Program Educational Objectives

The educational objectives of our undergraduate education programs are in alignment with the mission of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the mission of the School of Engineering and the mission of MIT. They were developed as part of our latest curriculum revision, which began in 2002.

Mission

The mission statements for the Institute, School of Engineering and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering are as follows:

Institute
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is devoted to the advancement of knowledge and education of students in areas that contribute to or prosper in an environment of science and technology. Its mission is to contribute to society through excellence in education, research, and public service, drawing on core strengths in science, engineering, architecture, humanities and social sciences, and management. This mission is accomplished by an educational program combining rigorous academic study and the excitement of research with the support and intellectual stimulation of a diverse campus community.

School of Engineering
By creating, developing, organizing, and managing complex technologies and products, engineers play a crucial role in contributing to the betterment of humanity and in shaping our world. Seeking solutions to the most difficult challenges of our day in the context of physical, economic, human, political, legal, and cultural realities makes engineering a tremendously exciting endeavor. In a world increasingly influenced by scientific and technological innovation, engineers can provide important leadership to society.

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Our mission is the provision of human services in a sustainable way, balancing society's need for long-term infrastructure and environmental health. The department believes that it is imperative that human infrastructure and the natural environment be viewed in a synergistic way in order to fulfill this mission. We can achieve this mission through engineering and science education.

Educational Objectives for the 1C Undergraduate Program

The current Civil Engineering program educational objectives were developed as part of the program's ongoing efforts to maintain through innovation an undergraduate program that meets the needs of our constituents. The current educational objectives of the Civil Engineering program are:

1. Graduates will achieve a high level of technical expertise so that they are able to succeed in positions in civil engineering practice or research, and in other fields they choose to pursue.
2. Graduates will produce engineering designs that are based on sound principles and that consider functionality, aesthetics, safety, cost effectiveness and sustainability.
3. Graduates will pursue lifelong learning, such as graduate work and other professional education.
4. Graduates will be leaders, both in their chosen profession and in other activities.

Educational Objectives for the 1E Undergraduate Program

The current Environmental Engineering Science program educational objectives were developed as part of the program's ongoing efforts to maintain an undergraduate program that meets the needs of our constituents. The current educational objectives of the Environmental Engineering Science program are:

1. Graduates will achieve a high level of technical expertise so that they are able to succeed in positions in environmental engineering practice or research, and in other fields they choose to pursue.
2. Graduates will address the complexities of real life environmental engineering problems and be able to formulate solutions that are technically sound, economically feasible, and sustainable.
3. Graduates will pursue lifelong learning, such as graduate work and other professional education.
4. Graduates will be leaders, both in their chosen profession and in other activities.