Abstract
This paper discusses recent updates and developments of computing-based courses in the civil engineering discipline. Competency in computing is one of the most important capabilities for university graduates to obtain given the rapid development of computer technology in professional work. Civil engineering is no exception. In fact, many contemporary civil engineering projects require a high degree of computing skills, ranging from performing basic office work to programming for decision support system application in controlling flood water gates to executing construction automation via digital printing technology. However, the curriculum content for computing in civil engineering has been developmentally stagnant in the past several decades. This could be partly due to learning outcomes for civil engineering graduates, which do not explicitly mention a certain degree of achievement with respect to computing skills. Several computing-based courses offered in various civil engineering programs across Saudi Arabia and the US were examined, and their contents were compared to recent survey results administered by the American Society of Civil Engineering Technical Committee on Computing and Information Technology. The discussion is extended by examining technical courses offered in the Civil Engineering Program in Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University with respect to computing skills. The outcomes of this study are expected to give input and suggestions for future upgrades of computing-based courses offered within the civil engineering curriculum.
Highlights
Computer literacy or computing skill is one of the most important capabilities every university graduate must possess
The curriculum content for teaching computing-based courses has remained stagnant in the past several decades, relying heavily on traditional programming-based teaching as main criteria for computing literacy (Grigg et al, 2004; Grigg et al, 2005; Vergara et al, 2015). This could be partly due to learning outcomes for civil engineering programs that do not explicitly mention the certain degree of achievement needed for computing skills
Due to the large number of civil engineering programs offered in the US, the authors included 10 universities within the top tier.The authors extended the discussion by examining technical courses offered in the Civil Engineering Program at Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University (PMU) with respect to computing skills
Summary
Computer literacy or computing skill is one of the most important capabilities every university graduate must possess. Every professional occupation requires computers to run its business, from creating professional reports using word processors to operating machinery equipment using computer-controlled numeric programs Engineering professions, such as civil engineering, have developed and advanced their business through the problem-solving capability of the various simple and complex mathematical equations they routinely apply. The curriculum content for teaching computing-based courses has remained stagnant in the past several decades, relying heavily on traditional programming-based teaching as main criteria for computing literacy (Grigg et al, 2004; Grigg et al, 2005; Vergara et al, 2015) This could be partly due to learning outcomes for civil engineering programs that do not explicitly mention the certain degree of achievement needed for computing skills. The first and third levels can be embedded within several general or civil engineering courses, and these include running software for engineering design as well as developing limited coding for solving advanced mathematical equations used in engineering
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
