A Unique Civil Engineering Capstone Design Course

Authors

  • G Padmanabhan North Dakota State University Fargo, ND 58108-6050 USA
  • Dinesh Katti North Dakota State University Fargo, ND 58108-6050 USA
  • Eakalk Khan North Dakota State University Fargo, ND 58108-6050 USA
  • Francis Peloubet North Dakota State University Fargo, ND 58108-6050 USA
  • Navaratnam Leelaruban Moore Engineering, Inc., West Fargo, ND 58078, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijep.v8i1.7667

Keywords:

civil engineering curriculum, capstone design course, program accreditation, course objectives, outcome assessment

Abstract


The North Dakota State University, USA, capstone course was developed as a unique model in response to the effort of the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology, USA, to streamline and improve design instruction in the curriculum and has steadily evolved to keep pace with the ever-changing technology and the expectations of the profession and the society we serve. A capstone design course by definition should be a design experience for students in the final year before graduation integrating all major design concepts they have learned up until then in the program. Carefully chosen real world projects with design content in all sub-disciplines of civil engineering are assigned in this team-taught course. Faculty and practicing professionals make presentations on design process; project management; leadership in an engineering environment; and public policy; global perspectives in engineering; and professional career and licensure. Practicing professionals also critique the final student presentations. Students work in teams with number of faculty serving as technical consultants, and a faculty mentor for each team to provide non-technical guidance and direction. The course requires students to demonstrate mastery of the curriculum and to work with others in a team environment. Course assessment includes evaluation of the final design, presentations, written technical reports, project design schedule, a project design journal, and reaction papers.

Author Biographies

G Padmanabhan, North Dakota State University Fargo, ND 58108-6050 USA

Professor Emeritus of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department

Dinesh Katti, North Dakota State University Fargo, ND 58108-6050 USA

Professor and Interim Chair of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department

Eakalk Khan, North Dakota State University Fargo, ND 58108-6050 USA

Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department

Francis Peloubet, North Dakota State University Fargo, ND 58108-6050 USA

Adjunct faculty of the Civil and Environmental Engineering department

Navaratnam Leelaruban, Moore Engineering, Inc., West Fargo, ND 58078, USA

Civil Engineer at Moore Engineering, Inc.

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Published

2018-02-28

How to Cite

Padmanabhan, G., Katti, D., Khan, E., Peloubet, F., & Leelaruban, N. (2018). A Unique Civil Engineering Capstone Design Course. International Journal of Engineering Pedagogy (iJEP), 8(1), pp. 56–80. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijep.v8i1.7667

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Section

Papers