Analysis of Curricula of Korean Environmental and Similar Named Engineering Programs

Abstract

In this study, it was investigated that the current status of universities offering environmental field studies in Korea and the curricula were analyzed among 15 universities chosen from the above environmental engineering majors. The implications and improvements of the curricula were discussed based on the proposed curriculum derived from the needs of industry in the environmental field. As of December 2018, a total of 71 universities have offered the environment-related majors nationwide. The results of curricula analysis showed that the courses related in wastewater, air pollution were excessively focused among major courses of study. This seems to be due to the placement of subjects which were too much fragmented in contents and/or which were beyond undergraduate level. Therefore, through the sharing of course information among faculty members and continuous effort to improve courses, the curriculum should be structured more densely than quantitative expansion of courses. It is necessary to increase the courses that include various environmental topics that can be used in practice. In addition, the academic institutes need to play a role to develop the standardized curriculum and contents considering the needs of the industry and the prospect of the environmental field. Key words: Environmental engineering, Curriculum analysis, Industry perspective evaluation