"Re-examining the Core Computation Skill Set of Civil Engineering Undergraduates"

The contents of the civil engineering curriculum related to computation are usually derived from a combination of ABET program requirements, topics found on the Fundamental of Engineering (FE) Exam, and topics from "legacy" courses that introduce engineering graphics and programming.These components have generally fulfilled the needs of CE majors by engendering basic skills with numerical analysis and graphical representation (i.e., CAD).However, as industry moves towards integrated virtual design and analysis methods, the need to reassess the computational curriculum to address this change is apparent.In this paper we re-examine the historical basis for the core computational skill set and assess the degree to which it has met the needs of industry for modeling, design, and construction.We identify technology trends such as scripting languages (e.g., Python and Ruby), modern numerical programming (e.g., Matlab), and Building Information Modeling (BIM) tools (e.g., Revit and Sketchup) that, to be available and effective for industry, must have a curricular basis for CE graduates.Finally, we provide recommendations for incorporating modern tools into both introductory engineering computing courses and senior level design courses.