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Location: 2010 Cherry Building, Phone: (409) 880-8759

Chair: Robert Yuan
Chair E-mail: robert.yuan@lamar.edu

Reese Construction Management Degree Director:
Steven McCrary, Phone: (409) 880-8916, steve.mccrary@lamar.edu, 2618 Cherry Building

Degrees Offered

The Department of Civil Engineering offers both a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management.

Civil Engineering

Civil engineering is a people-serving profession and as such is vital to the world’s economic, political, and social well being. The many areas to which civil engineers make substantial contributions include bridges, dams and levees, harbors, waterways and irrigation facilities, buildings, airports, highways, pipelines, railroads, power lines, water supply systems and waste treatment facilities. Civil engineers engage in a wide range of activities such as research, design, development, management, and the control of engineering systems and their components. With today’s fast-paced technological changes, civil engineering provides unique and unlimited career opportunities that can only be met by professionally educated people.

The civil engineering program is designed with a broad base to prepare men and women for careers in various phases of civil engineering and to enable them to perform other managerial and technical functions that require scientific and engineering backgrounds. The curriculum embraces a sound core of humanities and social studies courses in addition to those in physics, chemistry and mathematics, which form the substructure of engineering sciences. Areas of study include geo-technical, structural, water resources, environmental, surveying, and construction engineering. Electives are available to fit the individual interest of the civil engineering student.

Because of the wide scope of activities in which the civil engineer is engaged, and the broad spectrum of student interest, civil engineering graduates may choose either to enter the profession immediately after receiving their bachelor’s degree or go directly to graduate school. No matter what the student chooses, the curriculum provides a firm foundation for today’s world.

To encourage and assist scholars in civil engineering, the Katherine E. and William C. Mundt endowment was established in 1983. In addition, the Tony Paine Memorial Scholarship was established in 1988, the David Bernsen Endowed Scholarship in 1997 and the Leslie A. Lakie Scholarship in 1999 and many others. These funds provide scholarships for qualified students. Application forms are available in the Civil Engineering Department office.

The Civil Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.

Mission Statement

Vision Statement

Objectives

The objectives of the Department of Civil Engineering at º£½ÇÉçÇø are to provide a high quality engineering education in which graduates are prepared to:

1. understand and solve general civil engineering problems and be prepared for a successful career and for life-long learning;
2. contribute in a multidisciplinary team and communicate effectively to various audiences;
3. be a productive member of society and understand the importance of professional ethics, professional licensing, and global and environmental impacts; and
4. be a leader in his/her technical field at the regional, national or international level.

Outcome Assessment

The Civil Engineering Department has developed an assessment process to demonstrate that the outcomes important to the objectives of its program are measured. This process is based on input from the department’s various constituencies: alumni, employers, industrial practitioners, CE Advisory Council members, students and CE faculty. The process used in Program Educational Outcomes assessment for quality assurance includes:

1. choose outcomes for direct measurement,
2. identify performance criteria,
3. develop rubrics and standards for evaluation,
4. perform evluation and direct measurement for 1 through 3,
5. college data from other outcome assessment instruments,
6. collectively assess for program outcome achievement using collected data, and
7. recommend implement improvement.

Civil Engineering Program Outcomes

The following outcomes are achieved in one or more courses in the BSCE curriculum. Graduates will:

1. have an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering,
2. have an ability to design and conduct experiments, analyze and interpret data,
3. have an ability to design a system, components or process to meet desired needs,
4. have an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams,
5. have an ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems,
6. have an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility,
7. have an ability to communicate effectively,
8. have the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and society context,
9. recognize the need for and ability to engage in life-long learning,
10. have a knowledge of contemporary civil engineering issues, and
11. have an ability to use the techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

Construction Management

The Department of Civil Engineering administers the Reese Construction Management Program, offering a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management. The Program offers students a broad education in in the management of construction projects.The construction management degree is designed to meet the accreditation requirements of the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE). ACCE is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) as the accrediting agency for four year baccalaureate degree programs in construction, construction science, construction management, and construction technology. As a profession, construction management creatively applies technical and managerial knowledge about the formation of the world's facilities, including, among others, commercial, residential, infrastructure, and industrial facilities. To meet the challenges of this profession, the Reese Construction Management Program provides diverse educational opportunities both in business management and in the processes of construction techniques and construction management, including safety, materials and methods, surveying, project management and control, electrical and mechanical systems, legal issues, and estimating and scheduling. The program provides vital lessons through valuable “hands-on” experiences gained both in the classroom and in the internship program. In addition, students receive a generous dose of quantitative, written and oral communication, and scientific activities designed to provide sound educational support for practical and theoretical insights. The Reese Construction Management Program was established in 2008 through the generous support of Jerry and Sheila Reese. Since its inception, the goal of the program is to meet the needs of both the construction and petrochemical industries. The program is also supported by the following endowed scholarships: The Francis & Marjorie Mouton Scholarship in Construction Management, and The Ronald W. Thibodeaux Memorial Scholarship in Construction Management, both established in 2008. Application forms are available in the program office.

Vision Statement

We envision the Reese Construction Management Program at º£½ÇÉçÇø preparing students to become regionally competitive experts in construction management. We further envision that the program will instill a passionate leadership for unique, high quality education, research, and outreach opportunities that support and serve both the needs of students and those of the community, especially the construction community. In addition, we want the program to be a good place to work for its faculty and staff.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Reese Construction Management program is threefold: (1) Provide a nationally accredited undergraduate CM program capable of producing local and regional leaders in construction; (2) Plan and maintain a dedication to intellectual growth and excellence in advanced practical construction education; and (3) Build a high quality faculty/staff and promote faculty/staff development.

Reese Construction Management Program Goals, Objectives and Strategies

Consistent with the vision and mission statements, the program's goals, objectives, and strategies are as follows:
Goal 1. Build educational size, facilities, reputation, and relationships.
Objective 1.1. Develop and foster a student learning culture where students become successful professionals in the construction discipline via a state-of-the-art education.
Strategy 1.1.1. Educate students to get hands-on knowledge in all areas of construction.
Strategy 1.1.2. Provide opportunities for students to learn via industry partners.
Objective 1.2. Build program size and facilities.
Strategy 1.2.1. Expand recruitment and marketing initiatives.
Strategy 1.2.2. Expand program facilities.
Objective 1.3. Build program reputation.
Strategy 1.3.1. Seek American Council Construction Education (ACCE) accreditation.

Strategy 1.3.2. Attract and retain high-quality students.
Strategy 1.3.3. Foster a positive student-employee, employee-employee, employee-industry environment.
Goal 2. Promote scholarly activities, research, and service of faculty.
Objective 2.1. Create a research- and scholarly- friendly environment for conducting outstanding construction management research that benefits students and industry.
Strategy 2.1.1. Secure research resources.
Strategy 2.1.2. Facilitate academic publications and presentations by faculty and students.
Objective 2.2. Develop and promote civic involvement, professional development, and career opportunities.
Strategy 2.2.1. Increase external faculty service in professional organizations when a tangible return to the CM Program can be identified.
Strategy 2.2.2. Develop internal service to University/College/Department/Program.
Goal 3. Attract, develop, and reward faculty and staff.
Objective 3.1. Attract and recruit competent faculty/staff.
Strategy 3.1.1. Attain and maintain competitive salaries for faculty/staff.
Strategy 3.1.2. Provide benefits typical of sister institutions. Objective 3.2 Develop, reward and retain faculty and staff.
Strategy 3.2.1. Build and support faculty/staff development.
Strategy 3.2.2. Reward faculty for excellence in research, teaching, and service.

Program Outcomes

Degrees Offered

• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering – 131 hours
• Bachelor of Science in Construction Management – 123 hours

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Additional Degree Requirements: Candidates for degrees in this program are strongly encouraged to consider sitting for the National Council of Engineering Examiners Examination on “Fundamentals of Engineering” as administered by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers.

Suggested Program of Study – Total Min. Hours: 131

Bachelor of Science in Construction Management

Academic Policies for Reese Construction Management Program:

1. Entrance Requirements: Same as for the College of Engineering, except foreign language is not required.
2. GPA Requirement:  Students are expected to maintain a 2.0 GPA both in the overall degree plan and in major courses.
3. Degree Credit:  Student should take courses in the sequence shown in the degree plan. Degree credit will be given for a grade of “D”. However, for all CMGT courses, degree credit is normally allowed only for courses in which a grade of "C" or better is earned.
4. Provisional and Professional Status: When first admitted to the program students are admitted with "Provisional Status," precluding students from taking CMGT 3000 and 4000 level courses. In order to progress to "Professional Status" in the construction management program, students must complete 51 hours of required courses in both the First and Second Year of the Reese Construction Management Program. GPA requirement will be enforced. Transfer students may meet this requirement using transfer courses.

Minor in Construction Management

A minor in construction management requires a minimum of 18 hours and a maximum 24 hours of CMGT courses, as listed below.

1. Complete any 6 hours from the following: CMGT 1310(3), 1320(3), 2310(3);
2. Complete CMGT 2320(3);
3. Complete CMGT 3320(3);
4. Complete any 6 hours from the following to bring the total to at least 18 hours: 4100(1), 4310(3), 4320(3), 4350(3), 4260(2).