2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Engineering design is a critical element of undergraduate engineering programs and is an integral criterion in ABET assessment. Despite being a foundational element of engineering instruction, there is no single definition of design in engineering and the definitions of engineering design have shifted over time. In addition, while scholars and accrediting bodies have worked to define engineering design, the extent to which these definitions reflect the students’ understanding of engineering design is less clear. This paper aims to provide insight into student perceptions of design by discussing the results of a survey that asked both first year and capstone undergraduate civil engineering students to identify the components of several design and engineering design definitions that resonated most strongly with their experience and understanding of engineering as a profession. In addition to sharing the results of this study, we review the literature on ways to expand student understanding of engineering design and provide recommendations, along with areas for future research, for Civil Engineering.