But academics and practitioners who long have labored on the effort now believe the result is historic a new road map to successful civil engineering practice in a more complex world that expects faster and better results. While some worry about extra cost and time constraints of added education, proponents say the broadened outlook is injecting excitement into civil engineering study and practice, which will attract more students to the field.
After nearly a year in draft, the American Society of Civil Engineers released with fanfare on Feb. 19 the latest edition of the “BOK,” a 182-page reform and expansion of current educational requirements for civil engineers before they obtain licenses and practice professionally. The document packages the breadth of civil engineering knowledge and skill into 24 key areas, dubbed “outcomes” and makes clear that today’s four-year engineering degrees are not sufficient to create tomorrow’s professionals.