Fundamentals of Civil Engineering : An Introduction to the ASCE Body of Knowledge

Written for undergraduate civil engineering students as an introduction to the general education outcomes of the ASCE’s Body of Knowledge (BOK), this book explains what individuals are expected to know and be able to do by the time they enter professional practice. This text covers key topics such as sustainability, physical geography, scientific method, engineering history, public policy, and ethics. Also discussed are contemporary issues, including the impacts of terrorism, conflicts over water supply, recycling, and green building. Chapters include case studies, examples, sidebars, and ten to twenty-five discussion questions to aid in reader comprehension.

While the ASCE Body of Knowledge (BOK2) is the codified source for all technical and non-technical information necessary for those seeking to attain licensure in civil engineering, recent graduates have notoriously been lacking in the non-technical aspects even as they excel in the technical.

Fundamentals of Civil Engineering: An Introduction to the ASCE Body of Knowledge addresses this shortfall and helps budding engineers develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes suggested and implied by the BOK2. Written as a resource for all of the non-technical outcomes not specifically covered in the BOK2, it details fundamental aspects of fourteen outcomes addressed in the second edition of the ASCE Body of Knowledge and encourages a broader perspective and understanding of the role of civil engineers in society as well as the reciprocal influence between civil engineering and social evolution.

With discussion questions and group activities at the end of each chapter, topics covered include humanities and social sciences, experimentation, sustainability, contemporary issues and historical perspectives, risk and uncertainty, communication, public policy, globalization, leadership and teamwork, and professional and ethical responsibilities.

Suitable for both current and former students in pursuit of further breadth and depth of knowledge and professional maturity, this primer promotes introspection, self-evaluation, and self-learning. It details those attitudes that are essential to the achievement of personal and professional success and advancement to positions of leadership, and encourages an appreciation of the human values that are fundamental to professional practice.