2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Work in Progress: Integrating Site Visits into A One-Credit Civil Engineering Course to Advance Professionalism and Career Readiness

Presented at How are we training students to use AI and other Technology? Preparing Students for Civil Engineering Industry

This paper presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of a pilot one-credit course that integrates industry site visits into the civil and environmental engineering curriculum. The course was developed to address the growing need for workplace readiness and professional competency among engineering graduates, as emphasized by ASCE’s Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge (CEBOK) and NACE Career Readiness Competencies. Students participated in guided site visits, completed preparatory readings and quizzes, engaged in career readiness modules, and reflected on their experiences through structured assignments. Pre- and post-surveys indicated increased familiarity with industry practices, career readiness frameworks, and job search strategies. Qualitative reflections revealed enhanced understanding of teamwork, communication, and the sociotechnical complexity of engineering projects, as well as greater clarity regarding career interests. Lessons learned highlight logistical challenges, the importance of faculty presence, and the need for systematic assessment tools.

Authors

Prof. Shinae Jang P.E. http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3559-8762 University of Connecticut [biography]

Dr. Shinae Jang is a Professor in Residence of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Connecticut (UConn). She earned a BS and MS degrees in Civil Engineering (CE) from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), and PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She joined UConn in 2010, her major effort is to develop undergraduate students’ academic and professional skills, serving as proud faculty advisor of ASCE student chapter, CE honors advisor, faculty career fellow, ABET coordinator, and NECHE accreditation fellow. Dr. Jang’s research interests include smart structures, structural health monitoring, wireless sensor networks, and engineering education. She is a registered Professional Engineer of Connecticut.

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