Introduction to Civil Engineering

CVE2000

UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA

SYLLABUS OUTLINE

COLLEGE/FACULTY: Engineering and Computing

SCHOOL/DEPT: Engineering/Civil Engineering

COURSE OF STUDY: Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering

LEVEL: 2

MODULE TITLE: Introduction to Civil Engineering

MODULE CODE: CVE2000

DURATION (Hours): 45 hours

CREDIT VALUE 1

PREREQUISITES None

1.0 MODULE DESCRIPTION

This module introduces the students to the broad field of civil engineering and
provides an awareness of some ethical, and health and safety issues associated with
civil engineering projects.

2.0 MODULE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES

On completion of this module, the student should:

i. Understand the responsibility and professionalism involved in the various

branches of civil engineering
ii. Understand the contribution of civil engineering to the development of a
country.
iii. Analyze the ethical issues arising from the development of construction
projects
iv. Be aware of the health and safety risks on construction sites.

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3.0 MODULE CONTENT AND CONTEXT

UNIT 1: FIELDS OF CIVIL ENGINEERING (10 HOURS)

Upon completion of Unit 1, the student should:

1.1. Describe the history of the discipline of civil engineering.

1.2. Distinguish between the different fields of civil engineering.
1.3. Discuss the role of engineering in the development of some Caricom States.
1.4. Predict the need for civil engineering professionals based on the planned development
for a country/region.

CONTENT:
 History of civil engineering
 The fields of civil engineering
 The role of civil engineering in the development of Caricom states.
 The future of civil engineering fields in Jamaica and the Caribbean

UNIT 2: ETHICS (14 HOURS)

Upon completion of Unit 2, the student should:

2.1. Define ethics

2.2. Explain the evolution of ethics in engineering.
2.3. Discuss ethical concerns in engineering projects.

CONTENT:
 Introduction to code of ethics
 The code of ethics in engineering
 Application of the code in Jamaica and the Caribbean

UNIT 3: Health and Safety in Construction (15 HOURS)

Upon completion of Unit 3, the student should be able to:

3.1. Describe general practices that promote health and safety on engineering projects.
3.2. Analyze simple work operations for health and safety risks
3.3. Generate a basic safety plan for a small construction project.

CONTENT:
 Introduction to the concept of health and safety practice
 Health and safety practices on construction projects
 Safety plans
 Examples of inadequate safety plans or implementation of safety practices

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4.0 LEARNING AND TEACHING APPROACHES

The teaching and learning approach will consist primarily of guest lectures and field visits as
the module is a practical. Other teaching and learning approach that will be used are lectures,
audiovisual presentations and cooperative learning via group work.

5.0 ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES

This module will be evaluated on the following basis:

Reports – 40 %

The students will visit two or three construction projects and will write two reports on
ethical, and health and safety issues associated with the construction projects. They will also
be asked to report on other specified observations and to comment on the different branches
of engineering involved with the projects. The students will work in groups of up to 4
persons and the contribution of each student to the report will be identified for grading
purposes. The weighting of each report is 20%.

Assignment – 30 %
Individual students will be given some scenarios and ask to address the ethical and/or health
and safety issues associated with each.

Quiz – 30 %
The quiz will cover aspects of Units 1, 2 and 3.

6.0 BREAKDOWN OF HOURS

Lecture and site visits 39

Assessment 6
Total 45 hours

7.0 TEXTBOOKS AND REFERENCES

Required:
1. There is no required textbook for this course. Informational materials will be
provided at each lecture in the form of handouts.
Recommended:
2. Humphreys, K. K. (1999). What every engineer should know about ethics.
Marcel Dekker, N. Y.

3. Engineering code of ethics

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4. PERB - Professional Engineers Registration Act

8.0 NAME OF SYLLABUS WRITER/DEVELOPER

Tameka Clarke Douglas, PhD.

8.1 DATE OF PRESENTATION

September 30, 2011

8.2 NAME OF SYLLABUS REVIEWER

Tameka Clarke Douglas, PhD.

8.3 DATE OF REVISION

January, 2016

9.0 APPROVAL

9.1 PROGRAMME DIRECTOR (PD)

Dr. Marva Blankson

9.2 SIGNATURE OF PD

__________________________

9.3 COLLEGE/FACULTY CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

Faculty of Engineering and Computing

9.4 SIGNATURE OF COMMITTEE CHAIR

__________________________________

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10.0 ACCEPTANCE BY OFFICE OF CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT &

EVALUATION (OCDE)

________________________________

10.1 DATE OF ACCEPTANCE BY OCDE

____________________________

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