2022 Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Undergraduate major in Civil and Environmental Engineering
History of Civil Engineering and Engineering Ethics
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Junko Sanada / Hitoshi Morikawa
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Tue (M111) / 3-4 Fri (M111)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- CVE.N301
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2022
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
The lectures on civil engineering history focus on the history and development of civil engineering technologies. Civil engineering ethics presents how engineering ethics should be studied in civil and environmental engineering by using actual examples and case studies.
As well as understanding the history and social characteristics of the regions concerned, engineering ethics is fundamental for those who study civil and environmental engineering. The aim of this course is for students to obtain knowledge of how infrastructure systems have developed in human history, and to cultivate engineering ethics for those who work in the field of civil and environmental engineering.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Understand the various aspects of the relationship between human history and civil engineering.
2) Understand and explain the relationship between social development and infrastructure from ancient days to the Meiji era.
3) Explain civil and environmental engineering and related technologies which have improved quality of life in the modern age.
4) Understand that a professional engineer should have duties and responsibilities to society.
Keywords
Civil engineering technology, infrastructure, engineering ethics
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
This course is mainly composed of lectures.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Outline of civil engineering history |
Understanding the development of civil engineering technology in the ancient era |
| Class 2 | Civil engineering history by sector 1 |
Understanding the history of the development of technology by sector |
| Class 3 | Civil engineering history by sector 2 |
Understanding the history of the development of technology by sector |
| Class 4 | Civil engineering history by sector 3 |
Understanding the history of the development of technology by sector |
| Class 5 | Civil engineering history (history of engineers) |
Find out about the civil engineers of the past |
| Class 6 | Ethics for student as a researcher |
Understanding why professional ethics is essential in science and technology |
| Class 7 | Ethics for student as a researcher |
Deepen understanding of engineering ethics |
| Class 8 | Ethics for student as a researcher |
Deepen understanding of engineering ethics |
| Class 9 | Ethics for student as a researcher |
Deepen understanding of engineering ethics |
| Class 10 | Research and investigation of civil engineering history |
Exposure to historical documents |
| Class 11 | Research and investigation of civil engineering history |
Use old maps to learn about history |
| Class 12 | Research and investigation of civil engineering history |
Read historical researches |
| Class 13 | Research and investigation of civil engineering history |
Find historical documents |
| Class 14 | Research and investigation of civil engineering history |
Reading historical documents |
| Class 15 | Final exam and explanation |
Final exam and explanation |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Handouts will be provided
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Instructions will be given in class if necessary
Evaluation methods and criteria
Report on civil engineering history (15%), examination on civil engineering history (35%), presentation on civil engineers' ethics (10%) and examination (40%)
Related courses
- CVE.N210 ： Introduction to Infrastructure and Environment
- CVE.N310 ： Special Lectures on Infrastructure and Environment
Prerequisites
nothing in particular