Incorporating Sustainability Knowledge into Construction Education Curriculum: A Case Study of Earthen Masonry

The curriculum of any academic program is considered a crucial aspect of learning because of its immense contributions to the overall learning experience of students.The complex and everevolving needs of the world, including the physical world, make the continuous improvements of educational curricula vital to meet those needs, particularly in a technical and professional discipline such as construction.The development and application of sustainable construction materials offer a plethora of benefits in the modern construction industry.Several eco-friendly construction materials, such as earthen masonry, can provide tremendous benefits and inexpensive solutions to the increasing cost of building and energy.This study examines the impact of the implementation of sustainability content in a course on students' perception of their knowledge, confidence, and relevance to their careers.A new course module was developed to educate students about various concepts, including the constituents of earthen masonry, their properties, quality assurance, and testing, as well as their various applications and benefits as sustainable construction materials.Preand post-surveys were conducted to evaluate students' understanding of the application and benefits of earthen masonry as a sustainable construction material.It is expected that the integration of this content into the curriculum of construction courses to equip our students with in-depth knowledge of earthen masonry as a sustainable construction material will go a long way in preparing the students for a successful career in the industry where they can make real impacts in the building of a sustainable and resilient built environment.