Northeastern University

Professional Communication Program


The Department’s Endowed Professional Communication Program


Overview
Donors
Genesis of Program
Rationale
Program Components
Curriculum Integration
Phasing in of Program
Program and Student Assessment
Communication Program Faculty

Overview

During the late 1990s, a small group of generous Civil Engineering alumni and co-op employers came together to provide the resources needed to develop a comprehensive professional communication program to be offered in the Civil Engineering undergraduate curriculum. These alumni and employers recognized that well-developed communication skills (written and oral) are essential for professional success in the engineering field. This includes proposal development and technical report writing, and presentations to clients and the public. They wanted to ensure that Northeastern Civil Engineering graduates, already outstanding in their analytical and problem-solving skills, achieved their full professional potential by adding formal training in communication skills.

As a result of these fund-raising efforts, an initial endowment quickly grew to over $600,000. This is a tribute to the generosity of these individuals and firms, but is also a testament to the importance that the profession places on communication skills in the current and future job environment.

In Fall of 2007, the Department’s Professional Communication Program was redesigned with outstanding input from the Department’s Industrial Advisory Board (IAB). The program is a distinctive feature of Northeastern’s Civil Engineering program and provides a value-added dimension to the undergraduate curriculum. Our graduates will not only be exceptional engineers, but will possess the skills necessary to express their knowledge, analyses, and insights in clear and effective ways.


Donors

The generous gifts from several donors support this program. Prospective donors who have questions about the program and its dimensions are encouraged to contact Prof. Tom Sheahan or Dr. Alan Zaremba with your inquiries. Donors are asked to contact Jonathan Harris, Development Officer, College of Engineering.


Genesis of program

In the summer of 2007 Acting Chair Tom Sheahan contacted Professor Alan Zaremba in the Department of Communication Studies at Northeastern to begin the redesign of the program. The objective was to provide to our students comprehensive professional communication training by introducing progressively more advanced topics integrated into the curriculum. Student learning in this area would also be systematically assessed to measure the program’s effectiveness, and provide input for improvement.

In November, 2007, Prof. Sheahan briefed the Industrial Advisory Board on the current status of the program, and in December, 2007 met with interested members of the IAB to propose a new plan. Feedback from that December 2007 meeting was used to create a second iteration of the program, which was presented to the Industrial Advisory Board in May 2008. This final version was put into effect beginning Fall semester 2008.

The Professional Communication Skills program, therefore, is a composite of input from the engineering practitioners (as represented by the Industrial Advisory Board and other donors), the civil engineering faculty, and faculty in Communication Studies.


Rationale

Communication skill is an essential criterion for professional success. Northeastern University Civil Engineering graduates have a strong reputation for their analytical and problem-solving skills. However, to achieve their full potential as professionals in today’s work environment, they need strong written and oral communication skills to interact with clients, regulating agencies, and the public.. To provide an engineering graduate with complete skill sets for the professional environment of today and the future, the Endowed Professional Communication Program is needed to:


Program Components

The Endowed Professional Communication Program includes training in written communication, oral communication, meeting management, and team presentations. Specifically, students who successfully complete the program will be assessed in each of these areas on the following bases.

Written Communication Oral Presentations Meeting and Team Management

Curriculum Integration

Students will begin the Communication program in their Sophomore year and continue through their Senior year. The program is reinforcing and progressive. For each phase of the program, part of the follow-on phase includes a review and reinforcement of those principles already covered. New information is introduced to enhance the principles previously covered.

The specific inclusions in each term are described below.

Sophomore – Materials for Civil Engineers Lab
Middler – Soil Mechanics Lab
Junior – Project Elective
Senior – Senior Design Capstone

Phasing in of Program

We will be introducing the Communication program in three phases.

  1. During 08-09, the program began with
    • Division N Sophomores in 260/261 (2260/2261) in Fall 08 and then Division A Sophomores in 260/261 (2260/2261) during Spring 09.
    • Seniors in the Design Capstone Project in Spring 09.
  2. In 09-10, the program continues with
    • Division N Sophomores in 260/261 (2260/2261) in Fall 09 and then Division A Sophomores in 260/261 (2260/2261) during Spring 10.
    • Seniors in the Design Capstone Project in Spring of 10.
    • Middlers in Division A taking 340/341 (2340/2341) during Spring 10 and Summer 2
  3. In 10-11 the program continues with
    • Division N Sophomores in 260/261 (2260/2261) in Fall 10 and then Division A Sophomores in 260/261 (2260/2261) during Spring 11.
    • Seniors in the Design Capstone Project in Spring of 11.
    • Middlers taking 340/341 (2340/2341) during Spring 11 and summer 2 11
    • Juniors in Fall 10 in Project Electives Division N
    • Juniors in Spring 11 in Project Elective Division A

Program and Student Assessment
Program Assessment

At the conclusion of Middler, Junior, and Senior year students will be asked to complete a survey evaluating the quality of the communication program. On the basis of these evaluations, the program will be revised and refined.

Student Assessment

There are four ways students will be evaluated in this program.


Communications Program Faculty