used to administer and manage the courses are presented, including illustrative assessment tools. Results of some of the assessment conducted on the course offering in the Spring and Summer 2006 offering of this course sequence are also presented. The evaluations of the effectiveness of the course to help students develop or enhance the abilities stated as course objectives indicate that the changes made to the course were effective. The participation of practitioners as clients / mentors, who served in supplementary roles to the faculty advisors and the course instructor, was seen to be beneficial.