Some Ethical Dimensions of Additional Education for the 21st Century

Abstract

In October of 1998, the ASCE Board of Direction adopted Policy Statement 465 supporting the concept of the master’s degree or equivalent as a prerequisite for licensure and practice of civil engineering at the professional level. Citing globalization, an intricate and complex infrastructure, and new engineering and information technologies, in October of 2001, the board unanimously voted to move forward with a revised Policy Statement 465, entitled “Academic Prerequisites for Licensure and Professional Practice.” This paper examines the ethical dimensions surrounding the call for additional education. To this end, the ASCE Code of Ethics will be discussed as a living document that governs the practice of safe, effective, and professional civil engineering, and will be brought to bear on the issues surrounding the implementation of ASCE Policy Statement 465.