New choose-your-own-adventure style course gives McMaster students a memorable intro to civil engineering – Faculty of Engineering

New choose-your-own-adventure style course gives McMaster students a memorable intro to civil engineering

Students in high-visibility vests outside the Lincoln Alexander Hall on campus
Students at the construction site for the Lincoln Alexander Hall - a student residence on campus.
By Keiko Kataoka

For McMaster’s newest civil engineering course, all that’s required is a hard hat, steel-toed boots and a high-visibility vest. 

Textbooks, articles and even exams aren’t part of the course syllabus. Instead, Introduction to Civil Engineering incorporates hands-on, in-the-field experiences including field trips and interviews with industry professionals, and a series of guest lecturers who represent a diverse snapshot of where a civil engineering degree can lead.  

Designed to be fundamental, the course offers students a unique perspective on their civil engineering specialization, typically gained only through on-the-job experiences. The 150 students enrolled are generally new to civil engineering, transitioning from a common first year. 

Professor Lydell Wiebe, Chair of the Department of Civil Engineering, designed the course to immerse students in all the discipline has to offer. “By exploring common practices, hearing from professionals, visiting sites, and exploring the software that engineers use, I hope students will gain a clearer picture of civil engineering’s role in society and their potential place in the profession,” he says. 

Sites that students toured in the fall semester included the Six Nations Water Treatment Plant in Ohsweken, Ontario, and active construction sites for the McLean Centre for Collaborative Discovery and Lincoln Alexander Hall on campus.  

Providing students with opportunities to grow their imagination about their future also helps them understand how Mac Eng can support them on their way.

Lydell Wiebe, Chair and Professor, Civil Engineering

Second-year student Tamid Mustafiz describes the course as ‘refreshing’ and a ‘choose your own adventure.’ He met with an engineer from the Ministry of Transportation for a reverse-interview and toured the McLean Centre. Required reports that follow each experience help develop students’ writing and communication skills. 

The course also provides students with exposure to industry-standard software, including AutoCAD, SAP2000 and Civil 3D. “It helps with resume building to be able to say to co-op employers that we’ve had experience with these tools,” says Mustafiz. 

Students at the Empire Canals in Welland, Ontario.
Students at the Empire Canals in Welland, Ontario.

Students have the flexibility to choose their experiences, earning badges for each one they complete. They can earn up to four badges in each category, with more badges leading to higher potential grades. 

Elaine Ocampo has advice for the next cohort of students taking the course. “Come into this course with an open mind,” she says. “I thought I knew which type of civil engineering interested me most, but having been through this introductory course, I have new avenues to explore.” 


Explore the Department of Civil Engineering at McMaster.